A Hallelujah Moment at Bristol Beacon
On Sunday 15 March 2026, Renewal Choir marked a truly unforgettable milestone with Handel’s Messiah: A Soulful Celebration. A near-capacity audience of 834 people filled the hall for a Mother’s Day evening shaped by joy, community and a powerful sense of shared worship.
The concert forms part of Renewal Choir’s 20th anniversary year, celebrating two decades of singing and serving since our beginnings in September 2005.
Images from the Night
A musical feast of word, worship and celebration
The evening unfolded as a three-course feast of music and word. Bristol City Poet Sukina Noor opened the programme with a specially commissioned spoken-word reflection that gathered the room and prepared hearts for the journey ahead.
From there, the main musical programme offered a gospel-inspired re-imagining of Handel’s Messiah, blending soul, jazz, reggae and classical influences in a way that felt both fresh and rooted.
More than a performance
Under the direction of Kim Samuels, the concert carried the warmth and participation of gospel music throughout. Audience interaction, live musical energy and the joy of real voices in the room turned the event into a shared celebration rather than a passive concert experience.
Peaches Golding OBE CStJ guided the evening with grace and clarity as compère, helping shape the flow of the programme and warmly welcoming the audience into the story of the night.
“The atmosphere in the hall was incredible — it truly was a hallelujah moment as people from many backgrounds came together through music.”
Vernon Samuels, Co-founderVisitors came from across the UK and beyond
The event drew visitors from across the UK and abroad, reflecting the growing reach of Renewal Choir’s work and the strong pull of this milestone Mother’s Day concert.
The audience rose for Hallelujah
The evening built towards a breathtaking conclusion with the iconic Hallelujah Chorus. It was a fitting climax to a night shaped by praise, gratitude and togetherness.
Looking ahead with joy
This landmark event was made possible by choir members, musicians, guest artists, volunteers, partners and supporters working together behind the scenes and on stage.
Above all, we give thanks to God for His faithfulness over the past 20 years and for the opportunity to keep building bridges through music.
Voices of the Evening: Kim Samuels, Sukina Noor & Peaches Goldings
Three remarkable women who helped shape the spirit of the evening — through musical direction, spoken word and graceful hosting — each bringing their unique voice to create a powerful, shared experience.
WIth Kim our wonderful Choir Director at the helm, Renewal Choir really raised its game for this magnificent celebration event.
Bringing depth and reflection to the evening as her powerful spoken-word delivery opens Handel’s Messiah: A Soulful Celebration.
Peaches Golding OBE brought warmth, grace and a joyful sense of occasion for Renewal Choir’s celebration night at Bristol Beacon.