Serving God in Chelsea

Purcell’s Dido & Aeneas

Chelsea History Festival, 1-4 October 2026. PURCELL’S DIDO & AENEAS: THE BEGINNING OF OPERA IN BRITAIN A special performance of Purcell’s celebrated opera in the historic setting of Chelsea Old Church. Our choir and baroque orchestra will be presenting a semi-staged performance on Thursday 1 October at 6.30 pm Chelsea Old Church, tickets £15.00 to £25.00 https://chelseaheritagequarter.co.uk to buy tickets

Henry Purcell’s celebrated opera Dido and Aeneas was his only stage work that can be truly called an opera, and the first known performance was given in 1689 at Josiah Priest’s girls’ school in Chelsea, a short distance from present-day Chelsea Old Church and possibly attended by Queen Mary.

Using the superb voices of their professional choir alongside top soloists and established Baroque period-instrument ensemble, The Old Church Players, we will bring alive the spirit of that first performance in the historic setting of Chelsea Old Church with a semi-staged version of what is regarded as the great theatrical masterpiece by the foremost English composer of the Baroque period.

Harvest Festival Celebrations

Our Harvest Mattins will take place on Sunday 18th October at 11.00am, at which we will be joined by the The Mayor of Kensington and Chelsea, Cllr Janet Evans and we will be supporting https://www.dadshouse.org.uk.
This will be followed by our Harvest Parish Lunch at 12.30pm in Petyt Hall. If you would like to attend the lunch, please sign up in the porch. The Family Service will celebrate Harvest on Sunday 11th October.