This Place Meant: Sound Meditation at Church of St Mary & St Eanswythe

Hello friends

Welcome to our first stop of This Place Meant: An Immersive Sound Pilgrimage of Kent's Heritage.

We will be joined by guest artist Helen Davison at St Mary & St Eanswythe Church, Folkestone (Kent, UK).

The project reimagines the tradition of pilgrimage through sound, rooted in themes of movement, belonging and displacement, and exploring our relationship with the landscapes that shape us.
Travelling to 11 sites across the region’s ancient pilgrimage routes, we are collaborating with new artists and communities, continuing to map ideas of heritage — discovering what this place meant for those before us, and what it means today.

The sound bath is invitation for deep listening and contemplation.
Prior to the sound journey we are offering an optional short tour of this historic church (led by a local enthusiast). You are welcome to attend any part of the event using this ticket.

• 5.45pm Arrival and short informal church tour optional (approx 30 mins)
• 6:30pm Short break - hot drinks available(30 mins)
• 7pm Soundbath event (1 hour)
• 8pm Tea and reflection-social optional (approx 15 mins)

Please arrive at 6:45pm if you wish to take part in the soundbath only.

Please pay in accordance to your financial circumstances. If you can afford the upper prices you are helping us continue this work and making it available to those on lower incomes. Please book enough tickets for everybody in your party (including all children).

Suggested contribution: £5 - £20 per place.

We are offering a FULL SERIES ticket option for This Place Meant priced at £25 (come to as many events as you wish!)

The lead artists will introduce the soundbath meditation and offer some guidance on how to best to enjoy the experience. This contemplative exploration will take place to an improvised experimental "soundscape" using a variety of instruments.

BRING
This is primarly a seated experience though there is some limited space to lay on a mat if you wish. Please bring a mat, blanket and pillow

. You may wish to bring a small cushion to sit on. You can also stand if you wish to.

Given the time of year, we recommend you bring warm clothes as this is a heritage building which may be a little cool. Heating will be on.

Hot and cold drinks will be available.

The short church tour will be led by a local enthusiast - an opportunity to learn about the history, features and folklore of St Eanswythe church, home to Saint Eanswythe's remain, founder of one of the first Christian monastic communities for women in Britain. The short tour is suitable for a general public (non-specialist) audience.

The soundbath element will involve sitting in silence for 45-60 minutes. Children are welcome, provided they can sit in silence throughout the experience. The soundbath is not usually suitable for very young children, though they are welcome to attend the tour and workshop. Children must be supervised by an accompanying adult at all times.

Wherever possible, we would encourage attendees to walk, cycle or use public transport to attend the event. Folkestone is well-served by local buses, as well as train connections to Ashford, Dover, Ramsgate and London (with High Speed connections). There are also many local walking routes nearby in areas of historic and environmental interest including the sea front path to Sandgate/Hythe, Folkestone Warren, Kent Downs, The Weald and Romney Warren.

.Payers park car park
.Tram road car park

Thank you
Andre & Sasha
Sound Emergence, Part of And Gather CIC

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ABOUT THE ARTISTS

André Braga-Verissimo

André works across sound, DJing, puppetry & performance.

Founder & Artistic Director of Sound Emergence, a practice dedicated to the use of sound as a form of contemplation and deep listening. Bridging art, contemplative practices and heritage through sound and community asseemblage.
He has spent 15 years working as an arts facilitator in charities, education and art organisations.

Sasha Maye Bruce

Sasha is Co-Lead Artist on the Church & Coast Soundbath Pilgrimage and is the project’s Mental Health Advisor. Sasha is a psychotherapist, sound practitioner and body-based Pesso Boyden therapist who specialises in holistic and integrative therapy. She believes that the body is a powerful source of healing. Sasha is also a Mental Health First Aider and has 15 years of experience in management. Her corporate background has given her a unique perspective on the challenges of modern life.

Helen Davison (guest artist)

For This Place Meant, Helen has undertaken a short residency at St. Eanswythe’s, where they will present the results of their experience.

Helen is a process-led Performance Artist whose practice explores the moments where communication fails, leaning into action, gesture and sound as a way to share experiences of otherness. Through the palpable qualities of the voice and the resonances of the body, Helen seeks moments of connection beyond the self, with a desire to reach cathartic transformation.

Helen’s use of the voice stems from their research into sound, deep listening, and an ongoing practice of vocal improvisation as an extended form of touch..

Also check out other Arts events in Folkestone, Health & Wellness events in Folkestone.