The last weekend in April was the chosen time for the centenary celebrations, to mark 100 years since the consecration of St. John's church in 1907. The Saturday events included:
Around 70 people attended the talk by Lindsay Benoist, which covered a lot of the history of the English-speaking community in St. Raphaël towards the end of the 19th century and in particular the establishment of the Anglican church. After services in a temporary chapel until 1906, Saint John’s was constructed and consecrated in 1907. All Saints had been built earlier to serve the English proprietors and hotel visitors who felt the need for a separate and more accessible church in Valescure. For many years both churches operated in parallel. The talk was illustrated with historical photos of the town, the churches, some of the villas and the people of the era
Afterwards, participants were invited to migrate up to All Saints to see the interior of the church, and to look at the exteriors of one or two of the villas which date from that period. At All Saints we were welcomed by the Curate, who told us the church was well used by the local French Roman Catholic population.
After Cream Tea back at St. John's, there was a short interval before the evening concert given by the church choir, who performed works by Elgar, Wesley, Stainer, Aston, Rutter and Lloyd-Webber before embarking on excerps from "The Armed Man" by Karl Jenkins.
 In the church yard of All Saints, Valescure |
 The Altar, All Saints |
 Leaving All Saints church, Valescure |
 The choir performing in concert |
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South of France. |
Page created May 2007 |