One of London’s most famous churches, St James’ Piccadilly, in the heart of the West End, is hosting an eclectic musical concert and poetry evening for the Stop the War Coalition – which opposes the British government’s policy on Iraq.
The event takes place at 7pm on Thursday 24 April. St James hosts a range of high profile concerts – mostly in the classical tradition and some for charity. But US rockers REM have also played there.
Composer and pianist Michael Nyman, mezzo soprano Janet Shell, Iraqi oud player Ahmed Mukhtar, journalists Martin Bell and Yasmin Alibhao-Brown, Lancet editor Dr Richard Horton, and poet Adrian Mitchell are among those taking part in the special benefit.
Performers at the event will contribute a reading, a poem, a song or a piece of music that changed their lives in some way, or which they return to again and again for particular inspiration.
Actor Mirriam Margolyes says she would like to have taken part, but is in New York at the moment. She has told the organisers that she would have read her favourite poem, ‘The Pulley’ by George Herbert (1593-1633).
She commented: “An Anglican minister, crossing the time & culture boundaries for this old Jew. His loving message moves me, even though I don’t believe in his, or any g-d. And yet, I belong to two synagogues!”
St James’ Piccadilly has strong Royal connections. Yet it also has an anti-establishment image. A previous rector used to symbolically ‘break’ a staff to indicate that it was no longer controlled by the rich but open to the poor, as the Gospel requires.