Our festive ‘Services in Preparation for Christmas’, held over two days in the magnificent Chapel of St John’s College, once again heralded the start of the season with a range of carols, poems and readings all presented by the children. The carols and readings were interspersed with 5 congregational hymns. The Services provided a sense of calm from the busy nature of this time of the year and created up a contemplative mood to help prepare for Christmas.
Before and after the services, organ music was played by Senior House pupils including works by Grayston, J M Bach, Jeanne Demessieux, Garth Edmundson, William Mathias and J S Bach. Director of Music, Mr Simon Kirk, explained, “It is truly remarkable that these four young organists, of whom three only started their lessons in September, were able to put together such a programme and to perform it to such a high standard; many senior schools would have been proud of this offering.”
The 11 carols offered a wide selection of music performed beautifully by over 140 children from a range of choirs including the Choristers of the College Choir, Senior House Chamber Choir, Third and Fourth Forms' Choir, Junior Choir and Byron House Chamber Choir. Amongst the highlights was the final carol, John Gardner’s arrangement of The Holly and The Ivy, sung with great energy by all children in the choirs.
The 11 readings, a range of poems and lessons, were delivered by the Sixth Form children. The readers excelled themselves and each one read beautifully to tell the Christmas story to the congregation. A former St John's parent commented, "It was magical to experience once again the beauty of the St John's College School Carol service. The choirs were outstanding and the readings were so excellently spoken." and another enthused, "To listen to such beautiful singing in such a historic setting was a real privilege and, it being our first year, the effect was all-together spellbinding."
The retiring collection was taken in aid of the following charities:
Centre 33 http://centre33.org.uk/
Centre 33 was established in 1981 and exists to help every young person in Cambridgeshire to fulfil their potential. The charity supports and empowers young people to overcome their problems through a range of free and confidential services. The objects of the charity are to relieve and prevent suffering caused by mental or physical ill health, or by financial hardship, or need caused by other reasons, through the provision of counselling, information and other services to support young people aged 25 and under in Cambridgeshire. Centre 33 operates a range of services from free counselling and support to information on sexual health, housing, budgeting and also a young carers’ project which offers young carers support, information and respite.
Young Minds https://youngminds.org.uk/
Through our pastoral care including ‘Emotions for Learning’ and Mindfulness, St John’s College School promotes mental health as a key foundation block in our holistic approach to education. Young Minds works in the wider community to champion children and young people’s mental health and well-being. The charity advocates for young people and seeks to create change that privileges the value of caring for oneself, thereby building the emotional stamina to deal with an increasingly complex and demanding world. Through its website and services, Young Minds also offers advice, support and practical help to those in crisis.