A new way to experience local historic churches
The Romney Marsh Historic Churches Trust is delighted to be supporting an exciting new project which involves nine churches in the local region, including four on Romney Marsh.
The Church & Coast project, majority-funded by Arts Council England, will see local sound artists André Braga-Verissimo and Sasha Maye Bruce create immersive sound performances in nine historic churches. Beginning in Folkestone and Hythe, the soundbath “pilgrimage”, will travel along part of the old Saxon Shoreline and across Romney Marsh to Winchelsea, highlighting the vulnerability of coastal areas to flooding and climate change. Each event will feature a different guest artist, with both traditional and modern instruments.
The project provides new ways to engage with these ancient and atmospheric buildings.
Before each soundbath, audience members are invited to participate in a short church tour, led by a local enthusiast, to learn more about the architecture, history, features and folklore of these important buildings. There is also an optional workshop to learn more about the musicians and instruments.
During the soundbath, which lasts 45-60 minutes, audience members are invited to close their eyes and listen to an improvised musical soundscape, created using different instruments. The events include time for refreshments and discussion. The project encourages people to visit different churches in the local area.
Photos from events at St. Mary & Eanswythe’s Church in Folkestone.
Tickets are Pay What You Can, or free for those on low incomes.
The events start in April and run through to the end of July (for dates see poster below).
This is a pilot event series for a national project, which the artists hope to repeat in North Kent and other vulnerable coastal areas such as East Anglia, subject to future funding.
Further details about this project
Background to the project
Since 2022, sound artists André Braga-Verissimo and Sasha Maye Bruce have been running popular sound bath events at Folkestone’s Parish Church of St Mary & St Eanswythe.
Following the success of the events, the pair have been awarded funding to bring the project to communities between Folkestone and Winchelsea, taking in some of Kent’s most beautiful medieval churches.
“To-date our project has been based at Folkestone Parish Church, home to the holy relics of Folkestone’s Patron Saint, the Anglo-Saxon princess St Eanswythe. People visit the site from all over the world - we have been inspired by this idea of pilgrimage to take our project on a journey to other local communities.” (André Braga-Verissimo)
About soundbaths
Sound Emergence creates live sound bath experiences that facilitate meditation, inner exploration, and community connection. Through the sound of instruments such as gongs, monochord, percussion, singing bowls and voice, they provide immersive experiences tailored to specific locations, such as historic buildings and outdoor environments. By engaging with sound and music in these settings, participants are invited to embark on a journey of self-discovery, harnessing a deeper connection with themselves and the world around them.
“It’s an ancient practice – a form of meditation or self-reflection, guided by sound. The experience is made all the more powerful by using sacred buildings, where people have worshipped for hundreds of years. Some of these churches were built on other sacred sites that pre-date even Christianity. Eanswythe’s day was a really interesting point in history, when fledgling Christianity overlapped with other ancient cultures, described as Pagan. It’s wonderful to feel the atmosphere and craftsmanship of these buildings, and to offer a new way to engage with these important places.” (André Braga-Verissimo)
Celebrating local history
Participants can learn more about the history, features and folklore of the ancient buildings with a pre-event short tour, guided by local heritage enthusiasts. In addition to the individual church communities involved, the Romney Marsh Historic Churches Trust is supporting the project. People of all faiths and none are welcome to participate.
In the middle ages, many people would have travelled along parts of the Saxon Shore Way – an ancient coastal pathway that links Gravesend in North Kent to Hastings in the East – on their journey to holy sites like Canterbury and Rochester. The coastline would have looked very different in the seventh century, at the time of Eanswythe.
“Our project will travel from the cliff-top of Folkestone, along parts of the old Saxon Shoreline and down to the low-lying area of Romney Marsh. We’ll finish in Winchelsea – a town that was built when the ancient port of Old Winchelsea was completely engulfed by the sea. During this time of climate uncertainty we want the project to highlight the vulnerability of coastal landscapes to rising sea levels – erosion, flooding, habitat loss – we could lose important heritage sites and even entire communities in the years to come. ” (Sasha Maye Bruce)
Experience new music and instruments
André and Sasha are working with guest musical collaborators for the project, including local talent and artists from further afield.
The soundbaths will engage with the unique atmosphere of each church. Shortly before each event, participants can join an optional informal workshop – an opportunity to meet the artists involved, learn about their instruments and create an improvised piece of music.
A wide range of instruments will be used, from ancient to modern.
Open to all
The whole project has a Pay What You Can ticket model, to reduce financial barriers for those wishing to attend.
“It is important to us that people on very low incomes can attend for free. We want people to try this out and experience the benefits of sound – sound baths are a great way for people to take some individual time out for resetting the mind and body. At each event we’ll introduce the artists and do some guided breathing, but after that the attendees can just close their eyes and listen deeply. ” (Sasha Maye Bruce)
