Metropolitan Police Service holds Carol Service at Westminster Abbey

The service was conducted by the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr John Hall, who said in his Bidding: ‘We have come together as the family of God, in our Father’s presence, to celebrate the great festival of Christmas. In this service we hear and receive the good news of the birth of Christ and we offer to God our thanksgiving in the joyful singing of carols. As we gather together in the name of Christ, we pray for the world he came to save: for the Church, that it may be enabled in our generation to surrender anew to God’s holy wisdom, and bear the good news of God’s love to a needy world; for the world, which is already Christ’s, that all its peoples may recognise their responsibility for its future, and may be inspired by the message of Christmas to work together for the establishment of justice, freedom, and peace everywhere; and for all in special need: the sick, the anxious, the lonely, the fearful, and the bereaved; that the peace and light of the Christ-child may bring hope and healing to all who sit in darkness.

‘Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal, through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever.

The Address was given by the Dean.

Lessons were read by Superintendent Nigel Brookes, Haringey Borough (Genesis 3: 8-14); the Right Honourable Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London (Isaiah 60: 1-6, 19); Deputy Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis Craig Mackey (St Luke 1: 26-38) Cressida Dick CBE QPM, Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.

Prayers were led by the Reverend Jonathan Osborne, Senior Chaplain, Metropolitan Police Service and Priest Vicar, Westminster Abbey; and said by Samantha Charles-D’Cruz, News branch, Directorate of Media and Communications; Sergeant Andrew Cameron, Protective Security Operations; Inspector Jonathan Waterfield, Haringey Borough; Sergeant Shane Joshua, SCO8 Trident and Area Crime Command; Lesleyanne Ellis, Head of Network Support International Operations, SO15; and PC Richard Gayle, Project Support Officer, Transformation.

The service was sung by the Westminster Abbey Special Service Choir conducted by Peter Holder, Sub-Organist. The organ was played by Matthew Jorysz, Assistant Organist, and before the service by Benjamin Cunningham, Organ Scholar.

Further reading

Address given by the Dean of Westminster at the Metropolitan Police Carol Service 2017 (PDF, 61KB)