Press Release about St Mary's Church, Hitchin

Pop-Up Cinema- Silent Film Show returns next weekend for the 10th Year

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Our fabulous Classic Silent film show returns next weekend!

On Saturday 1st February St Mary's fundraising team will stage their popular pop-up cinema for the 10th year. Previous classic shows have included Nosferatu, Metropolis and several Buster Keaton comedies.

This year's 'Ben Hur' film is epic in every way, if you have seen Gladiator you may relish this as the first foray in the 'Swords and Sandals' genre with the legendary chariot race sequence. Later remade in the 1950s with Charlton Heston, this 1925 American silent adventure-drama stars Ramon Novarro as the title character. Including monumental sets of ancient Rome and a real 'cast of thousands', the thrilling, famous chariot race sequence has entered the language as a metaphor.

This annual event to support St Mary's has played to sell out audiences in the iconic town centre church. It is a truly unique entertainment, with a barnstorming live accompaniment by virtuoso organist Donald McKenzie, formerly at the famous Odeon Leicester Sq. Silent films were shown with music to add to the drama, and the Church's historic 1875 Walker Organ still has the power to rival the 'Mighty Wurlitzer', which Mr McKenzie also played for many years. As a Silent Film buff he not only improvises the accompaniment, but also introduces the film and puts it in the context of later films and genres that were influenced in surprising ways.

There will be an Interval bar and prize raffle on the night. Tickets are available on the door from 6.15 pm or at Visit Hitchin in the Churchyard, David's Bookshop in Letchworth, or online at https://wegottickets.com/StMarysChurchEventsHitchin

£16 adults, £6 child ticket.

Don't miss this family friendly and very different event! All profits will go to support St Mary's.

Our announcement last week of work beginning on the first phase of a £1m upgrade at St Mary's was covered in local papers and on ITV Anglia Evening news with a live report and interview on 22nd January.

www.facebook.com/ St Mary's has so far raised over £600k towards the Million Pound Appeal, now over half way. A mixture of grants, money from the Church's Preservation Trust charity and individual donations have allowed work to begin. But there is still much fundraising needed to get this work completed. There is more information about the plans on the Church's website where you can see a video about the project:

https://www.stmaryshitchin.co.uk/a-million-for-st-marys-renewal/

Please use these links to donate if you are able to help this ambitious undertaking.

• Make a bank transfer to St Mary's Hitchin Gift Aid Account and use 'Appeal' as your reference. Account details are available via [email protected].

• Donate via the online giving page via the link on our websites www.stmaryshitchin.co.ukStMarysChurchHitchin @StMarysChurchHitchin

Instagram stmaryschurch_hitchin https://twitter.com/stmaryshitchin_ @StMarysChurchHitchin

Instagram stmaryschurch_hitchin https://twitter.com/stmaryshitchin_