Members of the Chordiality Choir, based at First Martyrs Church in Heaton, Bradford have found a way for two of our Catholic parishes to have ‘Christmas as Usual’!
Every year, Chordiality gives a concert of carols, seasonal songs and readings at First Martyrs – and this year the choir was also due to perform at Holy Spirit, Heckmondwike.
When this traditional start to the festivities could not take place in the churches, an online 25-minute concert was recorded individually at home by each of the singers and carefully edited together by a recording engineer. Now people from anywhere in the world will be able to join our parishioners in song, thanks to the subtitled carols and readings of this ‘virtual’ concert – now available on YouTube via this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVhogKY_O20
Both Holy Spirit, Heckmondwike and St Cuthbert and the First Martyrs of Rome Parish in Bradford have strong links with the Catholic writer, GK Chesterton. He loved Christmas and wrote many poems, stories and essays on the Season which ring as true today as ever. Although we may not sing carols together in our churches this year, when joining in with these Parish Carol Concerts or with our Diocese of Leeds Schools Singing Programme’s Carols@Home (3pm on 20 December) from the comfort and safety of our own homes, we can remember Chesterton’s thought-provoking words:
‘Christmas is built upon a beautiful and intentional paradox; that the birth of the homeless should be celebrated in every home.’
Remember, if YOUR church or school has a ‘Christmas as Usual’ story, it can be promoted on this website: just send the details AND a ‘GDPR-compliant’ (i.e with permission) photograph or two to communications@dioceseofleeds.org.uk
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