Press Release
The following Press Release has been issued this week:
HALF A CENTURY OF CAROLS
Almost 50 years ago The Salvation Army began a series of Christmas Concerts which have continued uninterrupted in Chatham’s Central Theatre ever year since. The idea was that the ‘Army’ would provide a free Christmas event for the community of Chatham.
Audiences brought toys and other forms of gifts which the Army then distributed to needy families in the town and the expenses were met from a monetary collection. The concerts grew quickly in popularity until such time that three concerts were held each year, over one weekend in early December. Over the years the Christmas carol concerts have been developed and adapted to communicate to a changing culture. Also, due to the pantomime, the concerts are now held during the last weekend of November. This year the ‘Army’ has decided to involve the community much more in what takes place, just as it did in the early days, and has recruited a ‘Community Gospel Choir’ from amongst local residents, with just a handful of Salvationists thrown in for good measure. Advertising was carried out during the summer with the aid of local media, including Kent Messenger, and over 90 people registered through the Army’s local website (www.chathamsa.org.uk). Rehearsals have been in progress since early September and the number of performers expected in the choir at The Central Theatre is around 70.
It is amazing what this choir is achieving. Those who watched the BBC’s series ‘The Choir’ will not be at all disappointed with the standard achieved by our own local group. The choir is being trained and led by Wesley Carroll, himself a member of The Salvation Army at Hythe who is a specialist in this kind of music and all the members are full of enthusiasm, and not a little skill. This choir will put singing in Chatham on the map in no uncertain terms.
The concerts will include the traditional Salvation Army band, all local Salvationists, its regular choir (Songsters) and children’s music groups, all taking part in a concert themed ‘Nativity – The Word on the Street’ when the true message of Christmas will be portrayed in a traditional way. The concerts are to be held on Saturday 28 November at 3pm and 7pm and tickets can be obtained from the Box office (01634 338338) or on line at www.medway.gov.uk/theatrebookings/
Major Drew McCombe, local Salvation Army leader, says ‘it has been a very positive experience to do something with the community rather than for the community, and together with our own music groups we want to help to put Christ back into Christmas and put that word back on our streets’.
Major Drew Mc Combe