A celebration at Westminster Abbey

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The Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex’s office contacted Chris Emson some months ago saying something about a special event in December and to keep the date free.

Chris mentioned it to me, and I thought it might be a further well deserved accolade for her work in the community,  especially knowing that she has been nominated twice as Sussex representative for women of the year.  For someone who has been involved in family support work for many decades, I suspected something good for Chris was coming.

Chris then asked me details about myself, casually saying it was for some vague checks of some sort.  Then with incredible generosity she invited me to accompany her to a special royal event.  I couldn’t have been more amazed, delighted and surprised to see a large white envelope emblazoned ER and postmarked “Buckingham Palace SW1” land on my doormat.   It was my personal invitation from HRH The Duchess of Cambridge to attend a special carol service at Westminster Abbey.  Chris had been invited and I was to accompany her.

The invitation included Covid test instructions and dress code advice.  We were to present ourselves at the east gate at 4pm and expect to be filmed for broadcast on television.  We must take various ID and photo documentation.  It all seemed incredible and I felt so excited especially to hear the choir of Westminster Abbey as it’s one of the best in the world.

HRH The Duchess of Cambridge had taken the initiative to hold this special concert “to celebrate inspirational individuals involved in grassroots community initiatives, charity workers, volunteers, teachers and emergency responders who have stepped up to support their communities throughout the Covid-19 pandemic”.  The invited audience was to include “those who may be more vulnerable or isolated – including people with limited social connections, the recently bereaved or those without their own homes”.

Although delighted to be identified as grass roots, we both strongly wished that everyone else who has done so much for Rye, who seem so very much more deserving, could come with us on such a special occasion.  We resolved that the prayers we would offer and hymns and carols we would sing would be the best we could do for all our community.

Westminster Abbey was breathtakingly beautiful for Christmas.  Her Majesty The Queen had donated Christmas trees from Windsor Great Park and there were very many with lights sparkling all along the nave.  The Royal Horticultural Society had supplied spectacular wreaths.  All these were to be donated to local schools and hospices after the service.

Chris with order of service Westminster Abbey

We were quickly admitted along with the other guests from across the UK, all had been invited in recognition of their inspirational work during Covid-19.  Nominations had been drawn from local lieutenancies and other community networks for their tireless efforts and selfless acts of kindness. The congregation included armed forces personnel, faith leaders and individuals who the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have met and spent time with during engagements and project work.

We received a warm welcome and were shown to our seats just off the nave and close to the choir.  We were six rows from the front behind William Hague and younger members of the royal party including Sophie Wessex, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie and their husbands.  The organist played traditional Christmas music before the service.  We were so glad we had arrived early as it was wonderful to soak up the atmosphere.

Their royal highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge then arrived and began casually chatting to people while we waited for the service to begin.  HRH The Duke of Cambridge walked along where we were sitting saying he would mess up the reading!  I smiled and he came and asked me where I was from.  We then had a very pleasant chat about Rye Foodbank.  He emphasised that the carol concert was all the work of his wife, and how important they both felt it was to show appreciation for all those who had volunteered during the pandemic.  I replied that the gesture was very much appreciated, and all those sitting around us agreed.

The service began and included traditional carols  sung by the Westminster Abbey choir and Leona Lewis and Ellie Goulding who performed at the Cambridge’s wedding reception in 2011.

The service also included readings delivered by the Duke of Cambridge, British paralympian Kim Draybell and Kate Greenaway.

After the final hymn of O come all ye faithful, with the choir singing descant, the organ and trumpets resounding, the music and all the glory of the abbey and the whole occasion, we floated out into the night and eventually made our way home to Rye.

The service will be televised by ITV on Christmas Eve at 7:30pm

Image Credits: m.ivatts .

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5 COMMENTS

  1. The perfect ambassadors from Rye. Thank you for the very informative article. Looking forward to seeing the televised version, which will now be even more inspiring and of course it will be fun looking out for you both.

  2. So glad you both enjoyed the experience! Well deserved for all the wonderful and much aplreciated work you both do for Rye people.

  3. What a wonderful occasion and much deserved for the representatives of community support in Rye. Thank you for sharing the details in your excellent report and I look forward to seeing the occasion on TV on Christmas Eve.

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