Ayot St Lawrence
  • History of the Palladian church
    • Booking Events at the church
    • Ayot St Lawrence Church Services
    • History of the Ruined church
  • Programme of Events 2021
    • Previous event details
    • Past events: photos
  • The Ayot St Lawrence Art Show
    • Welcome to Artists >
      • Terms and Conditions for Artists
  • The Brocket Arms
  • The National Trust and Shaw's Corner
  • Contact and map
  • Blog: News and Views
  • Ayots Summer Show (Ayots Horticultural Society)
  • Help us with a donation
  • Et in Arcadia Ego
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"Arms and the Man" by George Bernard Shaw

​20 and 21 July @ 18.30: Produced by Michael Friend Productions in association with Shaw 2020 and Splitshift Theatre. NOTE THAT THESE PERFORMANCES WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE PALLADIAN CHURCH THIS YEAR, NOT AT THE NATIONAL TRUST'S SHAW'S CORNER

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A Tale of Two Cities with the League of Harmony  Saturday 29 June 19.30

A fascinating and rare opportunity to hear the League of Harmony, an original eighteenth century cello and harp play a carefully researched programme of music composed in London and Paris towards the end of the same century. This is the type of music that would have been played at the dedication of this church in 1778, which indeed featured a musical recital as well as cakes and wine....so we'll be offering those as well! 

Tickets £10.00 (booking fee applies) www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-tale-of-two-cities-with-the-league-of-harmony-tickets-60063453406?utm_term=eventurl_text

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Così fan Tutte with the Felici Opera Company: Friday 17 May 19.00

A fully staged  and costumed performance in English from this popular opera company. Tickets £30 to include a glass of wine: retiring collection to Breast Cancer Care. Email: zoe.jasko@feliciopera.com

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Ayot's Forgotten Postmistress: Saturday 11 May 2019 18.30 with Professor Leonard Conolly

Now barely legible, a headstone in the graveyard of the Palladian Church is inscribed with the names of Ambrose Lyth (died 1930, aged 54) and his wife Jisbella Georgina Lyth (died 1964, aged 79). Ambrose lived in Ayot only briefly, dying just six weeks after being appointed village postmaster in 1930. But Jisbella, who became village postmistress on Ambrose's death, lived in Ayot until her own death. Long forgotten, Jisbella was once described by a London newspaper as “the most remarkable character in the village next to Bernard Shaw.” 
In the mid 1950s, Jisbella told her life story to her friend Romie Lambkin, an Irish writer then living in Ayot. The story remained unpublished, however, until it came to the attention of Canadian Shaw scholar Leonard Conolly, who arranged for its publication in December 2018 by the Academy of the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, as Bernard Shaw's Postmistress: The Memoir of Jisbella Georgina Lyth.  A limited number of copies of Bernard Shaw's Postmistress will be available for sale at the church: see more details below.
/www.shawsociety.org.uk/whatson.html

With Professor Leonard Conolly 
and members of SHAW2020 
sponsored by the International Shaw Society at 
The Palladian Church, Ayot St Lawrence, Herts (closest railway station Harpenden)

Full of fascinating stories not only about Shaw but also about the idiosyncrasies of Ayot life in the 1930s, during the war, and immediately following Shaw's death (a chaotic time for the village).
Jisbella's memoir will be introduced by Professor Conolly and extracts from the memoir will be read by members of SHAW2020, the actors’ company affiliated to The Shaw Society. 
Cast List:  
Jisbella Lyth:      Vicky Ogden
Romie Lambkin: Julia Faulkner
Bernard Shaw:   Jonas Cemm
A limited number of copies of Bernard Shaw's Postmistress will be available for purchase 
(all proceeds to the church).


​Tickets £10 to include tea/coffee/soft drink/glass of wine. Tickets here (booking fee applies) www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ayots-forgotten-postmistress-tickets-59896466945

Why not enjoy a meal at the Brocket Arms afterwards? They will be offering a special fixed priced menu so do call to enquire/ reserve:  01438 820250 or bookings@brocketarms.com

Past Events

In 2018 we have hosted a number of events: take a look here. We will be publishing our 2019 programme on the website in early January so do visit! 

Oboe and Piano

 Recital of Music for Oboe and Piano with David Cowley and Bryan Evans: ​29 March

Choral

!00 Years of  Musicals: 17 June with Beth Clarence and Benjamin Frolich

A Box of Opera Delights: 30 June with the Felici Company (pictured above)

Music with Friends: 1 July with Kimpton Village Choir

​Welwyn Garden City Male Voice Choir: 11 August


Annual Art Show

Our Show has been running for over 40 years, and makes an important contribution to conserving our wonderful Grade 1 church building.A great selection of art from far and near in a number of styles, this year with a special participation of a Norman Ackroyd etching! Friday 8-Monday 11 June

Cello and Harp

League of Harmony (pictured above): 14 July, featuring Rosemary Edwards on baroque cello and Mike Parker (single action harpa).

Location

SErvices in  2020

Sadly many services have been cancelled as a result of Covid-19 (as at 5 November 2020). This means we will not be at the Village War Memorial on Sunday 8th November, although a poppy wreath will be laid and a two minute silence observed. You are more than welcome to come along.
Our Christmas service this year will take place at 21.00 on 24 December. If you'd like to help us decorate the church with hanging angels, please contact us so we can book you in for a time slot along with your own family group or "bubble".
​Usually  our services will take place on the third Sunday of the month at 11.30. After any of these services, in normal times, why not book yourself in for lunch at the lovely Brocket Arms, originally the monastic quarters for the old, now ruined church a short stroll away 01438 820250. At present the pub is closed because of Covid restrictions. 

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