Tidings of comfort and joy; our first Christmas Carol Service

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our 2024 Christmas Carol Service.

We're very grateful to all of our guests for making the night such a success, including those who gave readings as part of the Service: our Senior Treasurer, Richard Farmbrough; London Diocese Clergy Household Support Officer, Sara Hunter; The Lord Lisvane, Honorary Vice President; and Susan Woolf, our newest Governor.

We're also deeply thankful to The King's Chapel of The Savoy for allowing us to use this breathtaking space for the evening: their Chaplain, The Revd Canon Thomas Woodhouse; Steward, Richard Buck; Master of Music, Philip Berg; and, of course, the talented members of their choir.

We were treated to sublime performances of a range of festive favourites, including 'Once in royal David's city', 'Hark! The herald angels sing' and 'God rest you merry, gentlemen'. It was also a wonderful opportunity to catch up with old friends and to make new ones too, as supporters joined us for a mince pie and a glass of wine in the adjoining Lancaster Hall.

The service leader, The Revd Canon Thomas Woodhouse

The Revd Canon Thomas Woodhouse, robed and singing from the Order of Service.

Members of our External Relations team, Catherine and Nick

Members of the chapel choir led us in song

Three men and one woman, dressed in white robes, singing from the pews.

A chequered floor of white and black tiles. The chapel's organ can be seen in the background. Guests are singing from the Order of Service.

Susan Woolf, our newest Governor

The Lord Lisvane, Honorary Vice President

The Lord Lisvane, our Honorary Vice President, giving a reading.

Our Chief Executive, The Revd Ben Cahill-Nicholls, giving a speech in The Lancaster Hall

The Revd Ben Cahill-Nicholls, giving a speech to guests, beside a Christmas tree.

People stood around a plate of mince pies, grinning.

Four guests, dressed formally, in discussion over a glass of wine.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

Clergy Support Trust is the largest and oldest charity focussed on the wellbeing of clergy and their families.

The Trust, originally founded in 1655, provides confidential help for Anglican clergy and their families across the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man, and Diocese in Europe. The Trust are independent, inclusive, and impartial, and we support clergy from training through to retirement.

In 2023, we provided over 6,800 grants, supporting clergy households in the Church of England with over £5.5m in grants, Church in Wales with £172,000, Church of Ireland with £141,000 and the Scottish Episcopal Church with £36,000.