Children from Cropthorne with Charlton C of E First School and Fladbury C of E First School sang with the Five Alive Parish Choir at the Candlelit Carol Service on Sunday at Fladbury.
The children had learnt songs for their own school’s Nativity and Carol Service, and are confident singing in front of parents, but this was a new venture – to learn a carol to sing with the parish choir. Beth and Ella (both aged 8) sang the first verse of Once in Royal David’s City, to open the service.
Sarah Dangerfield, Priest-in-Charge of the Five Alive Parish said: “The children love singing when they come to church for school services. The Parish has many talented and enthusiastic musicians and singers in our regular worshipping community. We have a music group and a parish choir. When Hilary Harris, the Choir Leader and former school music teacher said she would love the children to sing with the choir for Christmas, the opportunities were exciting. Singing is such a wonderful way of bringing people together and to feel they belong and have something worthwhile to contribute. Singing to the praise of God’s gift of Jesus at Christmas is a great way to start. It has been a blessing to all of us – all ages”.
Miss Wilson, Head of Fladbury School said: “Christmas can be a busy and chaotic time but coming together to sing Christmas carols in church with our friends and neighbours, spreads real joy and warmth to everyone. The children of Fladbury love to sing and were delighted to be given this opportunity to be part of the Five Alive Parish Choir”.
Mr Bothma, Head of Cropthorne with Charlton School said: “It was a wonderful opportunity for the children to take part in such a special service and we are all extremely proud of them. The children were so enthusiastic to take part, and there were huge smiles all around following their fabulous renditions.”
Hilary said: “I went into the schools to sing with the children who were very enthusiastic and excited to join in. It is such a wonderful experience to be able to sing with a large choir with an organ accompaniment in a beautiful building, lit by candles. We hope that this will encourage the children to join with us on a future occasion and that this will foster a love of singing in church”.
