CONCERT goers must have done a double take on Sunday when the Archbishop of Canterbury turned up at Edington Priory to sing in the choir.

The church was hosting a concert of JS Bach's St John's Passion, conducted by the Bishop of Salisbury, to raise money for the Sudan Medical Link but guests had no idea such an important member of the church would be entertaining them.

The Rev Graham Southgate, the vicar of Edington, said: "This was a private visit by Rowan Williams and he came very much as Rowan Williams simply singing in the choir and not as the Most Reverend and Right Honourable Lord Archbishop of Canterbury.

"That is why the posters did not say starring the Archbishop of Canterbury or anything like that. He was simply a choir member and he sang a solo. He has, I think, a very nice sounding bass voice and took the part of Peter."

The Bishop of Salisbury organises four concerts a year in aid of the Sudan Link and invites friends to sing in the choir and play in the orchestra. A spokesman from the Bishop of Salisbury's office said the Archbishop of Canterbury was a good friend of the Bishop and took the rare opportunity of a weekend off to take part in the concert.

The next concert in aid of the Sudan Medical link will be on July 30 at Milton Abbey.