The highlight of my year so far has to have been the Christmas service at Christ Church Spitalfields. The Rector, our chaplain Andy Rider, gave an address and congratulated us on daring to celebrate outside the City boundaries. However, my chief reason for taking the Company there wasn’t just that we had never visited Andy’s church before, but because I recall a St. George’s Day parade to this Nicholas Hawksmoor church as a cub scout which must have been shortly before the building fell out of use and became derelict. The restoration, completed in 2004 is superb and if you missed the service please do find time to visit.

The service was, as described by a Past Master, “an unusual Carol Service but immensely enjoyable”.

The music was a combination of styles with ‘DUO’ ukulele orchestra, a school choir and the, now restored, 1735 organ.

The Mulberry Academy Choir, which was only formed this term principally for this event, stole the show with their ‘showcase’ piece and my thanks go to the Mulberry’s Principal, Ruth Holden, and Mulberry’s choir mistress, Kirsty Cherrett, as well as each of the choir members.

Readings from the Master and Wardens was augmented by the well delivered reading of a seasonal poem by Rickardo White, a Rokeby School student.

We then processed out to the most stirring sound of the Hallelujah chorus superbly played by Mr. Gerard Brooks. The congregation subsequently being entertained further by a Christmas medley from the choir and the ukuleles. All followed by a very convivial supper in the beautiful crypt café.

Edward Nicholl
The Master Chartered Secretary and Administrator