Songs and sausages

It nearly did not happen – snow had closed the school for days, and travel was difficult. But on the Second Sunday of Advent, in a packed College chapel, a candle at every window, the Belvedere choirboys, each carrying a lighted  candle,  processed through the darkness to open the Carol Service with the 13th-century Puer natus in Bethlehem. Violin, trumpet and organ accompanied a wide range of music: a Vivaldi Gloria, an Irish lullaby, the traditional Spanish Riu, Riu, Chiu, a Russian Orthodox chant, as well as the familiar carols in English. The congregation sang out the service with Come all ye faithful, as the smells of hot sausages, mulled wine, waffles and crepes invited the faithful out into the courtyard for a sociable close to a magical evening, uplifting and prayerful.