Elegance in the dramatic space of Leamington’s parish church

I AM just as guilty as all those other Leamington people who have left it a long time since they last stepped inside the beautiful parish church of our town. This is indeed a shame, for the aesthetic and atmospheric rewards of doing so are rich and many.

To use it as a setting, then, for a sophisticated jazz dinner to help raise funds for the church was a wonderful idea. The voluntary committee who organised the All Saints’ Arts and Music Festival last weekend did a fine job of transforming a place of prayer into an elegant and charming venue-with-a-difference for an evening of fine dining and entertainment.

With the chairs put away, the large space was occupied instead with round tables that were far enough apart for diners to enjoy intimate conversation with those with whom they were sitting, and the live jazz musicians of the talented Gators Swing Band performing near the pulpit so they provided pleasamt background music that, during the meal, would only become a main feature for those who fancied a dance. Uplifting entertainment from the band came later.

Beginning the evening with a glass of wine, we had some time to wander around the art exhibition (50 per cent the sale of the paintings included went towards the church) that ran along the sides of the building, before sitting down for the delicious two-course meal provided by Aubrey Allen. With everyone dressed in suits and dresses, it felt like a real treat to be indulging in a night of luxury in aid of a good cause - and it was a pleasure to be sitting in such a dramatic space.

I congratulate the festival committee for organising such a lovely evening and hope to see more events such as this in our town’s historic parish church.

Sundari Sankar