Carols by Candlelight 2025

St. Augustine's annual Carols by Candlelight service took place at 3pm on Sunday 7th December.

Discarding paper in favour of scrolling lyrics projected high onto the wall to the right of the altar, the service took us on an Advent journey from the annunciation of one angel, "The Angel Gabriel", to the glorious proclamation of a heavenly host, "Hark the Herald Angels Sing".

During the first part of the service, beautifully presented by the children of the parish, who focused on a series of words capturing the qualities of those who watch and wait for the coming of the Saviour as they progress through Advent - accompanied throughout, and culminating in, the sweet melody of the "Little Donkey".

The second part of the service highlighted the plight of those for whom journeys, whether physical or metaphorical, are long and difficult. An exquisite rendering of Howard Goodall's "Refuge" by the wonderful Cantabile, followed by a reading of the poem "Kindness" by Naomi Shihab Nye, reminded us all of how lonely and isolated people can be, and that journeying is often as much about how we help other people cope with theirs, as it is about how we handle ours.

The final part of the service was, prematurely but gloriously, a celebration of the arrival of Jesus: from the hushed reverence of "Silent Night" from the whole congregation, to the irresistible strains of "Keresimesi Odun De O" ("Christmas is here") from our African Choir, to one final magnificent outpouring of joy, decanted and descanted by our wonderful choir.

And one very special moment just before that final hymn: a video message from Anshu and two other Sheroes from the Chhanv Foundation, the Indian charity whose work to help survivors of acid attack we have been supporting throughout the year. For these people, the journey is indeed long and difficult, beyond imagining.

And if, in kindness, we have succeeded in easing their pain in any way, then their message of thanks truly was a gift of the kind that captures the spirit of Christmas.

Thank you to all involved with the organising and running of the event and to you all who came out and supported it. The Church looked so beautiful and the mince pies delicious - everyone worked very hard to make the afternoon a success.

£304.96 was raise in donations and hamper raffle, which will be split between the Chhanv Foundation and the Project for our own Parish's maintenance.

Thank you! Enjoy some pictures and videos of the afternoon.