Well, tonight’s annual candelight carol service at St Mary’s Church in Upper Swainswick was a great success with the church absolutely packed and latecomers having to stand.
Festive songs sung with gusto, the little church beautifully decorated and a whole range of musical instruments – played by talented people – accompanying the congregation.
Due credit to Mary Edwards, Susannah Watson and Mike Mower!
The only thing that spoiled it for me was just before we sang the first carol, a cameraman appeared and started videoing the proceedings.
With a large number of children in the church, I think we should have been told he would be filming before the service began. I did receive reassurances that he was not filming the youngsters.
I stopped taking pictures when the service began and – from a personal point of view – l found his presence distracting and an intrusion into a communal and spiritual gathering of people who had come from far and wide to share and experience the music and message of this Holy time of year.
Is it an open invitation for smartphones aplenty from here on?
