Southend Bach Choir rounded off the festive season with a joyful and heart-warming Carol Concert on Saturday 20 December at Kings Road URC, Westcliff-on-Sea, in aid of the local charity SECE Mind.

It gives us great pleasure to share that the concert raised £950 for MIND! A heartfelt ‘thank you’ to everyone who contributed in any way — whether through attending, donating, or helping behind the scenes. The funds will go directly to support clients through counselling, housing, and local projects. We were also delighted to receive rave reviews and thanks from MIND for our support.

The evening brought together choir and audience alike in the true spirit of Christmas, with much-loved carols, reflective readings and moments of light-hearted celebration. From the traditional opening of Once in Royal David’s City to the rousing finale of We Wish You a Merry Christmas, the programme offered a rich mix of familiar favourites and beautifully chosen choral works, including music by Rutter, Chilcott, Bach and Vivaldi.

Audience participation was very much at the heart of the concert, with enthusiastic singing in carols such as O Come, All Ye Faithful, Hark! The Herald-Angels Sing and God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen. Thoughtful readings added moments of quiet reflection, while lighter touches — including Sleigh Ride and an inspired performance of The Twelve Days of Christmas that included the audience — brought smiles and laughter. Under the direction of Roger Humphrey, the choir filled the church with warmth, colour and festive cheer.

Southend Bach Choir would like to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year, and we look forward to welcoming you again at our concerts in 2026.

A wonderfully festive atmosphere filled St Andrews Church, Westcliff-on-Sea, on Saturday 21st December 2024 as Southend Bach Choir welcomed friends, family and the wider community to A Carol Concert in aid of HARP.

Under the direction of Roger Humphrey, with Andrew Palmer at the organ, the evening offered a generous mix of well-loved traditional carols, uplifting modern favourites and moments of quiet reflection. From the joyful opening of John Rutter’s Joy to the World to the much-loved In the Bleak Midwinter and the celebratory close of The Twelve Days of Christmas, the programme captured the full spirit of the season.

Audience participation was very much part of the evening, with everyone invited to sing along to familiar carols including Once in Royal David’s City, O Come, All Ye Faithful and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. Seasonal readings and solo moments were woven throughout the programme, adding warmth, meaning and a sense of shared celebration.

Thanks to Gaz de Vere for permission to use the photos.

The concert also marked another valued opportunity to support HARP, Southend’s homelessness charity. A retiring collection helped raise funds for their essential work supporting people experiencing homelessness across the town, reminding us all of the importance of compassion and community at this time of year.

With festive refreshments enjoyed afterwards and plenty of Christmas cheer to go around, the evening was a heartfelt way to round off the choir’s year — sharing music, generosity and goodwill as Christmas approached.

The Choir once again continued its tradition of supporting HARP as we teamed up for a Christmas Carol Concert at St. Andrew’s Church, Westcliff. The concert consisted of well known carols, Christmas songs and readings. Thanks to everyone for making it such a wonderful event. The latest news from our HARP contact, is that we raised over £1500 – an excellent amount and thank you to the generous giving of the audience.

We are so pleased that our total fund raising for HARP is now over £6,900. If you would like to know more about the work of HARP then please visit: harpsouthend.org.uk/.

Article courtesy of the Echo (see: https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/24000089.show-must-go—carols-southend-charity-tragic-death/)

We received the following letter from Anna Firth MP:

The Choir has been supporting HARP for a number of years and it was with great joy that we teamed up with HARP once again for a Christmas Carol Concert at St. Andrew’s Church, Westcliff. The concert consisted of well known carols, Christmas songs and readings. The choir thoroughly enjoyed singing the varied programme of music and the audience and special guests had a great time – especially during the Christmas Singalong. Refreshments were served afterwards and we appreciated the help and support  of all the volunteers from HARP.

The Choir has been unable to support HARP for 2 years due to the COVID pandemic, but thanks to the generosity of the audience we managed to raise over £900 for HARPS work supporting the homeless and vulnerable over Christmas.

Thanks to Gaz de Vere for permission to use the photo.

The Choir has been supporting HARP each year since 2017 (apart from 2020/2021 due to COVID) and in that time we have raised over £5,431 for this local worthwhile cause. If you would like to know more about the work of HARP then please visit: harpsouthend.org.uk/.

The Choir once again decided to perform a Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, on Saturday 21st December, in aid of the charity HARP. This year we had a change of venue and went to St John’s Church, Southend-on-Sea and were overjoyed that the church was full to capacity with extra chairs having to be made available.

The event was attended by a host of special guests, including David Amess, MP for Southend West, Dr James Bettley, High Sheriff of Essex and the mayor of Southend, John Lamb. A council spokesman said: “The mayor and mayoress attended the fantastic Southend Bach Choir’s Christmas Carol Service in aid of HARP. It was a fabulous festive service that is supporting the amazing work that HARP does for the homeless of our borough.”

Following a passionate plea from the Bishop of Chelmsford, Rt Rev’d Stephen Cottrell, we were able to raise £2131.17 which is an amzing amount and will support the work of HARP. Refreshments were served afterwards and we appreciated the help and support of all the volunteers from HARP.