12 December 2019
The final week of term began with Woldingham’s annual Carol Service in the wonderful setting of Westminster Cathedral. Students, staff, alumnae, governors, parents and guests gathered to celebrate Christmas with a special service of carols and readings.
Headmistress Mrs Hutchinson warmly welcomed everyone before Amaris sang two beautiful pieces - Benjamin Britten’s ‘Corpus Christi Carol’ and ‘O Oriens’, set to music by Olivia in Year 10.
After a reading from the prophet Isaiah (9:1-7) by Head Girl Sarah, Sixth Former Georgie sang a lovely solo first verse of Once in Royal David’s City from the cathedral’s balcony and choir members from Woldingham and St Francis’ Primary School began to make their way up the nave. The cathedral soon resounded with the joyful singing of the whole congregation.
Before reading the opening prayer, Woldingham’s chaplain, Fr Gerry Devlin, added his welcome and said, “May we take time to open our eyes to those around us in the streets. To help, to heal, to comfort and befriend as we prepare today to celebrate the great moment in time when Jesus was born and our world changed forever.”
The service was a wonderful celebration of Christmas, in word and in song, and it was watched live by more than 100 members of the community who were unable to be there in person. If you missed it, or would like to see again, a recording of the whole service can be watched by clicking here.
The reception held after the service at the Grosvenor Hotel was a lovely opportunity for members of the Woldingham community, old and new, past and present, to catch up over mulled wine and mince pies.
