Blogging with The Best of Kingston!

I'm always astonished by the number of people who live in, work in or visit Kingston and who don't know about the historic All Saints Church in the Market Place.

With a history stretching back to Saxon Kings in the ninth century, this church must rank as Kingston's greatest treasure. The borough's only Grade I listed buiding, it is home to monuments stretching over centuries, from the grand (noblemen, Prime Ministers' wives) to the heart-rending (ten children from one family dying within months of each other). It is well worth a visit for its historic interest, but it as just as good as a place to sit in peace and reflect.

It has a strong musical tradition, with a choir of Cathedral standard singing a Morning Eucharist and Choral Evensong every Sunday (respectively 9.30 and 6.30). The organ, built by Frobenius in 1988, is widely regarded as one of the best in the country and many of our finest living organists have played it. The church is regularly used for evening concerts and also plays host to a series of free lunchtime concerts on Mondays throughout three seasons each year.

Over the next few years we are planning a major project to refurbish the interior of the church and restore it to its former glory; to build an extension which will allow us to espand the number of activities we can accommodate; and generally to restore the church to its place as a living resource for everybody at the heart of the town.

If you want to know more about this magnificent church, or about our appeal, visit our website at www.allsaintskingston.co.uk.