Carol Service 2024
Sadly the seers of Merchant Taylors’ had not foreseen the strength of Storm Darragh when collating the Carol Service: had they been able to do so, Neale’s carol Good King Wenceslas would have been appropriate, especially the verse beginning
“Sire, the night is darker now, and the wind grows stronger”.
The service followed much the same pattern as in the past few years, with seven lessons drawn from scripture, with carols interspersed. Beginning with a lone soloist — Lochlan M. (3rds) — singing the first verse of Once in Royal David's City from the back of the Great Hall, the service proceeded to tell the Christmas story through words and music. In anticipation of singing the whole work next term, the choirs' first item was And the glory of the Lord, a chorus from Handel's Messiah. The Chamber Choir sang two carols alone, the first being Richard Rodney Bennett's Out of your sleep, a jaunty setting of anonymous C15 words. The choirs were joined by harpist Benjamin P. (L6ths) for Benjamin Britten's Marian There is no rose from his A Ceremony of Carols. We then enjoyed the Interlude from the same work, a solo movement for harp. The Chamber Choir's second carol was The Lamb by John Tavener, a setting of text by William Blake building on the title of Christ as the Lamb of God. The Choral Society, composed of OMTs together with current and former parents, sang the ever-popular Ding dong! merrily on high. The final choir carol was a fairly new setting of the traditional words The First Nowell recast in 7/8 in Noel! by Gordon Thornett.
In the absence of the School Chaplain, we were delighted to welcome the Rev'd Matthew Beeby to lead our Festival of Lessons and Carols. He has been Rector of St James, Gerrards Cross and St James, Fulmer since 2019. In his reflection before the final carol, Mr Beeby invited the congregation to consider afresh God's condescension in the birth of Jesus, a Saviour offered freely to those who accept him.
The lessons were read by a chorister Markus F. (4ths); the Second Monitor, Jenson I. (U6ths); the Head Monitor, James B. (U6ths), The Registrar, Mr Gregg McCann; The Assistant Director of Music, Mrs Joan Stubbs; The Chairman of the Governors, Cdre Andy Cree; and the Head Master. The choirs of Merchant Taylors’ School were conducted by Mrs Joan Stubbsand were joined by Taylors’ Brass, rehearsed by Mr Steven Byron. The organist was Mr Jacob Collins, Director of Music of the Church of Scotland church in London, Crown Court.
The congregation numbered close to four hundred. All enjoyed a festive buffet in the Dining Hall after the service, for which our thanks are due to Mr David Fayer and his team.
