The many, varied Christmas and Epiphany services were well supported once again at St Andrew’s. From the noisy, bustling Crib Service (where many in the congregation were under five years of age), to the quieter more reflective Epiphany service and procession of Wise Men, the people of Chesterton helped to dispel the myth that Christianity is dead in the UK. Over 600 people came to St Andrew’s across the Christmas period, the largest congregations present at the service of Nine Lessons and Carols on Christmas Eve and the Family Worship for Christmas morning.
At the candlelit carol service the central focus was the crib, with the African crib figures central and lit, raised on a stage so more people could see them easily. A large choir of some 60 singers led the congregation through the familiar carols and Christmas narrative. On Christmas Day “Alice the red-haired Angel” kept the children’s attention as the story of the first Christmas was told once again.
Comments of appreciation from members of the congregation were offered at each service, reflecting the considerable amount of hard work that so many church members had put into the decoration of the church, the music and the liturgy.
Christmas has been a joyful and happy time and whilst numbers in attendance is not the means by which to measure success, it has been encouraging (especially during the interregnum) that so many have come to explore again the truth and meaning of Christmas.