As is traditional in Advent, St Bride's Choir will be singing Benjamin Britten's A Ceremony of Carols on Sunday 13th December at 5:30pm.
This ever-popular set of medieval carols blends ancient melodies with modern harmonies and is performed by the choir's six upper-voice singers accompanied by harp in the beautiful setting of a candlelit St Bride's.
It is a wonderful and moving evocation of the hope and joy of Christmas. Mince pies and mulled wine served after the service.
Admission
The service is open to all, ticketless and free to attend. Doors open at 5pm and the service lasts approximately 1 hour.
A voluntary collection will be taken after the service – without your generous support these services could not happen. Suggested donation £15 per person.
Many of our Advent events are very busy; please for early admission to the church (30 minutes before the event) to avoid disappointment.
We will hold back 100 places for later admission (15 minutes before the service starts) via the West Door for those who arrive on the day without registration.
If you need assistance with this, please contact the office on 020 7427 0133 or email stb@stbrides.com.
Music
Seven of the eleven movements of A Ceremony of Carols were written in 1942 as a homesick Britten endured a perilous boat journey across the Atlantic from America. It sets medieval texts by poet Gerald Bullett and embodies the spirit of hope and joy in our anticipation of Christmas.
The work opens and closes with the chant Hodie Christus natus est (Today Christ is born) sung in procession. The chant is also the basis of the poignant and dramatic harp Interlude which is both at the centre of the whole work and its longest movement. We are delighted that harpist Sue Rothstein will once again be joining us.
A Ceremony of Carols is preceded by a short selection of readings and plainsong sung by the lower voices of St Bride's Choir, perfectly complementing the medieval words of the Britten.
Those who have attended this service in the past have found it to be a profoundly devotional experience and a time of calm amidst the bustle of the Christmas period.
A Ceremony of Carols was premiered in London by the women’s voices of the Fleet Street Choir so it is fitting that it has become such a central part of our Advent here at the Journalists' Church in Fleet Street.
Support St Bride's
St Bride's receives no state funding and is wholly reliant on – and deeply grateful for – the generous support of our visitors without which these Advent and Christmas services could not happen.
There will be a voluntary retiring collection at the end of the service to support our work, musical tradition and help maintain our magnificent Wren church with a suggested donation of £15 per person.
Donations can be made by cash or contactless at church or via JustGiving.
You can also donate in advance via EventBrite if you choose to register for early admission to the service.
Do please Gift Aid your donation if you are eligible which generates an extra 25p in every £1 donated.
Additional Information
Directions to St Bride's Church and information about accessibility are available on our Visit Us page.
If you register for early admission please arrive 30 minutes before the service. Your place may need to be released to others queuing if you arrive later than this.
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