Every day throughout Advent we are pleased to offer you a little Advent treat or two. Today Tom and Carol are joined by Jennifer for “O Holy Night”. Maggie’s Music Makers then sing for us “Shine, Jesus, Shine” by candlelight, and we finish with Tom and Carol singing “A Maiden Most Gentle” … More Digital Advent Calendar 2023 Day 22
Every day throughout Advent we are pleased to offer you a little Advent treat or two. Regular readers of this blog may know that our MD is a qualified ski coach with a penchant for snow, so today Tom and Carol offer us “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” followed by “Let it Snow!” … More Digital Advent Calendar 2023 Day 21
No one ever listens to girls. Not in my world. No one listens when we have something to say. No one believes us when something amazing happens. No one believes us when we get used and abused … More Mary’s Decision
Every day throughout Advent we are pleased to offer you a little Advent treat or two. Today Rev Sue reads for us “A Villager” by Rachel Mann, and our choir sings the traditional favourite, “Once in Royal David’s City” … More Digital Advent Calendar 2023 Day 20
John and Martha lived in a little thatched cottage on the outskirts of the village, both were retired and in their early eighties. John spent all his life as a carpenter and would make toys for their two children at Christmas, then later made them for his grandchildren … More The Stranger
About a year ago, the members of Maggie’s Music Makers began working on four movements of Britten’s “A Ceremony of Carol’s”. This is challenging music, and they worked hard. During the 2022 Christmas services three of the chosen movements were ready to be sung. I have written about “This Little Babe” and “As Dew in Aprille” earlier this year. The third is “Deo Gracias”, which translates as “thanks be to God … More Deo Gracias – Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
Today is the feast day of St Nicholas. Like St Cecilia, who I mentioned a fortnight ago, we don’t know much about his actual life. We do know that he was Bishop of Myra, in what is now Turkey. One of the early legends about him is that he gave three girls a dowry to prevent them having to enter prostitution when their family fell on hard times. He delivered the gifts at night so that he could remain anonymous … More Saint Nicholas
When we think about the meaning of Christmas inevitably the Christmas readings are interpreted for us by the carols we know so well, and the images on Christmas cards that illustrate them. One major theme is the light coming into darkness … More The light shines in the darkness
One of my favourite mantras used in these monthly articles that carols are not just for Christmas. They are also for Advent, Epiphany, Lent and Easter. I may be stretching a point, but this piece is here in January to represent the flight to Egypt, and the fragility of a new-born baby, sent to be God’s warrior … More This Little Babe – Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
School enjoyed a lovely Christmas Carol Service at St Margaret’s church on Monday 12th December, the first since the pandemic. It was good to so see some of you joining us on the day to celebrate alongside us. Children sang with enthusiasm and happiness and did really well learning the songs, through the expertise of Carol Porter, who continues to support us superbly with our singing development at school … More January letter from our Primary School
St Margaret's Church Prestwich 