We were grateful to the Rector and staff of St Mary’s Henley for hosting us for our College Carol Service on Friday 13 December. 900 pupils, parents and staff gathered to fill the church to hear the Christmas story told once again and sing traditional carols.
The service, conducted by the new Chaplain, the Revd Chris Briggs, began with Henry Johnston from Year 8 breaking the silence with his beautiful solo of the first verse of Once in Royal David’s City. The Shiplake Chorus sang Mary’s Child by Bob Chilcott, and Lullay, My Liking by Gustav Holst, and the Camerata reminded us of the inextricable link between Christmas and Easter by singing a modern version of Ave Verum Corpus by Ben Parry. The Lower School Chorale sang a striking jazz version of Silent Night.
The readings took us on a journey from the prophecy of Isaiah, through the words of peace from the prophet Micah, to the telling of the Christmas story in the Gospels. The traditional reading of the Incarnation from St John’s Gospel was read by the new Headmaster, Mr Tyrone Howe - “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth”.
The final reading, read by the Head Chapel Wardens Sydney Burnand and Charles Bradshaw, was taken from Cider with Rosie by Laurie Lee. It was a lovely description of carolling in the Cotswolds and told how Christmas ‘became real for them’ as they trudged through the snow up to ‘Joseph’s place’.
One highlight was the singing of College Carol. Each house taking a verse of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel and blasting out the chorus ‘Rejoice! Rejoice!’.
Our thanks go to our Director of Music, Mr Richard Curran, to Mr Paul Jones, to the choirs and readers, and to Embassy Brass for playing before the service and their highlights in the carols.
More than £1,400 was raised in the retiring collection for the work of the Churches in Reading Drop-In Centre for homeless people. Many thanks to those who attended for their kind generosity.
