Handel’s Messiah Comes to St Cross This Christmas
Become Part of St Cross: Volunteering at the Hospital
H.M.S. Pinafore at the Hospital of St Cross: Why This Beloved Comic Opera Still Charms Audiences Today
Michaelmas Fair Returns to St Cross – Bigger, Better and More Immersive Than Ever
A Victorian Voice Returns to St Cross: The Launch of The Private Diary of Brother George
The Smaller Stars of St Cross: Discovering Nature in the Gardens
Brother on a Bus: The Adventure Continues
When our wonderful Brother John, now famed as the Brother on a Bus first set off, nobody quite knew where the journey might lead.
What began as a simple idea quickly captured imaginations, taking audiences along for the ride as he explored new places, met new people and shared his experiences beyond the walls of St Cross.
The project offered a delightful reminder that curiosity does not diminish with age. It demonstrated that adventure can take many forms and that new experiences remain just as valuable later in life as they are in youth.
Along the way, followers enjoyed seeing familiar values of hospitality, kindness and community reflected in unexpected settings, proving that the spirit of St Cross can travel far beyond Winchester.
Now, the next chapter is about to begin.
This time, the journey is heading further afield, with Europe firmly in the sights of our intrepid traveller.
Plans are taking shape, routes are being considered and preparations are underway for another series of adventures that promise fresh discoveries, fascinating encounters and, no doubt, a few unexpected stories along the way.
We’re not giving too much away just yet.
For now, all we can say is: watch this space.
The next adventure is almost ready to begin.
Michaelmas Fair Returns This September
The countdown has begun to one of the most anticipated events in the St Cross calendar.
On Saturday 26 September, the Michaelmas Fair returns to the Hospital of St Cross, bringing together traders, entertainers, visitors and the local community for a celebration inspired by the great medieval fairs and pilgrimages of centuries past.
Last year’s event was our most successful yet. Thousands of visitors joined us throughout the day, filling the grounds with activity, conversation and discovery. Artisan food producers, local makers, traditional craftspeople and performers created an atmosphere that felt both historic and wonderfully alive.
Families explored the site, visitors discovered talented local businesses, and the historic surroundings of St Cross provided the perfect backdrop to a day of entertainment and community spirit.
Now planning is well underway for this year’s fair, and we’d love your help.
We’re looking for recommendations for traders, makers, food producers, performers and entertainers who would complement the traditional character of the event. Whether it’s artisan food and drink, heritage crafts, traditional demonstrations, musicians, storytellers or something entirely unexpected, we’re always keen to discover new additions that will delight our visitors.
If you know someone who would be a great fit, we’d love to hear from you.
The Michaelmas Fair is about more than a day out. It is an opportunity to celebrate local talent, support independent businesses, and continue a tradition of hospitality and community that has been at the heart of St Cross for nearly 900 years.
Watch this space for further announcements as this year’s programme begins to take shape.
Open Air Theatre Returns to St Cross: Two Wonderful Summer Evenings Still to Come
The curtain has risen on another season of Open Air Theatre at the Hospital of St Cross, and what a start it has been.
Bank Holiday audiences were treated to King Arthur & The Holy Fail from the brilliant Three Inch Fools, whose trademark blend of comedy, energy and theatrical inventiveness proved the perfect accompaniment to a warm summer evening. Picnics were unpacked, glasses raised, laughter echoed around the grounds, and once again St Cross demonstrated why open-air theatre and historic settings make such a magical combination.
But the summer season is far from over.
On Saturday 18 July, Oddsocks Theatre Company brings its unique interpretation of Romeo & Juliet to St Cross. Known for their joyful, accessible and highly entertaining productions, Oddsocks have built a loyal following by finding humour and humanity in even Shakespeare’s most dramatic works. Expect audience participation, music, laughter and a fresh perspective on one of the world’s greatest love stories.
Then, on Saturday 22 August, the season concludes with Gilbert & Sullivan’s much-loved comic opera HMS Pinafore. Packed with memorable songs, mistaken identities and maritime mischief, it promises to be the perfect way to round off the summer.
There is something uniquely special about theatre at St Cross. As the evening light softens across ancient stone walls and historic gardens, audiences gather to share stories in much the same way people have done for centuries. It is a reminder that while the setting may be historic, St Cross remains a living place where people continue to come together.
Tickets for both remaining performances are available now. Bring a picnic, gather friends and family, and join us for a memorable summer evening beneath the open sky.
