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Wiltshire church hosts summer Christmas carol service


Rob Thompson

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"People want the chance to enjoy Christmas without the stress of it," Reverend Gotham said
By Clara Bullock & Ben Prater
Source BBC News

Date July 2023

_130264806_monkschapel.png.webp


A church is hosting a summer Christmas carol service - something they have done for years.

The tradition started when the congregation of Monks Chapel, near Chippenham, could not get to the church one Christmas in 2010 due to deep snow.

They decided to record a Christmas service in summer to play during bad weather in winter.

The Reverend Gary Gotham said there was a "need" for a summer Christmas service so it could be enjoyed without stress.

"You can just enjoy the worship, the music, the mince pies - without all the financial stuff and family arguments," he said.

"People want the chance to enjoy Christmas without the stress of it."

He said last year more than 70 people came to the service.

This year, they will serve homemade mince pies and decorate the chapel with a Christmas tree.

Afterwards everyone can sit in the chapel's garden and enjoy the sunshine, he added.

"It is incredible," Mr Gotham said.

"We will try to make it as festive as we can."

The carol service starts at 14.45 BST at Monks Chapel between Corsham and Gastard.

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Ive never known of this in the UK, No doubt it will catch on :) 

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Christmas music in summertime is refreshing. As a church choir director, (now retired) I always began rehearsing the choir thru their upcoming Christmas music during the month of July. This practice allowed choir members time to leisurely memorize new music, and they, along with their families, enjoyed and anticipated the tradition. 

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I don't know what it is but my favorite thing to listen to I don't care what time is a candlelight version of holy night the Church of all things acapella. Used to sing in the church player as a kid we used to actually do a physical candle lighting nothing better than that one song on The midnight service.

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Most of our church's have the Christingles at Christmas which is a lovely thing to take part in, especially the children's faces, Pure joy

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18 hours ago, Santa Craig Maxwell said:

Christmas music in summertime is refreshing. As a church choir director, (now retired) I always began rehearsing the choir thru their upcoming Christmas music during the month of July. This practice allowed choir members time to leisurely memorize new music, and they, along with their families, enjoyed and anticipated the tradition. 

I think thats a wonderful idea, I wonder if there are many choirs that do this, :) 

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19 hours ago, Rob Thompson said:

Ive never known of this in the UK, No doubt it will catch on :) 

Dude! This is your shot at a Christmas in July appearance! Go for it!

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48 minutes ago, Santa Johnny Boy said:

Dude! This is your shot at a Christmas in July appearance! Go for it!

Johnny, its not really my thing, Christmas in July,. Of course I would never rule it out, but Christmas for me, and most others I know over here, feel Christmas should be a in the season as it were.  :

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