Christmas time in Christleton is all about tradition, and the format of events has evolved through the generations, although ad hoc choirs singing carols around the village has sadly disappeared from the list. The first service of Advent was always a Toy Service, attended by the Village Rose Queen and Retinue from that year. The toys would be taken to underprivileged children in the district, such as Save the Family, or distributed as this year, through the KIDSBANK Chester. When I first arrived in the village in the late 1960’s, a small group of Christleton Players would perform the Nativity Scene from the Chester Mystery Plays on the village Green and in the days leading up to Christmas, Carol Services were held by both the Primary School and Law College (late 1970’s), with large congregations at each.

These would be followed by the traditional Service of Nine Lessons and Carols on the Sunday before Christmas, when it was standing room only at times. During the last twenty years, this service has also become a Festival of Light, when at the conclusion of the service lighted candles would be carried out from the church into the Village spreading the “Light of Christ” in the community. Sadly “health and safety” concerns now deter this procession, but hospitality is now offered in the Parish Hall with mince pies and mulled wine.

The mood changes again as the great Feast Day approaches and early on Christmas Eve, a Crib Service for the very young is held inside the church. The beautifully carved figures which tell the Christmas Story are arranged by the crib standing in the nave, or more recently placed inside the front of the altar table. (These hand crafted figures have probably been used in the church for over a century).

This is followed at 7.00pm by a “Carols around the Tree” Service, with everyone gathering in front of the Church Porch. This service is always one of the highlights of the Christmas Celebrations, with families getting together to celebrate Christmas in the Parish, coming in large numbers, with lamps and candle holders lighting the way. The Rectors narrate the story with young children in costume portraying the characters in the nativity. For many years a donkey led the parade of children to the centre of the action, and several times in the 1990’s the church choir appeared as angels, singing from the battlements on top of the Church Tower. Everyone sings joyfully as the Christmas story is told, and the service takes place outside, unless the weather is severe, and conditions are dangerous for the hundreds of people who take part.

At 11.30pm Parishioners gather to participate in the (Midnight) Communion at St James, when the church is lit up with lighted candelabra over the altar ready to celebrate the most important events in the life of the church. It is almost certain that this service has taken place at this time since the church was established in Christleton, and certainly since the publication of the Parish Magazines in 1875. A well trodden path has led to St James over the centuries, and was followed by the established pattern of Christmas Services on the Day itself, with Communion at 8.00am, a full Morning service led by the choir with Anthems at 10.45am, followed by a said Communion. In the 1920’s the Choirboys would receive a sixpence and an orange for their efforts. In recent years the choir used to receive gifts of a large box of chocolates, which would probably last for three or four services, much to everyone’s delight.