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Advent is a very busy season for our diocesan Schools Singing Programme, with children participating in the Programme contributing to Advent worship and Christmas preparations and celebrations in their schools, parishes and beyond.

The Schools Singing Programme (SSP) aims to enrich existing provision across participating diocesan primary schools by offering world-class, inclusive music programmes which transform students’ musical education. Two full-time Choral Directors, Fraser Ellson and Claire Gale, deliver high-quality school singing sessions, as well as directing and coaching after-school choirs, with repertoire that includes both sacred and secular music.

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All four SSP Surrey School Choirs have been learning The Little Road to Bethlehem by Michael Head, a beautiful Advent song, describing Mary singing a lullaby to the sheep she passes on the way to Bethlehem. This is a carol one might find in any of the cathedrals across the country, sung by the choristers.

Similarly, the four SSP Sussex School Choirs have been looking at John Rutter’s Candlelight Carol, a piece centred around the Nativity story, with a particular focus on Mary’s love for Jesus. The children have been enjoying singing some of the rich harmonies and a couple are set to perform this in their school carol concerts.

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This Advent, pupils at St John the Baptist, Brighton, have already taken part in a school Mass in St John the Baptist Church, singing the Belmont Mass, while Key Stage 2 children from St Hugh of Lincoln, Knaphill,  led a school Advent Reflection last week, singing People Look East and other carols, and the SSP singers St Cuthbert’s, Englefield Green, joined in a parish Mass at Our Lady of the Assumption, Englefield Green, with The Little Road to Bethlehem.

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In the coming weeks, further events are taking place across the Diocese, with SSP choirs participating, and they are open to all who would like to attend:

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Children from various schools in Cranleigh will come together for the Cranleigh Schools Carol Service on 10 December at 6pm at Cranleigh Baptist Church, and children from St Cuthbert Mayne will take part. They will also sing for a “Carols with our Choristers” event at Jesus Christ, Redeemer of Mankind Church on 15 December at 3.20pm. A particular highlight will be Good King Wenceslas, singing the parts of two different characters.

Children from St Edmund’s, Godalming, will take part in a School Carol Service at St Joseph’s Church, Guildford on 15 December at 6pm. They are looking forward to celebrating as a school, singing some carols accompanied by Fraser on the organ.

In Englefield Green, SSP children from St Cuthbert’s will take part in a School Advent Service on 16 December at 6pm, at Our Lady of the Assumption Church. Year 3 have been working on Silent Night which they will sing in German in preparation for this special service.

Brighton’s St John the Baptist Church will host a Key Stage 2 Carol Service for St John the Baptist School on 17 December at 6pm, with the children singing a variety of festive music and leading the congregational carols.

In Frimley, the Year 5 children from St Augustine’s School will visit Our Lady Queen of Heaven Church on 17 December, at 7pm, for a Christingle Service, where they are singing a multitude of carols for the congregation, leading the singing at the service.

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The final event of the SSP season, and the beginning of a well-earned break for our Choral Directors, will take place at Worth Abbey at 3pm on Christmas Eve, where children from St Robert Southwell and St John the Evangelist, Horsham, and Brighton Catholic Youth Choir (which brings together children in Years 3, 4, and 5 from across Brighton & Hove), will sing together with Worth Abbey Choir for the Crib Mass.

Looking ahead to this Mass, Claire Gale, Sussex Choral Director said:

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“This joint celebration of Mass promises to be a beautiful and festive conclusion to the Advent season, and I am thrilled that the Schools Singing Programme has been asked to lead the music at such a special occasion.”

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Lastly, look out for the diocesan Education Service digital Christmas card, which will feature all our SSP choirs, singing O Little Town of Bethlehem. It will be distributed online and by email before the end of term.