Sharp Festival

Two events will take place in October 2025 to celebrate Hartburn's association with the magnificent Sharp Family, born in Rothbury, who were leading lights in the Enlightenment. In Northumberland the family is now most famous for John Sharp's philanthropic activities at Bamburgh Castle, where he was a trustee of Lord Crewe's Charity. Probably the most famous sibling, however, was John's younger brother Granville , who is celebrated as the "father of abolition".

John Sharp DD was vicar in Hartburn between 1749 and his death in 1792. He was also a Prebendary Canon at Durham Cathedral, Archdeacon of Northumberland, and he became Perpetual Curate of Bamburgh on the death of his brother Thomas in 1773. John used his considerable influence in support of his brother Granville's work to abolish the slave trade, in particular through preaching and raising money for the cause. We will be celebrating that association using John Sharp's own words from an influential sermon he preached throughout the North East in 1787 and 1788.

Two events are planned: a choral evensong to be sung by Newcastle Cathedral Choir at St Andrew's, including John Sharp's arresting sermon on abolition, on Sunday 5th October 2025 at 3pm, to be followed by tea and a talk by author Hester Grant, who wrote the biography of the Sharp siblings: The Good Sharps. The collection will raise money for the Oswin Project, a cause that would have undoubtedly been championed by John Sharp.

The following Saturday, 11th October, there will be a concert at St Andrew's, inspired by the Sharp family's love of music making and love of 'society': the Sharp's were very sociable. We will be entertained by the Westerley Trio and soprano Anna Dias, with money raised for the Hartburn Community Project and St Andrew's.

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Further information on the Sharps, abolition and Hartburn can be found here

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