A festive looking St Andrew’s Church provided the setting for a most uplifting United Carol Service on the Sunday before Christmas Day.
The main body of the church, and the balconies, were well filled, with all Covid regulations duly adhered to, as organist, choir, members of Young Dublin Symphonia and soloist Tanya Sewell served up a real treat of seasonal music.
The readers, drawn from both churches, were Vincent Matzer and Hazel Caird from St Doulagh’s Church and Brian Brown and Linda Barry from St Andrew’s Church. The Christmas Gospel was read by The Rector.
Under the direction of organist Rodney Baldwin, the choir sang three pieces and student James Spedding accompanied the congregation in the singing of the favourite carol, Away in a manger.
Tanya Sewell stepped into the breech at short notice, when Lisa McGuinness fell ill, and sang two seasonal pieces, among them the popular, ‘The Little Road to Bethlehem’ by Michael Head.
However, it was the young people of the Young Dublin Symphonia who were the undoubted highlight under the direction of Bjarke Gunderson.
It was a joy to watch and listen to them – we are most fortunate indeed to have such young talent associated with the parish and we look forward to their continued involvement in services in the future.
The Rector said: “This was a most special, joyous occasion, and I am most grateful to all who took part. I know those present enjoyed it immensely for they told me so at the gate as they were leaving. It was great to see such a full church, but I was very conscious of all those who would have liked to have been present but, due to Covid, felt unable to be so.”
The offertory at the service was in aid of the Parish Charity Fund which is distributed to local and overseas charities every December.