The Big Draw

The Big Draw is underway this afternoon at St Mary's Woodford as part of the Woodford Festival and the Arts Festival for the Barking Episcopal Area. Mark Lewis, Francesca Ross, Peter Webb and others are providing advice and opportunities to try creating portraits through drawing, painting and printing.

St Mary's Woodford is a key location for the Woodford Festival and they hosted the official opening of the Festival by the Mayor of Redbridge before the opening concert of the Festival; an organ recital by Lucia Aiche including pieces by Bach, Standford, Rheinberger, Utterback and Fletcher.

The church is also hosting an art exhibition, a 45-minute all-age service (Behold the Man) celebrating images of Jesus from different centuries and places, and a concert by the Crofton Singers (7.30pm) with a programme of five centuries of choral music alongside young musicians from Bancroft's School includes Madrigals, Finzi's Part Songs, Spirituals, Barbershop & popular songs – ‘Autumn Leaves’ and ‘Over the Rainbow’.

Other Festival events with which commission4mission is involved include:

Art exhibition - Saturday 13th October, 10.00am - 7.30pm, The Atrium, All Saints Woodford Wells, Inmans Row, Woodford Green, IG8 0NH. No admission charge. Exhibition of art works by members of commission4mission, an arts organisation which aims to encourage churches to commission contemporary art. Includes the 'Run with the Fire' Olympic-themed digital art exhibition. This exhibition will include work by Jonathan Evens, Alan Hitching, Mark Lewis, Janet Roberts, Francesca Ross, Henry Shelton, Joy Rousell Stone and Peter Webb. This exhibition is being held prior to an evening concert at All Saints by the Meljon Singers (https://www.facebook.com/events/246345185469093/).

Together with Kathryn Robinson, Performing Arts Adviser for the Barking Episcopal Area, Jonathan Evens is organising a poetry evening which is also part of the two Festivals. This Celebration of Poetry will be on Friday 12th October, 7.30pm, St Paul's Woodford Bridge, Cross Road, Woodford Green, Essex IG8 8BT. There is no admission charge and the evening will include local poets, published poets, musical/storytelling interludes and a showing of the 'Run with the Fire' Olympic-themed digital art exhibition. Among those reading their poetry are: Tim Cunningham, Jane Grell, Malcolm Guite, Alan Hitching, Jennifer Houghton and Jonathan himself.