The Sacred Wing happens because some members of Gay Abandon and some members of the congregation of All Hallows Church in Leeds like to sing sacred choral music and get a few friends to join in.

We come together every autumn to prepare a community concert in December. The first part of the evening is an accessible choral piece, sometimes recognising World Aids Day at the beginning of the month by remembering those we have lost. After coffee and mince pies, the second part is our take on the traditional Festival of Lessons and Carols - the chorus leads everyone in singing popular Christmas carols, and the readings reflect our experiences throughout the year and at this season.

Our most recent concert featured Handel's Messiah. We also welcomed a team from the South Bank Show, who were planning a feature on how the work has become part of our culture (broadcast on 12th April 2009).

The concerts are free, but we take a retiring collection which covers minimal expenses and leaves a profit to be donated to local Aids charities. As the concerts are very popular, it's a good idea to arrive early if you want to be sure of sitting on a chair.

Membership of the chorus changes from year to year, but a core team and our musical director, David Fligg, has provided continuity since we started. We are lucky to be able to use All Hallows which aims to be an open, welcoming and inclusive church. (One evening the then vicar, Ray Gaston, introduced us as the sacred wing of Gay Abandon; it's not quite accurate, but we liked the name so much that it stuck.)

Like its audience, the Sacred Wing includes people of different faiths or none and a range of sexualities. The only membership criteria are an enjoyment of singing sacred music and an abhorrence of homophobia.If you'd like to sing with us, just drop us an e-mail.