Week 7
Brother John’s Journey – Week Seven Diary
11–17 June 2025 | From Land’s End to Winchester
Wednesday 11 June – Land’s End: A Windswept Finish
Brother John left Redruth at 09:40 on the T1 to Penzance, then continued via the 13:00 First Bus to Land’s End. The route took him through Porthcurno, home of the UK’s first subsea telegraph cable—“a marvel of Victorian ingenuity,” he noted.
The journey was made all the more memorable by the “quite remarkable” skill of the drivers navigating narrow lanes and stubborn tractors. Land’s End itself, however, he found “scruffy and over-commercialised,” its iconic signpost fenced off and photo rights sold. “I took my own,” he said, “trencher removed, lest it sail off to America.”
Returning on the 13:57 to Penzance, he then took the U4 at 15:38 to Marazion, where he was met by Lord St Levan and ferried by boat to St Michael’s Mount, the tide having hidden the causeway. His bags were hauled by cable wagon while he made the steep climb on foot—his host bounding ahead, while he “puffed like a grampus.”
Before departing Redruth, Brother John also stopped at a delightful local café, warmly welcomed by the owner, Dawn, in an establishment “emblazoned with Brother on a Bus material, photographs, etc.” It was a cheerful and heartfelt reminder of just how far the journey’s spirit had travelled.
Thursday 12 June – A Rainy Reception in Truro
In heavy rain, Brother John made the return crossing from the Mount and travelled via Penzance and Camborne, eventually reaching Truro on the T3 from Camborne at 16:35. There he was received by Bishop David Williams, formerly of Winchester and Basingstoke. “He is a tireless and gifted communicator,” John wrote. “Truro is very fortunate to have him.” The Bishop, fresh into post, was off to the Scilly Isles the next morning—leaving John to prepare for a complicated day ahead.
Friday 13 June – Weather, Hiccups, and a Railway Compromise
Leaving Truro at 09:30 on the U1, John travelled to Newquay, reunited with Inspector Paul, and caught the 11:15 GoCornwall 92 to Wadebridge, with driver Tony at the wheel. He had hoped for a scenic ride, but by Newquay’s edge, “the rain came pouring down,” clouding views and dampening spirits.
He continued to Padstow, then headed inland to Bodmin—but ran into an unexpected snag. Bus route changes meant no onward service to Plymouth. “Thereby failing to circumnavigate the UK by bus,” he wrote ruefully. A reluctant train journey followed. The heavy rain persisted; even the Saltash rail and road bridges were obscured as he arrived in Plymouth.
Needing to connect with the Stagecoach Gold to Paignton, he took a taxi—but just as the bus pulled away, he realised: his mobile was still on board. A quick-thinking Stagecoach driver directed him to Jay Clark, Station Manager, who sprang into action. Though the Gold bus was from Plymouth (with no radio link), Jay contacted HQ, confirmed the phone’s recovery, and arranged for its return.
Friday Evening – Newton Abbot and Racing Revelry
Brother John arrived in Newton Abbot at 18:33, met by Simon, and whisked to an 80th birthday party at the racecourse. “Felicity, my hostess and cousin, introduced me to the guests, and we watched the racing from a box balcony,” he wrote. “I lost a tenner; Simon won about £3.50.” Their home, with its rare apple orchard, was “a tranquil end to a turbulent day.”
Sunday 16 June – Eastbound Again
He resumed travel with the Stagecoach 7 at 09:38 to Exeter, then the 444 to Axminster, and the X53 to Bridport, passing the Jurassic Coast. “Think French Lieutenant’s Woman,” he mused as they dropped into Lyme Regis and Charmouth. At Bridport, his daughter Joanna collected him. “I was put straight to bed to shift the cold I’d picked up in Cornwall’s wind and rain.”
TUESDAY 18 June – The Road to Winchester
The final day began with the X37 to Dorchester, CR9 to Blandford Forum, and the 20 to Salisbury, where serendipity struck—a passer-by recognised him as a Brother from St Cross, astonished to see him on the street. With time before his 15:55 bus, he had tea and cake at the Red Lion Hotel, but slow service meant he ate his sandwich on the bus to Winchester, arriving at 17:05.
There, he was greeted by James Freeman, his journey’s mastermind; Darragh Morris of Stagecoach, his principal bus company supporter; and his sister Hermione. A final Stagecoach 61 to St Cross brought him home.
Final Reflections
“To return not just to a place, but to a community, is a rare and precious thing,” he wrote that night. He praised “the astonishing kindness of bus drivers and station staff,” and the unwavering support of James Freeman, who managed shifting timetables plus Gerry Harmon whose tireless work filling holes in the accommodation schedule were essential.
A journey of 1,000+ miles, 30 counties, and uncountable cups of tea, brought to a close—on time, on purpose, and with gratitude.
