Published on 23 August 2010
Connaught Village, London W2, will be welcoming almost 100 horses to St John’s Church on Sunday 19 September to celebrate the 42nd anniversary of Horseman’s Sunday. The occasion will be marked by the procession and blessing of the horses by the local vicar, The Reverend Stephen Mason, in a ceremony that is unique to the Village.
The event, which has been taking place since 1968, marks the anniversary of a local protest to the proposed closure of stables to the north of Hyde Park. The occasion has grown into a community event, including a Church fete with local stalls selling food, drinks and crafts as well as family activities taking place throughout the morning and early afternoon.
Horseman’s Sunday will begin with a Church service at 10am inside St John’s Church which is situated adjacent to Connaught Village, the Hyde Park Estate’s retail quarter. The service will feature special music performances by the Church choir, including a rendition of Handel’s coronation anthem, ‘Zadok the Priest’.
Outside the Church, visitors will be able to enjoy a live jazz band, sponsored by the estate’s landlord, The Church Commissioners, as well as a drinks tents, local craft stalls, and children’s activities. There will also be a tombola and a raffle offering fantastic prizes including a week’s holiday in a Tuscan villa, a food hamper and champagne.
Reverend Stephen Mason of St John’s Church comments:
“We are really looking forward to this year’s celebration of Horseman’s Sunday and are happy that so many local businesses and residents are supporting the event to make it a memorable day. Horseman’s Sunday is an event, unique to Connaught Village, that celebrates tradition and a strong sense of community, within the picturesque setting of one of London’s most charming retail locations.”
Connaught Village is situated in the heart of central London, a stone’s throw from Oxford Street yet off the beaten track – the Village remains intimate and full of character. With a selection of fashionable boutiques including names such as Jimmy Choo Couture, Me and Em and Viola, alongside wonderful galleries and restaurants Connaught Village is the perfect mix of general and specialist retail, making up one of London’s most charming shopping destinations.
ENDS
23 August 2010
For more information, please contact:
Kelly Bradshaw
Halogen
020 7087 3260