THERE will be a Festival of Arts event staged at St Mary's Priory Church, Abergavenny during the first week of June.

But it will not only feature in the church, but also in the adjoining Priory Centre and the Tithe Barn as well as in the Festival Pavilion which will be situated in the courtyard outside the Priory Centre.

Entitled Heavenly Glory, the festival will start on Wednesday, June 1 with choral vespers sung by the trebles of St Mary's church choir, combining plainsong and contemporary music.

A reception at 6pm will open the festival and the art exhibition in the Priory Centre which has been overseen by Pauline Griffiths, owner of The Art Shop.

It will feature painter Andrea McLean, illustrator Rachel Best and ceramicist Jacqueline Leighton Boyce as well as ceramics and prints from the late Simon Carroll.

On the Saturday there will be mediaeval music provided by three classical musicians known as Byrde. In the Tithe Barn talented young Abergavenny photographer Sophie Foulkes will have some of her work displayed.

Renowned quilter Vicky Glynn will have her work on show in the Lewis Chapel in St Mary's and during the day food will be served in the Festival Pavilion, with diners entertained by a lunchtime recital from the Newman Quartet, comprising fourth year students from the Royal College of Music and Drama.

In the evening Abergavenny Borough Band will play at a concert in the church. The Friday morning starts with world renowned author and storyteller Daniel Morden and at lunchtime there will be a recital by Sean Montgomery.

At 5pm choral evensong will feature the Welsh Camerata, a choir specialising in European classical music from the Baroque, Renaissance and Middle Ages.

Local children and musicians will be in the church at 7pm for their production of the popular Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.

On Saturday, June 4 baritone Jonathan Pugsley and pianist Sarah Murphy will give a lunchtime recital and choral scholars from St Peter Collegiate Church, Ruthin will perform at evensong.

They will also take part in a gala concert as part of the Festival Chorus with the church choir and invited local singers. This will feature the Welsh Sessions Orchestra conducted by Tim Pratt.

On Sunday the Festival Eucharist will be led by the Bishop of Monmouth, the Right Rev'd Dominic Walker and the festival will end with a celebratory luncheon in the Pavilion where music will be provided by Pete Scaddan's Jazz Band.

Tickets are available from the box office in the Priory Centre which is open 10am - 5pm weekdays and until 4pm Saturdays or ring 0844 871 8699.