Tingley Tale

It was a lovely sunny Saturday when the choir set off by coach up the M1 to Tingley Methodist Church near Wakefield to give a Christmas Carol concert.
When we arrived it was already dark and the decorations in the houses gave a very festive look.
A warm welcome from the minister Victoria Bravette and some of the congregation in the new church hall with home cooked food and hot drinks made us all feel wanted and ready to sing our best.
The church is a traditional style Methodist chapel, complete with gallery and beautifully decorated organ, built in 1793 and quite small.
It took considerable manoeuvring to get everyone in place before the practice could begin.

Some of the ladies were positioned in the front row of the pews, along with our conductor and
Director of Music (Ladi Merriman-Johnson). Even the piano was manhandled into a better position for Pamela the accompanist. Following a brisk practice there was barely enough time to change into singing clothes before we returned to the church to perform.
The church was full and after welcoming words from the minister the concert began. Everyone was in good voice in both the choir and audience. The concert itself was a mixture of carols and readings, some funny, some reflective, but all right for the night.

The audience joined in with gusto in the communal carols, I think we were probably nearly heard in Wakefield 5 miles away.

With Ladi playing the organ and rushing up and down the stairs from that to his conductor's position he certainly got his exercise. Among the carols sung was the traditional Hark the Herald Angels Sing and the beautiful Nativity Carol by John Rutter, one of the choir's favourite composers.
The solo verse of Once in Royal David's City was sung by Jeanette and the solo tenor part in In the Bleak Midwinter by Peter.
The rousing Ding Dong Merrily on High completed the evening.

The concert was thoroughly enjoyed by the audience, who at the end, asked the choir to be seated whilst they sang We wish You a Merry Christmas to them! The minister finished with a short prayer and then it was back to the church hall for tea and biscuits. All too soon it seemed we were boarding the coach again for the long return journey to Coventry.
It was a long day but a very enjoyable and rewarding one and it left everyone full of Christmas peace and happiness.