Around 200 revellers descended on one of England’s biggest parish churches for a pounding drum and bass rave.
Towering speaker stacks and an illuminated DJ booth were erected on the chancel above the dancefloor as the party went on well into the night at historic All Saints’ in Leamington Spa.
Ravers danced in the nave at the cathedral-sized venue, swigging cans of Red Stripe and other drinks from a stand.
Lasers illuminated the vast hall, with many of the revellers taking selfies and video in the impressive Gothic-style surroundings at the town centre venue, which is part of the Church of England.
The Grade II-listed building, located on a site of worship dating back more than 900 years, had the look of a nightclub as doormen made tight checks on bags and clothing as ravers turned up on Saturday night.
Sign up for all of the latest stories
Start your day informed with Metro’s News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.
Named ‘Holy Bass’, the event was hosted by the Riggamortiz sound system and headlined by drum and bass stars DJ Hype and IC3.
The ‘junglist’ sound system was so loud the party could be heard from the heart of the spa town’s Jephson Gardens, around half a mile away.
One clubber said: ‘It was a well-organised event that had the feel of a dark and stormy drum and bass night with legit DJs and a surprisingly punchy sound system.
‘You could feel the floor shake, I think bits even fell from the roof when it was turned on.
‘There were a lot of people there who you wouldn’t expect to see enjoying drum and bass, drawn from different ages and nationalities, and there was a friendly atmosphere.
‘I always thought house music had the spiritual bragging rights with the endless “Jack Had a Groove” riffs and samples, but I’ll have to have a rethink after this gig.’
Entry on the door cost £10, with clubbers offered a token system for drinks from a stand within the main hall.
Just a few hours after the event, chairs were neatly back in place in time for Holy Communion on Sunday morning.
Holy Bass is due to return to the church on November 1.
Part of the Diocese of Coventry, All Saints is built on a site which has been a place of worship since at least the 12th Century, with the current towering building taking shape in 1842.
In recent years, it has opened up its doors to a wide cross-section of the community, with a Ukrainian cafe and Warwick and Leamington LGBT+ Christians having an established presence inside the building.
Alongside a regular programme of services, upcoming events include a ‘Glamour & Groove’ charity catwalk show and a performance by the International Film Orchestra.
The church is also transforming a long-neglected green space outside into a community garden.
All Saints has previous experience of the town’s after-dark scene through its work with Nightlight, a weekly project offering free hot drinks and a listening ear to those out and about.
Given its versatile and durable nature, dance music has a habit of turning up in unexpected places.
In February 2024, Canterbury Cathedral held silent discos held across four sessions over two days.
At the time, a cathedral spokesperson said the events would be ‘appropriate and respectful’ and that it was ‘not a rave in the nave’.
In 2023, Metro reported how urban explorers found a rave in a nuclear bunker designed for local government functioning during World War Three.
The visitors walked into the sunken shelter, where a huge Cold War-era map still adorns a wall, to find the party getting underway.
House music was pumping out and the revellers had added disco lighting to the Brislington War Room, a Grade II-listed site in Bristol.
Do you have a story you would like to share? Contact josh.layton@metro.co.uk