Chrysalis Community Choir
The Community Choir is a brand new initiative for Chrysalis. The aim of the choir is for people from the local community who love to sing to get together, meet new friends and have fun whilst singing a variety of styles including Gospel and Musical Theatre.
We are fast approaching the first rehearsal and things are progressing really well. Over 30 singers have already signed up to join the new initiative which starts rehearsing on Wednesday 5th November at the McMinn Centre Chesham for 5 weeks.
If you love singing and feel your voice hasn’t been used since those dim and distant school assembly days there are still places available. Please contact office@chrysalis.org.uk or 01494 581115 for an information pack and get warbling!
‘Hatching’ into a new phase
Since Nicki and Mandy became ‘Mums’ in 2007 it has become clear that national (or international!) Chrysalis tours were no longer so practical for them.
Some years ago they had felt a leaning towards presenting Chrysalis locally on a more regular basis in the Trusts home town of Chesham to establish a working reality of this type of relational evangelism. Now they feel God is again calling Chrysalis to engage more with the local community just as it did when it started back in 1992.
Nicki and Mandy got thinking and praying to see exactly what God had in mind for them and Chrysalis. Several ideas came out that were developed and brought to the Trustees to consider. The Trustees were encouraged by all the ideas, and after more prayer, they decided to proceed with the local choir proposal. (see separate item)
With this new initiative, the Trustees had to look at the role of Development Director. The change in focus from national expansion to more local work, meant that going forward, a Development Director was no longer a necessity. Consequently the difficult decision was made to not renew Jo’s Contract when it expires in January 2009. It was some relief when Jo admitted that she had been contemplating becoming a full time Mum as both her girls will be at school/pre-school from next year.
So the Classical Team will continue to tour and work alongside local churches in the UK. The Cabaret and main teams will not completely cease to exist but whilst not touring as regularly as they have done, they will be available for certain projects and people will be advised to ring the office if they are interested in using these teams. Chrysalis Rocks is still ‘in the wings’ but we hope they are on the road in 2009.
We do believe that Chrysalis is now ‘hatching’ into our next phase. We are all excited by the Community Choir, and other local projects. We believe God has great plans for Chrysalis. Thank you for your backing in the past and we would ask for your continued prayers as we move towards these new ventures.
Our Patron - Fiona Castle
We are delighted to have as our patron, Fiona Castle, a partner and supporter of Chrysalis for many years. Fiona was born in the Wirral in 1940 and at the age of 9 went to a boarding school in Surrey to study ballet and theatre arts.
She worked in the theatre from 1956 as a dancer and singer and was introduced to her husband by mutual friend Eric Morecambe, marrying him in 1963. They were married for 31 years before Roy died of lung cancer in 1994 and have 4 children.
Fiona has written 12 books and 5 anthologies of poems and prose. She had a regular slot on Premier Christian Radio for 5 years. She travels the country speaking about aspects of her Christian faith, at a variety of events such as Salvation Army and Activate, an organisation encouraging women to take God’s love into the community in a practical and relational way.
She is also involved with various charities, such as Oasis Trust and Global Care, for which she has had the opportunity to travel abroad on many occasions, and others, like Cancer Research UK and Rotary.
She enjoys trying to keep fit and has run the London Marathon twice, for the first time in 2001 and, she says, probably for the last time in 2005!!
She was awarded the OBE for her services to charity.
And a few words from Fiona ....
I am delighted to have been asked to be patron of Chrysalis Arts Trust. Having worked with a number of the CAT artists, I am excited to see talented Christian performers using their gifts to spread the message of the Gospel. Their professionalism coupled with the support of the Chrysalis Arts Trust should ensure that this type of creative outreach makes a tremendous impact on today's society.
I would wholeheartedly recommend that you have Chrysalis for an evening’s entertainment at your church, to help reach out to those on the fringes who do not yet know Jesus. They have performed several times at my own home church, Goldhill Baptist, where they have successfully touched people, who would not normally step foot inside a church.
