Carol service

Most churches in the United Kingdom and Ireland hold carol services in the weeks leading up to Christmas. The service usually consists of hymns about Christmas and readings from the gospels telling the Christmas story. Lots of Candles are lit around the church and sometimes the congregation hold candles to see by.

A carol service is the name for a Christmas church service, In schools they hold the services in the last week of term. They are often held in a local church or cathedral with parents attending. A nativity play is often performed at carol services for primary schools, The birth of Jesus is usually told through readings from the Bible in schools for older children. Christmas carols are sung by the students, who practice for the event during classes in December.

It is now often traditional to hold them as community outreach events a good example of this is the carol service that takes place every year at Beckworth's emporium in Northamptonshire. This is a partnership between the business and the local parish church. The Service was a result of a partnership between The Revd Duncan Beet and Mr David Brown. The Service also has support form the Kettering Salvation Army YP Band. The images relating to this event can be seen at www.mearsashbygroup.or.uk.