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Each year a week or so before Christmas St Ives Town Council holds a Christmas Service usually in All Saints Anglican Parish Church. The service of nine lessons and carols is very popular and the church is packed as it marks for many of us the start of the festive season. The congregation is usually joined by VIP guests such as the Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire and Mayors from many of the surrounding towns.
The sides-men in procession during the Carol Service
Carols sung by the congregation are mostly the traditional ones we remember from childhood like "Once in Royal David's City", "Oh Come all ye Faithful" and "Silent Night" interspersed with more obscure, but beautiful, carols sung by the choir and short readings from guest speakers.
After the service the Mayor of St Ives hosts a small reception for invited guests in the Parish Hall adjacent to All Saints Church
The Mayor of St Ives, Cllr Douglas Dew, raising a toast to guests at the reception after the 2001 Carol Service
