People we support and local families came together to sing a mixture of classical and modern Christmas songs, from Away in a Manger to the 12 Days of Christmas, signed in Makaton.

Christmas gifts and crafts made by people we support were also on sale at the back of the church.

Creative: Christmas crafts for sale at the carol concert

Preparing for this years’ service

Support Worker Cecily Langfield explained how rehearsals for the Carol Service start weeks prior to the event:

A lot of people we support love performing to other people.

It was so nice to hear and watch them rehearsing again because we haven’t done it for the past few years.

Vicky, who was Mary at a reading at the service

Bringing the community together

The service was held by the Reverend Margaret Young, who has been a keen supporter of the Boot Shop for many years.

Team Leader Brian Timmins worked closely with Revd. Margaret on the project.

He said:

It was wonderful for us as a service to reconnect, face-to-face, with members of our local community through this much-loved festive event after two years of Covid-related social restrictions. From the comments I received from congregation members after the service, it was evident that that feeling was very much shared by them.

However, what was perhaps the most wonderful thing for me was witnessing the expressions of delight and joy on the faces of the people we support, as they were finally able to sing favourite carols and Christmas songs together again after such a long time.

That was pure Christmas magic and something I’ll never forget.

Cecily agreed:

It’s an event for the community of Easingwold, to bring everyone together and get everyone involved as much as possible.

Members of the congregation who attended the event said:

Wonderful to have your carol service again – yours is the best.

It was the most inclusive service that I’ve ever attended.

A big thank you for the lovely carol service. I found it very moving and can write in all honesty it’s my favourite one – and I attend many! It represents the true beginning of Christmas for me.

A video of the Carol Service will be released in the New Year.

In the meantime, you can find more information about the Boot Shop on Facebook.

  • Jenna Lloyd is Senior Content Officer for United Response.