As with Keble College just recently, every now and then a church or chapel is lucky enough to raise the money to install a new organ. But it’s very rare indeed for a parish church to be celebrating the arrival of a Steinway grand piano – not just temporarily for a single concert, but as a permanent addition to the church’s facilities. But that’s what has happened to the historic church of St Peter and St Paul in Deddington, parts of which date back to the thirteenth century.

The Steinway has been given to the church by a donor who wishes to remain anonymous.

“The instrument was left to Deddington in memory of Chris Halek, director of nursing in Coventry, and keen amateur choral singer with the chamber choir Choros,” the donor told me. “She was always a strong supporter of the exciting concerts which have been given in Deddington's beautiful church over a dozen or more years. She was especially excited by the annual Advent Carols by Candlelight given by Choros, and by the staged operas performed as part of the Deddington Festival.”

To launch the new Steinway, talented young Oxfordshire pianists will give an inaugural concert at the church. On Saturday 15th October they will play both famous and less well-known piano classics, plus some jazz numbers: pianists Seth Cox, Michel Ng, Fenella Lockyer and Jack Ventress will be performing works by Bach, Beethoven, Brahms and Chopin, whilst Peter Oxley (pictured) is the jazz enthusiast.

Promoted by the newly formed Church Arts Group, this concert will be the start of a series of regular concerts featuring Deddington’s new grand piano. Tickets are available online from www.wegottickets.com, in person from the Flower Shop, Market Place, Deddington, or on the door.