IN support of The Princess of Wales returning to Westminster Abbey to host a special Christmas carol service on Friday 8th December, twelve community carol services will be taking place across the UK, hosted by Lord-Lieutenants and supported by The Royal Foundation.
This year, the Westminster Abbey Service is linked to Her Royal Highness’ Shaping Us campaign and will showcase the hope of new life and why it is so important to build supportive, nurturing worlds around children and the adults in their lives.
The twelve community carol services, including Ortu Hassenbrook Academy in Stanford-le-Hope are bespoke to the locations they are in and provide a moment for people to come together at Christmas time and celebrate community work during the festive season. The services are an opportunity to share a special thank you to those who are supporting the youngest children in our society in those crucial early years.
At Ortu Hassenbrook Academy we are holding a special service to gather people together at Christmas. 240 guests of all ages will be joined by young musicians from local choirs and bands and a nativity tableau. Amongst the special guests are children and adult leaders from The Place2B; young adults from the Youth Cabinet; young volunteers from Play Network and families from Sharing Our Lives which works with migrant families in Thurrock to foster community cohesion.
The Musicians come from Hassenbrook Academy, The Coopers’ Company and Coborn School, Thurrock Music Services, Corringham Primary School, Gable Hall School, and Brentwood Imperial Youth Band
Guests attending this special service have been invited by the Lord-Lieutenant, in recognition of the support they are providing to children and families in their community. They include parents and adult supporters, and ten different faith leaders including the Bishop of Chelmsford.
In addition to our service in other services will be taking place in:
- St Hilda’s Church – Hartlepool, Friday 1st December
- Uppingham Parish Church – Rutland, Saturday 2nd December
- Paces School – Sheffield, Tuesday 5th December
- Cheshire Zoo (The Square at the Zoo events space) – Cheshire, Wednesday 6th December
- Newport Cathedral – Newport, Wednesday 6th December
- St Deiniols Cathedral – Bangor, Wednesday 6th December
- Leominster Priory – Leominster, Thursday 7th December
- St Mary’s Church, Charlbury – Oxford, Friday 8th December
- Dunfermline Abbey – Fife, Friday 8th December
- St Columbs Cathedral – Londonderry, Monday 11th December
