Once per quarter, an excited, mystical lull descends upon St John's. People are found stumbling through the heavy church doors carrying lunch boxes, others with arms full of sketchbooks and pens. 

Some are here to simply bask in the peace and tranquility of St John's, calmly colouring in some of Juliet’s amazing Christian designs, others are crafting and sticking, creating cards and art from the array of materials provided. There is often someone drawing, and perhaps someone cross stitching in this ecumenical gathering of creatives. It doesn't matter if you really are't an artist, or you're a professional, faith unites across the denominations and generations. Most of the art lovers return retreat after retreat, showing their love for this special day which typically runs from 10am-3pm.

We are blessed at St John's to have an amazing Lay Minister (Juliet) who is also a professional artist, able to guide even the least confident artists if desired and who will lead in prayer too. Juliet is the owner of Colouring Calm which sells a selection of intricate, Christian contemplative colouring pages, allowing people to meditate on biblical phrases and imagery. Juliet is currently on an ordination pathway with the Church of England and is a familiar face around Ripon, with her water-colour artist husband and choral-scholar son.  

Art and Spirituality days are generally very peaceful, although there is usually a more chatty time later on, with free movement throughout. Artists can find inspiration from two-hundred year old St. John's or our award winning bio-diverse churchyard. And there is of course constant drinking of tea. 

​Book with Juliet on [email protected] or via the DLP : ​https://learning.leeds.anglican.org/event/art-and-spirituality-day-retreat-2/

​Prepare for superhuman energy with an intoxicating mix of gypsy, folk and classics, as the virtuoso musicians of ZRI take you on a journey down the Danube with the Hungarian gypsy bands who worked the steamboats going from Vienna to Odessa. ‘endlessly captivating performance had our audience clamouring for more’ (Cambridge Summer Music).

St John’s are proud to be a host for Ripon International Festival. Catch ZRI on September 12th here ! 
Tickets : https://www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk/events/zri-and-the-cafe-danube/

Boulanger: Rote Rosen & Tokay; Rossini: William Tell (finale)
Kreisler: Liebesleid; Mozart:  Rondo alla Turca; Satie: Gnossienne no.1
Brahms: Rondo alla Zingarese Schubert: Erlkönig, Der Leiermann
(song from Winterreisse), Scherzo: String Quintet in C

​We are privileged to be hosting, as part of Ripon International Festival The world- renowned Quatuor Agate. Performing sparkling Boccherini; atmospheric, rhapsodic Ravel and Dvorak at his most melodic and joyful. Based in Paris, the Quartet has performed at Verbier, Venice, Heidelberg, Melbourne and Montreal festivals, the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Alte-Oper Frankfurt, Philharmonie de Paris

 “gorgeously  warm tone for Haydn’s C Major Quartet, Op.20, slipping easily from the soulful intensity of the dark second movement into the lightness of the finale.’   The Times. 

Thursday 26th September 7.30pm
Tickets : https://www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk/events/quatuor-agate/

​Described as ‘true delight from start to finish’ (Gramophone) and ‘the leading piano trio of their generation’(Suddeutsche Zeitung ), the Trio are winners of major prizes in Germany, Italy, France and Netherlands, and have made numerous tours of the USA, Canada and Israel.  ‘they brought effortless musicianship and unity of thought to Tchaikovsky’s epic piano trio’   The Times   Brahms’ majestic cello theme is a dramatic and moving feature of a beautiful programme.

The Busch Trio will be performing here at St John’s as part of the Ripon International Festival on October 3rd. 
Tickets : https://www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk/events/the-busch-trio/

Haydn:  Trio in E flat XV: 22 no. 36  Beethoven: Trio in E-flat Op.70 no.2. Brahms:  Trio in B major Op.8

Chopin:  Polonaise Op 44, Mazurkas, Preludes, Nocturnes, Waltzes, Berceuse
Rachmaninov: Preludes   Tchaikovsky: Troika
Winner, at the age of 20, of the Nawrocki Prize for the most poetic interpreter in the Warsaw International Chopin Competition, Janusz has toured the world receiving the highest accolades for his profoundly moving performances.
‘magical tonal mastery… a velvet touch’ (Il Tempo, Rome)   ‘this was not just a recital, but a meditation, a labour of love’ (Standard, Ontario)  ’caressingly tender… white hot intensity … 
a remarkable blend of virtuosity and poetic  insight’ (The Australian)‘supremely musical  ….
a worthy successor to the great romantic pianists of the past’ (Faro de Vigo, Spain)

SATURDAY, 5th October 2024,
​Tickets - https://www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk/events/janusz-piotrowicz-piano/

​Presented by Ripon International Festival