Nine Lessons and Carols

In pagan darkness,
Flaming torches light our way.
We sing together.


It was the night of the village carol service. One of the nice things about living in the countryside is the fact that when it is dark ... it really is dark! The church is outside the village in the grounds of Buxted Park (see here for the reason for this), so there is no ambient light. Just the light from the torches along the path and the candles in the church.

I am not religious and don't really go along with the biblical mumbo jumbo, but I do love the poetic language and the fact that, in this service, ordinary local people stand up to read the "lessons". But the most enjoyable part is the singing of familiar carols with others. Whatever your beliefs, there is something spiritual and uplifting about singing together by candlelight, in an ancient and beautiful building, where others have done the same over the centuries.