WINCHESTER — A soprano and a classical guitarist will headline a one-night fundraiser concert Saturday to save a 12th-century church wall and its fading medieval paintings.
Katie Gilbert, a classically trained soprano trained at Oxford and the Birmingham Conservatoire, will perform Dowland’s melancholic lute songs alongside folk ballads from her native North East. Mark Eden, a concert guitarist who teaches at both the Birmingham Conservatoire and Winchester College, will accompany her on an 18th-century instrument.
Key Points
- ✅ Katie Gilbert and Mark Eden perform June 6 at St John the Baptist Church
- ⚡ Funds raised will repair water damage threatening medieval wall paintings
- 💡 Tickets available at Theatre Royal Box Office
This is the third fundraiser organized by the Friends of St John the Baptist, following a Winchester College Quiristers concert and an Index Cantorum Candlemas celebration. The church, one of Hampshire’s oldest parish churches, is Grade I-listed and contains medieval artworks at risk from persistent damp.
| Feature | Gilbert | Eden |
|---|---|---|
| Training | Oxford, Birmingham Conservatoire | Birmingham Conservatoire, Winchester College |
| Repertoire | Dowland songs, North East folk | Lute accompaniment on period instrument |
Organizers said the north wall repairs are estimated at £350,000 and must begin within two years to prevent irreversible damage to the 800-year-old paintings, including a rare depiction of the Last Judgment.
📋 By The Numbers
- 400 years — Anniversary of John Dowland’s death, honored in the program
- 800 years — Age of the medieval wall paintings at risk
Tickets cost £25, with a £10 discount for students and £15 for concessions. All proceeds go directly to the repair fund. Doors open at 7 p.m., with the concert starting at 7:30 p.m. No alcohol will be served in the historic nave.
💡 Pro Tip
Arrive by 6:45 p.m. to secure parking on nearby Church Street—spaces fill quickly for weekend events.
St John the Baptist has been a spiritual center in Winchester since the 1100s, surviving sieges, plagues, and the English Civil War. The Friends group, formed in 2019, has raised over £180,000 toward maintenance but says more is needed to meet English Heritage standards.
- 📊 60% of Hampshire’s Grade I churches face similar damp and structural issues
- 🔍 English Heritage has contributed £75,000 toward the project
- ⚠️ Repairs must start before winter or risk mold growth on the paintings
The concert marks a rare chance to hear Dowland’s music in the space for which it was likely intended—his laments often performed in candlelit church settings. The Friends hope the evening will draw 200 attendees to support the preservation of one of England’s most fragile heritage sites.