A Christmas carol service designed to be accessible to people living with dementia and others who might appreciate a more relaxed approach is now available online.
‘This special recording is our gift to people in local care homes and others who might find church more difficult to engage with, for lots of different reasons,’ explained Revd Alison Iliffe. Alison is vicar of St Hugh’s Church, where the service was filmed, following the experience of a similar service held in the building last year.
‘The advantage of this on-line approach is that it gives the opportunity for anyone individually or with their family or support bubble to watch and celebrate the coming of Jesus at a time that suits them,’ said Alison.
The service features familiar carols to sing along to, with words on the screen, and short readings of the nativity story enhanced by images of the crib scene at the church.
‘Our hope is that this will reach many who might not otherwise be able to engage with the Christmas story this year, that they may not only enjoy the story and music of the season, but come away knowing that they are loved by God, who sent the Christ-child to live among us on that first Christmas over 2000 years ago.’
Alison leads the service, assisted by Rev Rob Leveritt, a former BBC sound recordist. Rob enjoyed being back briefly in the world of television production and said the experience reminded him of working on Songs of Praise.
‘I don’t think online services will ever replace physical church, but it’s exciting to be able to share the Christmas story with those who might not make it to a church building,’ said Rob.
Also taking part is Alison Chaplin, who has many years of experience of working with people with dementia including on the staff of the Alzheimer’s Society. Judith Joy, organist at the town’s St Nicholas Church, provides the music, with singing by Kyle Newman who is leader of Leicester Musical Memory Box, along with nine-year-old Esmae.
St Hugh church building, in which the service is filmed, is part of the Harborough Resourcing Church Team, and the increased engagement with those who have dementia and those who support them has emerged from deliberately listening to the needs of the wider community
The recording is being sent to care homes and other organisations around Market Harborough and is available from the Harborough Anglican Team website: https://www.harborough-anglican.org.uk/christmas