We had a fabulous event in the Asda store on Monday the 15th.
It’s the third year in a row we have had the Chandler’s Ford Churches Together choir with the Chandler’s Ford Boys’ Brigade Brass Band (@1CFBB) under the direction of bandmaster Simon Farrenden, with the Chandler’s Ford Street Pastors collecting for Christian Aid.
I think this year’s turnout was the best yet.
It’s the highlight of my Christmas season – where else would I get the chance to sing with a live band and a lot of excellent choristers with no audition! (My voice could at best be described as “average”.)
Chandler’s Ford Churches Together choir and Boys’ Brigade Band
I counted nearly 50 singers with a full band of 20 plus young people. Together we sang all the really good carols – Hark the Herald Angels sing, Away in a Manger, The Shepherds, Once in Royal David’s City, O Come All Ye Faithful, Angels from the Realms of Glory, Silent Night, and also Joy to the World, and Little Donkey.
The band also played a couple of pieces without any interference (!) and took us out with an amazing swing version of Rudolph the red-nosed Reindeer.
We had representatives from most of our local churches: St. Boniface with Rev. Ian Bird, Velmore Church with Pastor Bob Dibb and his wife Heather, The Methodist Church with Rev. Peter Cornick and his wife Helen, The United Reformed Church with Rev. Tim Searle, and Rev. Peter Hutchinson from St Francis Church, Valley Park.
I’m from St Edward the Confessor, the Roman Catholic Church and I saw quite a few familiar faces amongst the throng.
Appreciation from customers
Everyone really enjoyed themselves. Our customers were very appreciative, often staying to listen through several carols and applauding both band and singers. I hope that the money that the Street Pastors collected will reflect this truly community based effort.
Related post:
Stephen Dominy from Christian Aid and I have counted the money collected – a splendid total of £160.39p. With matched funding from the government, this will rise to a total of £320.78.
I counted around 45 singers drawn from all eight churches in Chandler’s Ford / Valley Park and it was a very enjoyable occasion.
The Christian Aid committee extends warm thanks to:
Churches Together in Chandler’s Ford
The Chandler’s Ford Brass Band and their conductor – excellent music!
Helen Cornick for organising us all
Cecily from ASDA
Everyone who sang
and, last but not least, the Street Pastors who rattled tins and collected the money!!
Happy Christmas everyone!
A Tweet from Christian Aid: