HIRING THE ABBEY FOR A CONCERT

The musical history of Waltham Abbey is almost as long as that of the Abbey itself. It’s great beauty and stunning acoustics have encouraged music of the highest standards right back to the 16th Century, when Thomas Tallis was organist, and beyond.

The present mixed choir still maintains the highest standards of musical excellence, performing a large and varied repertoire spanning the centuries of choral music.

The Abbey boasts some excellent facilities, and has proved very popular with visiting choirs in the past. We have catered for Cathedral Choirs, Chamber Choirs, Choral Societies & School groups both great and small. The Abbey Church has been hired for a variety of reasons, concerts, recitals, recordings & dramatic productions.

Situated on the borders of Essex & Hertfordshire, the Abbey is easily accessible from the M25 (junctions 25/26) and also by public transport. The town itself has a wide array of public houses, curry houses, Italian, Greek & Chinese restaurants all thoroughly approved by the choir of Waltham Abbey!

WHAT DO WE HAVE TO OFFER?

• The organ, housed in the west gallery with the console in the chancel, is a large 3 manual English Romantic Organ, largely the work of J.W.Walker and Sons. Capable of a great deal of power, it is an extremely versatile instrument with all the mod. cons! MORE DETAILS.
• The Chamber organ, by Vincent Woodstock, available at A=440 and A=415. Special tunings and temperaments by arrangement.  Specification: 8'4'2'
  
• The piano, at present there is a top of the range Technics electric piano available, the Abbey also houses a grand piano on loan from the Metropolitan Police Male Voice Choir for use in recitals and concerts.
• Staging, is available with instructions for assembly & removal. All the furniture in the chancel is moveable to create a large amount of space for your group.
• Seating capacity. The main body of the church (Nave) will seat comfortably 170 people, the side aisles (much of which faces inwards) will seat around 130.
• Changing facilities. The Choir Song Room provides ample space for changing and/or extra rehearsal space. There are toilet facilities for both choir and audience use. For larger groups, the Lady Chapel, situated at the far right of the church building, can be used.
• Refreshment facilities. There is a wide selection of drink making facilities available for you to use.
• Concert’s Verger. (included in the hire fee) He/she will be around for the entire evening to ensure that your proceedings run as smoothly as possible.
• Sound system, (including loop for the hearing impaired)
• If you require any of the extra facilities available to you – please indicate this when booking the church.

HIRE FEES

For current hire fees please contact the Music Department or the Parish Office

REHEARSALS

This is largely negotiable but dependant on other church functions (weddings/funerals) and needs to be booked from outset wherever possible.

CONTACT

The Parish Office, Abbey Church Centre,  Abbey Gardens, Waltham Abbey, Essex, EN9 1XQ
Telephone: (01992) 767897
email: info@walthamabbeymusic.co.uk