Hear the angels sing: London Actors Carol Service

A Christmas tree by the alter, candles lighting the room and Christmas decorations with holly hanging at the bar, Theatre Chaplaincy UK (TCUK) is ready to host its annual Carol Service for the performing arts industry at St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden. Affectionately known as “The Actors’ Church”, the church St Paul’s Church has a longstanding tradition of providing care for performers.

The Carol Service, Candles & Stars, is a traditional service with hymns, readings and prayers but with a twist: performers from the West End providing amazing solos alongside the congregation’s singing. This year, Caroline Sheen, Sophie-Louise Dann as well as cast members of Putting It Together, Janie Dee, Miriana Pavia, Edward Baker-Duly and Tom Babbage, have been the artists soloing, with renowned actor Iain McKee among the readers.

“The presence of West End performers brings different Christmas songs”, confirms Revd Ian Worsfold, coordinating chaplain at City St George's University of London and chaplain at the Performing Arts Academy Urdang, who has been attending the Carol Service for a few years. In the service, he provided a reading of the poem The Christmas Life by Wendy Cope.

Between plaques honouring Charlie Chaplin, Vivien Leigh and many others, the pews were full of people, including Nica Burns, CEO of Nimax Theatres, who read the TCUK Prayer blessing everyone who works in the world of on stage, screen and and in studios.[HM4] “The Carol Service is a great opportunity for chaplains, supporters and the trustees of the charity to come together and to celebrate Christmas”, adds Ian.

TCUK aims to put a chaplain in every theatre and theatre school across the country. “Our chaplains come from a variety of traditions and denominations and they serve a hugely diverse community in the UK theatre industry. In planning Candles and Stars, we wanted to create a service which not only showcased the extraordinary quality of the UK theatre sector but also captured our inclusive ethos and the warm, compassionate and accessible approach which all our chaplains share. We hold our services at 5pm, so that those with evening shows can attend and still make it to their theatres in time for their calls and it was an absolute joy to see the church so full”, says Holly McBride, Chief Executive of Theatre Chaplaincy UK.

What the point of chaplaincy is for the theatre ministry?

Chaplaincy has a tradition of going where people are, rather than expecting them to come to them. In Ian’s case, Urdang students have a full-on timetable and extremely high pressure. “It's good for me to be around and offer them extra support when necessary. What I love about being in Urdang, is the openness of the students and their openness to talk to me as a Christian minister”.

The Carol Service, Candles & Stars is the opportunity for performers, theatre providers and their public to come together and share the warmth and happiness of Christmas together.

All photo credits to Mark Eaton.