Doorstep Carolling in Henley this Christmas Eve

Fr Jeremy Tayler, the Rector of St Mary the Virgin, Henley-on-Thames, is encouraging everyone to stand on their doorstep and sing “O come all ye faithful” – or at least one verse of it – this Christmas Eve at 7pm. With churches restricted in the numbers they can allow in, congregational singing still forbidden at carol services, and many people understandably nervous about joining large gatherings, this at least is one way we can sing together that will not risk spreading Covid-19, nor fall foul of any rules. Here are the words for the carol:

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,

O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;

come, and behold him, born the King of angels;

O come, let us adore him,

Christ the Lord.

Fr Jeremy said, “Singing together is such an important part of the way we celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas, and this is one way we can still safely do it. It will no doubt be gloriously out of tune and out of time, but if we put our hearts into it, it will be a great way of coming together (at a safe distance!) with our neighbours to celebrate this day of great joy”.

Details of Christmas services at our local churches can be found at https://www.henleyherald.com/2020/12/16/christmas-church-services-2020/