LONELY this Christmas?
Then a community choir from Worcestershire may be able to make things a bit more bearable.
Because Crowle Singers, based in the village five miles east of Worcester, has posted a special video on the internet of an hour long service of nine lessons and carols, featuring all the traditional favourites such as Once in Royal David’s City, Hark, the Herald Angels Sing and Little Town of Bethlehem.
The idea is that anyone can play the recording at any time they like at home and not miss out on the spirit of Christmas in these Covid affected days.
The project began back in the summer, when Crowle Singers choirmaster Kevin Dowson was discussing the possibility of a Corona Christmas with his wife Helen, a former nurse.
They contacted the vicar of Crowle, the Rev David Morris, and things began to move.
Mr Dowson explained: “We wanted to provide something for people who could not, or felt they would not be able to, attend church.
“So we came up with the idea of a service of lessons and carols which would bring the church to them.
“We have managed to include most of the most popular carols and the readings are both sacred and secular.
“This is not a ‘stuffy’ church service in any way and as well as the choir singing it also includes individual members of the public, recording their own contributions on their mobile phones at home and there is also the delightful involvement of the children of Crowle First School.
“I hope we have created a video that people will find very enjoyable, reassuring and helpful in these strange days.”
The service is led by the Rev Morris with the text printed on screen and the video’s multi-segments were manipulated and produced by Mr Dowson and choir members Cathryn Dhonau and Hugh Rabjohns.
As well as individual and group performances, it is packed with seasonal and family scenes to recreate the true spirit of Christmas.
Crowle Nine Lessons and Carols 2020 with the Rev David Morris can be accesses on YouTube via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zO4flg2C9SU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zO4flg2C9SU
Meanwhile, Worcester Cathedral has a livestream of daily services on its Facebook page.
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