The musical stylings of Patrick Wolf are notoriously hard to pin down.

This singer/songwriter’s multi-instrumental talents have been attributed as alternative rock, baroque pop, folktronica – today, however, his back-catalogue is rendered in stunning acoustic simplicity, making allusions to pre-conceived genres seem juvenile. They are simply songs that tell stories, and we’re here to enjoy them within the confines of one of Oxford’s most impressive churches.

Patrick isn’t afraid to give us some context to these tales; he’s typically open-bookish and deliberately uninhibited. He talks us into the opening notes of ‘London’, echoing the chimes of Big Ben on the St John’s Steinway Grand and stunning the audience into an admiring silence with his mixed-up feelings towards the Big Smoke. Similarly impressive is ‘Paris’: here is a songwriter with an uncanny talent for conjuring a sense of place through combinations of notes.

Although other talented musicians are present, the centrepiece for tonight’s sonic banquet is naturally Patrick’s aptitude on an array of instruments. He flits systematically from piano to harp, tenor guitar to baritone ukulele – most of us don’t really know what the latter is, despite the player’s attempt to explain it. What we do know is that he’s a striking talent on every melody-maker he can get his hands on. Even watching Patrick tune up is strangely intoxicating, like listening to an unhinged music box being wound at an irregular tempo.

Earlier today, Patrick performed for Prince Charles. He recites us a vaguely patriotic poem that he wrote for the occasion, explains how he was all geared up for the formalities, only to be taken aback by the prince’s interest in his hair. He tells us that it was only the second most important performance of the day. We’re the first, and it genuinely feels special watching the eccentric performer as he belts out his anecdotal hymns for us. From opener ‘Wolf Song’ to ender ‘The City’, there’s a reverential quality to this evening’s performance that goes beyond its regal venue. Despite high ceilings and ceremonial seating, it’s been an intimate gig, and all the more memorable for it.