For the first time, Farnham’s traditional Civic Christmas Carol service has been pre-recorded so people can watch it online from the comfort of their home. The service will be available to watch via Farnham Town Council’s YouTube channel from 7pm on Wednesday 23 December.
“COVID guidelines meant we had to arrange the Civic Christmas Carol service differently this year. Instead of a congregation coming to St Andrew’s Church, we are bringing the service of traditional carols performed by the internationally acclaimed Farnham Youth Choir, direct to your home,” says the Mayor of Farnham Councillor Pat Evans.
The service took place, as usual, in the beautiful church of St Andrew’s, parts of which date back to the middle ages. Viewers can look forward to seeing Farnham Youth Choir perform much-loved carols such as Oh Come All Ye Faithful and Away in a Manger as well as pieces from composer Benjamin Britten and familiar Christmas songs such as Walking In The Air.
The Mayor was joined by a small number of local dignitaries and representatives from Farnham’s community to take viewers through Bible readings telling the Christmas story. The readers included the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, Michael More-Molyneux; June Trantom, retiring manager at Farnham Assist, Tim Oliver, Leader of Surrey County Council, Sophie Clark representing young people of Farnham and from Farnham Youth Choir and the Mayor of Farnham.
Councillor Evans adds: “The Christmas story is one of hope – a message that is perhaps more welcome now than at any other recent time. This year, I can’t think of anything more festive than sitting in the comfort of our own homes, perhaps with one or two loved ones alongside, enjoying the performance from our youth choir and even joining in the carols. I think you’ll find the service to be both uplifting and heart-warming. The order of service is on our website with the words to the carols so I hope that as many people as possible will watch it.”
A retiring collection is being made for the Farnham Coronavirus Support Fund.
Photo was taken at a previous year’s concert.
