Magical Carol Service at Christ Church Cathedral
This year’s Carol Service took place on Tuesday 17th December in the magnificent setting of Oxford’s Christchurch Cathedral.
More than 800 people attended the evening service and there were over 100 singers, largely making up the School’s Chamber Choir and Headingtones choir. A specially-formed community choir also joined them, as part of the School’s ‘Year of Community’. The community choir included alumnae, parents, staff past and present and the wider community.
The service began with the sound of bells tinkling magically followed by the Chamber Choir’s beautiful unaccompanied singing as they processed into the cathedral.
The congregation joined in enthusiastically with several favourite carols throughout the service and the Chamber Choir demonstrated their high-quality singing skills with a number of a cappella arrangements and their angelic soaring descants. Headingtones, our Lower School choir confidently sang several important solo melodic lines and later on gave an exciting performance of ‘Star Carol’, relating the story of the birth of Jesus. Sixth formers Libbeth and Tiffany also presented stunning solos with great clarity and professionalism.
There were readings from girls representing different parts of the School and from Headmistress Caroline Jordan and Fr Darren McFarland, Headington governor and representative of the churches of Oxford. Cathedral Sub Dean the Rev Canon Dr Edmund Newey welcomed the congregation and offered the bidding prayer while School Chaplain the Rev Tom Howell gave a homily about the true meaning of Christmas and girls led the prayers.
A retiring collection was held for charity Home For Good.
Acting Director of Music, Mr Tom Anderson said: “It was wonderful to have so many singers involved in the service, along with the congregation and the school brass ensemble. All together, they produced a truly uplifting and glorious sound. It was a wonderful way to celebrate such a highly significant time of the year.”
