Events at Dorchester Abbey
For generations people have brought their gifts and skills to enhance the life of Dorchester Abbey and this tradition continues as a huge variety of groups and organisations hire and use the Abbey each year as the venue for a wide and vibrant programme of concerts, theatre, visual arts and other events.
If you would like to hire the Abbey for your event then take a look at our information for hirers.
Birinus And All That..!
A Musical history of Dorchester Abbey from 635AD to the present day!
In the afternoon of Sunday January 11th we will perform Birinus and All That…, a short cantata telling the history of the Abbey, including:
- the establishment of the Cathedral by St Birinus in the 7th century,
- the building of the present church in the 13th century,
- the naughty monks and destruction of the monastery in the 15th,
- and the renovation of the church in the 19th, as well as the building of the School, (now the Village Hall), Rectory and Missionary College (later Hallidays antiques).
The work, for three singers, string trio and percussion, lasts about half an hour, admission is free and there will be an exhibition of facsimiles of historic documents, including the announcement by William the Conqueror that he was moving the diocese from Dorchester to Lincoln in 1072, and Richard Beauforest’s will, bequeathing the abbey to the village in 1554.
There will also be another chance to hear Henry and His Wives , an account of the much-married monarch and his unfortunate consorts, premiered in 2025.
As we enter the new year come and experience this musical journey Written and Composed by Tim Cook.
This is a fundraising event with FREE ENTRY and an opportunity to make a donation towards the upkeep of the abbey.
Sunday 11th January 2026, The concert starts at 3.00 pm and will last just over an hour.
| Moving Music concerts are offered by the charity Sound Resource, which promotes music for health and wellbeing.
Instrumental & song performances by talented young musicians, with sing-along songs led by Hannah Davey. 11.30am: Pate’s Grammar School musicians 2pm: Magdalen College School musicians
All are welcome, particularly people living with dementia, their family, friends and carers. Reserve places in advance for your preferred concert time: movingmusicconcerts@gmail.com; 01865 251305. Pay what you can at the door, guide £8.
More information: https://soundresource.org.uk/whats-on/
Dress warmly! |
More Details Coming Soon!
Dorchester Festival is an amazing 64 events raising money for Dorchester Abbey and, in 2026, Be Free Young Carers, a local carers charity. Come and see The Kings Singers, sing with John Rutter, folk with Steve Knightley & Rusty Shackle, dance to Jay Rayner’s jazz sextet, be fascinated by Ashmolean Director Xa Sturgis, mesmerised by poet Brian Bilston, race ducks, find scarecrows, laugh with Nick Page, cook and do historical trails and much much more!
Find out more on the Festival website here
More Details Coming Soon!