A celebration of Christmas for Dover

Celebration of Christmas for Dover

Following last year’s successful Celebration at St Mary in Castro, a similar event took place on Sunday 22^nd December 2024. It was a cold afternoon with a strong north wind up on the Eastern Heights. The organisers, Coordinating Chaplain Reverend Peter Sherred and his wife Mary, who were supported by the Rotary Club of South Foreland, decided to change the time from evening to 3.00pm, as being more suitable for families.  As a result the church was full, with local people, families, Mayors from local towns, including most of the Cinque Ports, and Rotarians from local clubs.

In his introduction Peter welcomed everyone and hoped they would enjoy this celebration of Christmas which included secular as well as religious readings, songs and music. He encouraged everyone to enjoy the service and take part in the singing, which they did with enthusiasm. The items flowed seamlessly from beginning to end, following the order of the Souvenir Programme.

John Dunkley, President of the Rotary Club of South Foreland, also welcomed everyone, and thanked those taking part: the readers, and the talented Pharos Chamber Choir with organist Stephen Yarrow. Above all he thanked Peter and Mary for their planning and organisation.  He referred to the Rotary aims of service above self and supporting the local community.  This year the voluntary collection at the end would go to Dover Street Pastors, some of whom were present.  They are a group of Christians from Dover churches who work with other organisations to provide a peaceful presence on the streets by giving practical help and safety to individuals in need.

Passages from scripture told the story of the Nativity, while Carol Anne Duffey’s poem ‘Bethlehem’ created a vivid and realistic picture of life at the time of Christ’s birth.  As well as traditional carols like ‘Come All Ye Faithful’ and ‘Once in Royal David’s City’, popular Christmas songs were sung including’ I’m dreaming of a White Christmas’, Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer’ and ‘Walking in a winter wonderland’.  The programme was also interspersed with less well-known pieces beautifully sung by the choir, such as ‘Hail, gladdening light, or ‘Nova, nova!’

The finale was ‘We wish you a Merry Christmas’ before everyone left the church as darkness fell.  Fortunately, this year the local roads were not clogged with traffic as they were last year.