St Bride’s Episcopal Church in Glasgow are preparing a rich and varied programme of events for visitors during Glasgow Doors Open Days Festival 2025.
Over the weekend, they are inviting people to enjoy and explore the church’s fine interior and rich musical tradition with a programme of themed tours, workshops, and special events including talks, a community singing workshop and concert all celebrating the music of Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179), the first woman to compose western music.
Hildegard of Bingen was composing music in the 12th century including the year 1175 AD, when Glasgow was granted the status of a burgh. Our programme of musical workshops and performances celebrating her life is also linked to the Glasgow 850 commemorations.
Full Programme details can also be found at:
www.doorsopendays.org.uk/regions/glasgow/st-bride-s-scottish-episcopal-church and www.stbridesglasgow.com/saturday-20th-septdoors-open-day/
Programme Highlights
Saturday 20 September
The Art of Assemblage
12 noon – 15:00
In this workshop led by author, artist and illustrator Ben Morse, you can learn the art of collage and create your very own artwork from a range of printed materials.
Beyond the music – the Legacy of Hildegard of Bingen
14:00 – 15:00
Hildegard of Bingen is known for her musical compositions and mystical writings. However, there is more we can learn from this remarkable medieval woman.
In this workshop, Father Peter Bradley will lead us through the secret language that Hildegard devised, her work on herbs and healing, her journalling, and her musical morality play. Participants will be able to choose a theme to explore together, and there will be a medieval recipe for medicated sweets for everyone to try.
Singing Workshop
Come and Sing St Hildegard
12:30- 14:30
All are welcome to take part in this relaxed informal singing workshop. Alan Taverner will help you sing some of St Hildegard of Bingen’s music (whose Feast Day is 17 September), as well as offering singing tips. You will then have the option to take part in the performance with Canty later in the church at 4pm.
Performance
‘The Music of Heaven in all Things’ St Hildegard the composer – a talk by Rebecca Tavener, followed after an interval by the concert ‘Songs of Celestial Revelations’
16:00 – 18:15
St Hildegard’s extraordinary music performed by professional vocal ensemble Canty; Bill Taylor (medieval harp and other instruments); The Schola Cantorum of St Bride; Gillean McDougall (reader). Directed by Rebecca Tavener. Community Choir directed by Alan Tavener.
Sunday 21 September
Decoding the Divine
12:30 -13:15
This tour led by Father Peter Bradley, Priest in Charge at Bride’s will help you understand and interpret some of the architectural details and symbols found around the church.
A service of Choral Evensong and Benediction
15:30 – 16:30
Enjoy the sights and sounds of the traditional service of evening prayer and Benediction with Plainsong, choral music and organ music.
Events taking place on both Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 September
The St Bride’s Great Animal Safari
Saturday 20 September 10:45 – 11:30
Sunday 21 September 11:30 –15:30
If you look hard, you will find carvings of different animals hidden in the woodwork of the church choir stalls.
In this family trail you will go on a safari and see how many different creatures you can find and identify. Beware-some animals might scratch or bite!
Illuminating the Divine – a short tour of St Bride’s Collection of stained glass
Saturday 20 September 10:00 – 10:45 and 11:30 – 12:15
Sunday 21 September 11:45 – 12:30 and 13:30- 14:15
St Bride’s has a fine collection of stunning stained glass windows dating from the first half of the 20th century. In this tour you will hear about the makers and design of the windows and some of the stories they illustrate.
A Sense of the Sacred
Saturday 20 September 10:45 – 11:30
Sunday 21 September 14:30 – 15:15
St Bride’s is known for its traditional style of worship and ceremonial.
In this workshop you will explore some of the objects used in the ceremonies and services at St Bride’s and how they make worshipping at St Bride’s a rich sensory experience.
You will also get a chance at ringing the church bell!
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