Back by popular demand, Five Choirs returned as a truly memorable musical celebration. St. Thomas’s was filled to the rafters for both the matinee and evening performances, and the atmosphere was electric from the very first note. Each show opened with all five choirs—and the entire audience—joining together in a joyful rendition of O Come All Ye Faithful, setting the tone for an afternoon and evening of festive harmony. The University of Chester Choir, made up of both alumni and current students, opened the programme with Deck the Halls, Thanksgiving (anthem) and Calypso Carol. Proud Marys followed with Kings and Queens, Dancing on My Own and Climb Every Mountain, the last of which stirred fond memories for many in the audience. A Handbag of Harmonies then swept everyone into the Christmas spirit with Holly Jolly Christmas, continued with Dog Days Are Over, and finished their set with an empowering performance of I Will Survive. Patchwork closed the first half with Don’t Worry (Three Little Birds), Shine, and an original piece, What Does Christmas Mean to Me. During intermission, attendees queued for tea or coffee and a choice of delicious mincemeat pies or shortbread. Conversations buzzed with praise for the first half and excitement for what was still to come. After the break, St. Thomas’s own choir opened the second half with Marian Carol and Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day, beautifully enhanced by Clare Smith on flute. A Handbag of Harmonies returned with Sunday Girl, Underneath the Tree, and We Are Family, which had the audience singing and clapping along. Proud Marys followed with Smalltown Boy, Wuthering Heights, and Guilty Pleasures. The University of Chester Choir then took the stage once more with the ever-popular Away in a Manger, followed by a lively Victorian Medley. Patchwork rounded out the individual performances with Circle of Life, YMCA—which had the whole room moving—and their original piece Things That Make Us Feel Great, which invited even more audience participation. For the grand finale, all five choirs filled every available space in the church for an interactive performance of The Twelve Days of Christmas. Musical director Matt Baker assigned each section of the audience—and each choir—a verse to sing, stand for, and act out. The Nine Ladies Dancing group showcased some impressive moves, while the Seven Swans a-Swimming required some creative interpretation. The evening concluded with everyone—choirs and audience alike—linking arms for a heartfelt We Wish You a Merry Christmas. Each performance also featured a raffle, with generous prizes donated by the choirs, including beautifully arranged gift baskets and even a photoshoot session. The lucky winners were delighted, and the rest of us couldn’t help feeling a touch envious. All in all, it was a wonderful event filled with music, laughter, and warm-hearted camaraderie—a true celebration of community and Christmas spirit.
On Saturday, November 29th, St. Thomas’s was alive with festive energy. The excitement grew as Chester’s Lord Mayor arrived to officially open the market, proudly welcoming the day’s much‑awaited guest of honour—Father Christmas himself. Inside the church, every corner was filled with colourful stalls offering an impressive array of goods. Visitors browsed homemade chutneys, jams, marmalades, pickled onions, and traditional fruitcake. Textiles were a highlight too, with beautifully crafted crochet, knitting, and other fibre‑art creations on display. St. Thomas’s own weaving group showcased their skill with a selection of handwoven pieces and other lovingly made items. Local artists and makers brought even more charm to the event, selling jewellery, soaps, candles, paintings, crystals, and unique wooden crafts. Other booths brimmed with books, toys, bric‑a‑brac, and countless treasures waiting to be discovered. Children—and the young at heart—lined up for face painting, while the tombola tempted everyone to try their luck. Throughout the day, the church was filled with music from a wonderful lineup of performers, including Hayley Carline, A Handbag of Harmonies, the Chester University Choir, the Chester Blue Coat School, the Chester Wind Band Flute Choir, and Alive n Pickin. The bistro added to the festive cheer with an irresistible spread of pastries and sweet treats. Guests warmed up with hearty soups, fresh sandwiches, sodas, candy bars, and plenty of coffee and tea. For those seeking a seasonal indulgence, a cup of warm mulled wine was the perfect finishing touch.
Sunday, October 26th was the first Student Soup Lunch at St. Thomas's. Five students along with Mother Anne-Marie, Revd Dr. Gill Reeve, David Lawson and Jayne Day came for the meal. David Lawson provided the delicious root vegetable soup, and an abundance of various breads completed the meal. It was the perfect pairing for a cool Autumn day. We finished off the lunch with tea, coffee, and Angel Slices. Please note that no actual angels were harmed. The fellowship was uplifting. The students were able to discuss their ideas for a student led Christian group with Revd Dr. Gill Reeve and Mother Anne-Marie. It was refreshing to hear the students talk about their faith and their plans to share it with their fellow students.
Saturday, November 8th was the second Open Weaving Day. It was a great day to meet new people and learn new skills. Since our first Open Weaving Day, we have had a few more people join our regular Monday morning weaving group. Anyone is welcome to join regardless of skill level.Our day started with show-and-tell. Each of the regular weaving members brought a past or current project to share with the group. After introductions had been made, Anne-Marie showed us some inspiring peg loom examples.She demonstrated how to thread the pegs, which is the warp for this type of loom. We then were shown how to weave the wool in and out of the pegs. Anne-Marie had a book with several examples for us to view. She gave us different ideas of what could be made with a peg loom. Some ideas were wall hangings, table runners and place mats. Each weaver chose a selection of yarn to use for their project. There was lively conversation as we worked on our weaving. Anne-Marie walked around and assisted us when necessary. Several people in the group were able to finish their masterpieces before the end of the day. One person, who shall not be named, went outside and "harvested" a branch from a nearby tree to complete her wonderful nature scene wall hanging. What is so great about these Open Weaving Days are getting to spend time with such wonderful people. Yes, we are creating something lovely but more importantly, we are creating friendships and bonding with others. Weaving is an amazing art. Everyone makes such beautiful and unique pieces. Each person is inspired by different things such nature, or colour, or texture of the material. If you would like to try weaving, please join us on either an Open Weaving Day or our Monday morning group. Weaving isn't difficult - everything is easy, once you know how! Stay tuned to find out when the next Open Weaving Day will be planned.
