Mayor’s Carol Service with the town Bishop
ALL Saints with Holy Trinity Church was packed as the public, local dignitaries and the newly consecrated first Bishop of Loughborough attended the Mayor of Charnwood’s Christmas carol service.
Hundreds of people sang along to carols chosen by the public, and a special speech was given by the Rev Guli Franci-Dehqani as she made her first appearance in Loughborough after being ordained just a few weeks ago.
The Charnwood Symphonic Wind Orchestra filled the church with music, as everyone got in the festive spirit and sang choruses of ‘O little town of Bethlehem’ and ‘In the bleak midwinter’ - that was specially chosen by the Mayor of Charnwood- and ‘Hark the herald angels sing.’
The service was kicked off by youngster Edward Black who sang the first few verses of ‘Once in royal David’s city’ before he was joined in song by the rest of All Saints.
There were then several special carols and readings by Ruth Ingledew from Myaware, the Mayor of Charnwood Coun Pauline Ranson, Capt Ben Wing and the Mayor’s consort Trevor Ranson, Police community support officer Rita Purkayastha, Cerys Ruddy of 1st Loughborough Parish Church Scout Group, Helen Carter from the Loughborough Wellbeing Cafe and a joyful rendition of ‘O holy night’ by the director of Loughborough Children’s Choir, Emma Trounson.
Those in the church also listened to a carol from the Persian Hymnal chosen by the Bishop of Loughborough that was written by her father and sang by her sister.
Bishop Guli from Iran is the first Persian woman to become a Bishop and was consecrated by the Archbishop of Canterbury at the start of December.
She spoke to the Echo and said she was “really excited” about spending more time in Loughborough in the coming months, and said that her favourite part of Christmas was “bringing people together from all different backgrounds.”
Bishop Guli said that her perfect Christmas present this year would be “a good start to her new role.”
Speaking in the service, Rev Wendy Dalrymple, Rector of All Saints with Holy Trinity Church said: “Christmas is a wonderful time of year, and it is great to get together and sing carols and get in the festive spirit - whilst also sparing a thought and thinking about those that are not so fortunate.”
The service closed with prayers, and as guests left the church volunteers from the Three Nuns pub were on hand to give out glasses of mulled wine and mince pies, and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!