The Salvation Army Chatham

Monday Spot this week concentrates on our Christmas Carol Concerts which took place in the Central Theatre on Saturday. Two performances were held and the charity receiving the collections this year was The Oliver Fisher Special Care Baby Trust.

As usual pre-concert music was provided by the Band which heralded the arrival of Major Kathy Woodhouse, our arranger this year.

Pre-concert music by the Band

Major Kathy introducing the concert

The first half of the concert featured that well known Christmas song ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’. The two couples in the corps who married this year (Richard & Claire Craik and David & Sarah Lockwood) joined in competition for the man to give the best present to his wife on their first Christmas.

(l to r) Claire & Sarah

The traditional gift for each day was acted out by various groups within the corps and the cast comprised people from 2 years of age to ‘plenty & 2′. It is rumoured that the cow (maids a milking) was the eldest participant but that is open to dispute (by the cow). These pictures illustrate this part of the concert. The ‘partridge in the pear tree’ will appear in several of the pictures.

2 Turtle Doves

4 Calling Birds

5 Gold Rings

7 Swans a Swimming

8 Maids a Milking

9 Ladies Dancing (choreographed song)

10 Lords a Leaping

11 Pipers Piping

12 Drummers Drumming

There must be something about birds we eat as we did not manage to get good pictures of either the 3 French Hens or the 6 Geese (a laying)! At the end of the presentation all the participants joined on stage as the audience sang the whole 12 verses.

Following a short interval (to allow the cow to recover?) the second half was in more traditional format. Carols were sung by the audience and music provided by various sections and individuals. The Band contributed ‘Christmas Festival’, The Christmas Miracle’ and ‘The Manger Scene’ whilst also assisting the timbrels with ‘Superstar’.

The Songsters brought ‘Gift Wrapped Love’ and ‘So Many’. The Singing Company and Young People’s Band contributed ‘Heaven’s Gift of Love’ and ‘Nativity Swing’ respectively. The Christmas story was read from Luke 2:1-7.

The concert was brought to a finale by the Primary and KAOS with the song ‘Happy Birthday Jesus’ featuring Laura as a very young soloist. The item was brought to life by the casting of Isaac Woodman as the baby Jesus.

Here are some more photographs taken during the programme.

A cheque for approximately £1150 was presented to Simone Breugem, Secretary and Community Liaison Sister of the Oliver Fisher Special Care Baby Trust.

Major Kathy presents cheque to Simone

It is always a great experience to share our Christmas Celebrations with the people of our town (and beyond) and we hope all who attended went away feeling that it was a worthwhile occasion.