Carol Service at St Mary’s Church, Woodbridge 

This year’s Carol Service at St Mary’s Church, Woodbridge was once again a highlight of the School calendar, and performed three times to ensure every student has the opportunity to experience it. It remains an important and poignant moment in the educational year, offering space for reflection, celebration, and a shared sense of community for students, staff, alumni and their families.

The services were led by our very own Reverend Ian Wilson, whose warmth and guidance provided a thoughtful spiritual thread throughout each gathering.

The Chamber Choir led a beautifully crafted Service of Nine Lessons and Carols, opening with an atmospheric introit of Tavener’s A Christmas Round. During the first service, the low afternoon sun streamed through the stained-glass windows, bathing the choir and congregation in warmth and coloured light, adding a serene, almost timeless aura to the occasion.

Our Head, Miss Norman, reminded us that the Carol Service – and the work of the Chamber Choir – is ultimately about the feeling each individual takes away with them. This sentiment was reflected in the thoughtful choice of anthems that punctuated the biblical story of the birth of Jesus and in the students’ sincere performances throughout.

The choir sang under the watchful and encouraging eye of Claire Weston, our Head of Singing, whose guidance and high expectations help the students achieve an exceptional standard each year. Claire shared,

“I am immensely proud of the choir and the musical heights they consistently reach, and this year was no exception.”

James Davy’s skilled and impressive organ playing underpinned the entire service, enriching each carol and moment of reflection with both musical sensitivity and grandeur.

A particular delight was Jamie John Hutchings’ arrangement of Silent Night, written and gifted especially for this year’s service and performed with accompanying sign language by the entire ensemble. Gjeilo’s setting of The Coventry Carol provided one of the most striking moments; its haunting harmonies filling the church with this well known carol in a new setting.

The climax of the service came with a newly arranged Personent Hodie by A. Mortensen, a little-known composer from Aldeburgh. The piece’s vibrant energy and fresh character offered a memorable finale, made even more special by the composer’s presence at Thursday evening’s performance.

In the weeks leading up to the services, the choir members demonstrated admirable commitment and focus. Their dedication in rehearsals was clearly reflected in the poise, confidence, and musical excellence they brought to each service. Across all three services, the students’ musicianship, hard work, and sense of occasion shone through, making this year’s Carol Service a truly uplifting celebration for the entire school community.