A group of friends, about 15 in number, meeting in a private house in Chester for music making decided to give a concert one Sunday after Evensong in support of a roof appeal. They rehearsed in St John’s church in the afternoon and while having a tea break, left their instruments in The Lady Chapel. When they returned for the concert, to their horror they saw that there had been a heavy fall of plaster from the ceiling with dust and solid lumps everywhere. Miraculously, not a single instrument had been damaged and the concert was a success.

From this modest beginning in the 1960s the orchestra grew, performing at first during the last week in June when the Church held a Festival Week round the Feast Day of John the Baptist on 24th June, hence the name of the orchestra.

All concerts begin at 7.30pm. Tickets at the door £12 (£10 Concessions)

Dates for 2020

Sunday 26th April

Sunday 2nd June

Sunday 27th September