Wet" weather interrupts carol singing

Press, 26 December 1985, Page 4

Wet" weather interrupts carol singing

Heavy rain and thunder did not dampen the spirits of about 160 people determined to sing carols by the Avon River near the Hereford Street bridge on Christmas Eve.

It is believed to be only the second time in 40 years that the riverbank carol singing has had to be cancelled because of wet weather. A thunderstorm swept through Christchurch on Tuesday afternoon bringing heavy rain, and steady rain continued yesterday. Christchurch Cathedral was full for the carol singing and midnight service on Christmas Eve.

A lot of young people were at the service, said the Bishop of Christchurch, the Rt Rev. Maurice Goodall. He said that they were quieteer than in recent years.

“There was possibly a little bit more of a solemn note this year,” he said. The Young Men’s Christian Association’s “Carols by Candlelight Festival” was cancelled because of the weather, but a hardy group of young and old people sheltered under umbrellas and had their own singalong. Paula Eskett, aged 16, said it was difficult to find enough carols that everyone knew. “Silent Night” was sung about five times. With several friends, Miss Eskett toasted marshmallows over candles during the singing. She said that she had toasted marshmallows at the carol singing for several years and was not

going to be deterred by the rain.

Bishop Goodall spoke at ‘ the service about the need for peace in homes, in the community, and in the world. “I got the impression that people were really thinking about the world;’ he said. '

Bishop Goodall said that he thought people were taking the subject of peace very seriously, especially issues such as A.N.Z.U.S., nuclear-armed warships, and the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior.

About 1300 people nacked the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament for midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. The cathedral administrator, the Very Rev. Miles O’Malley, said there were a lot of young people and nonCatholics at the Mass. It was also attended by numerous overseas visitors. The cathedral had another five services yesterday which were well attended. Father O’Malley said that more than 2000 people visited the Cathedral during Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

The congregations were particularly receptive and attentive this year and he was very pleased with the participation in the carol singing and in the service on Christmas Eve, he said. Presbyterian churches reported big attendances at carol singing and candlelight services on Christmas Eve and at Christmas Day services, in spite of the weather.