Tavistock parish church is this week making final preparations for its rich festival of lessons and carols on Sunday evening.  This service, a traditional blend of readings and music, is one of the most popular of the year, and parishioners are advised to come early to get a seat.

 

Starting at 6 pm in St Eustachius’ church, the service will feature readings from scripture, introduced so as to draw out their meaning.  The service will also feature carols sung by the parish church choir, to settings by Gardner, Ord, Walton, Carter, Sargent and Willcocks, including a magical setting of ‘Silent Night’ by the church’s own director of music, Dr Sean Sweeney.  There is plenty of opportunity for the congregation also to join in a number of favourite and much-loved carols.

 

The priest-in-charge of Tavistock, the Reverend Michael Brierley, said, ‘Coming after the end of the school term, this service really does set the Christmas period off on the right foot: the parish church, lit up by candles, provides the most wonderful setting to immerse ourselves once more in the Christmas story, and make it our own again.’

 

All are warmly invited to the service.  As Mr Brierley said, ‘Absolutely everyone is welcome.’