Junior Singers at Christingle Service

Date: Sunday 9 December 2007

The Junior Singers from Forms 3 to 5 have been busy rehearsing for tonight's Christingle Service under the direction of Emma Patterson and Julian Lambert. It was wintry enough outside but their singing of 'Midwinter' by Bob Chilcott held a beautiful warmth of tone and the glowing lights of the Christmas tree created a cosy setting in Chapel.

In the Christingle song the pupils sang - from memory - of the symbolism of the Christingle: the orange represents the world; the fruit and nuts (we used jelly babies instead!) stand for the four seasons; the red ribbon signifies the blood of Christ; and the candle is the Light of the World. The children made the Christingles themselves. A case of two hours in the making but only twenty seconds in the eating - at the end of the song!

Chaplain Melanie Horton asked for a volunteer to do a stunt. Will East (Form 4) bravely stepped forward, to be told he must negotiate a chicane of chairs to get to the altar... oh, and blindfold! The point, of course, was that we struggle to find our way without light in the world. Will found his way, but he needed the help of Chapel Monitor James Somerville-Meikle.

The best part of the service though was the part when the candles were lit and the lights went down. The happy faces in the photo say it all.

All photographs: copyright Thomas Hooley 2007