A guide to Abbey carol services, concerts and community events in November & December 2015

Christmas at Malmesbury Abbey

 

 

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‘3,000? 4,000? Really? It does seem an awful lot.’ ‘Yes, but can you imagine if you were that one person at the Nine Lessons & Carols without a seat and without a candle? You might feel a little bit left out; no room at the Inn.’ Such is the executive decision making at Malmesbury Abbey as Advent and Christmas approach. Obviously we begin planning the Christmas diary early in the year, and then we start picking carols and anthems in the glories of the English summer – In the bleak midwinter has a certain charm in the sunny back garden of a pub. But then the candle order goes in in October. 4,000 candles it is. One’s got your name on it. Another important decision taken by the Abbey Candle Executive Committee, they’ve been busier than usual, is to duplicate our main Advent & Christmas carol services this year. Last year the Abbey was packed full

SEEING DOUBLE

Abbey Vicar, Neill Archer, introduces Advent & Christmas 2015 at Malmesbury Abbey

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with about 500 people attending these services, each holding a flaming candle. So we are following the lead given by Cathedrals across the country and having two identical Advent Carols by Candlelight on Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th November at 6.30pm and two identical Nine Lessons & Carols at 6.30pm on Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th December. Admission is free and you are very welcome to just turn up for any service. However free tickets are available for admission before 6.10pm, so if you want a front row seat for either Advent or Christmas please pop into the Abbey and pick up your tickets. The full Abbey Diary for Advent & Christmas events is on the back of this booklet, but a few highlights to draw your attention to. The Malmesbury Nativity is back with one performance on December 23rd at 7pm and three on Christmas Eve. And our very popular

 

 

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Puppet Nativity for younger children is back at 3pm on Sunday 20th December. Two very special visitors to our festivities this year as the Dean of Bristol Cathedral, David Hoyle, gives a talk on The Nativity in Art, and the international organist, James McVinnie, gives a seasonal recital of music by JS Bach, Olivier Messiaen and a Malmesbury première of Nico Muhly’s Advent Antiphons. Further details of these events and all our Christmas services follow. This Advent, this Christmas, and always, you, and those you love, are very warmly welcome through the Abbey’s ancient doors. I hope to see you there.

Advent Carols by

Candlelight

Music by Bach, Palestrina, Manz, Tallis & Muhly Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th November at 6.30pm. Free tickets available.

Enquiries 01666 826666 // Box Office 01666 824339 office@malmesburyabbey.com www.malmesburyabbey.com issuu.com/malmesburyabbey

 

 

In silence, in a darkened Abbey a single candle is lit, and from that single flame the entire Abbey is flooded with a light signifying the unchanging Advent hope, that to the darkness of the world the light of Christ will come. Favourite Advent carols, such as O come, O come Emmanuel and Lo He comes with clouds descending, ancient readings from the prophet Isaiah and the New Testament, and beautiful anthems, including Nico Muhly’s Senex Pueram Portabat. A captivating service of mystery, beauty and light. Admission Free Free advance tickets available

28th & 29th November at 6.30pm

The Abbey Choir

ADVENT CAROLS James McVinnie

ORGAN RECITAL

Sunday 6th December at 7.30pm

Internationally renowned organist, James McVinnie, performs music by JS Bach, movements from Olivier Messaien’s La Nativité du Seigneur and the local premier of Nico Muhly’s Seven O Antiphon Preludes. Formerly Assistant Organist of Westminster Abbey, James McVinnie has had new works written for him Richard Reed Parry (Arcade Fire), Martin Creed (Turner Prize) and David Lang (Pulitzer Prize). His 2013 critically acclaimed debut CD was Nico Muhly’s Cycles and in 2016 he will be releasing recordings of music by JS Bach and Philip Glass. Tickets £5 on door Students & Under 18 £2.50

 

 

At Christmas the impossible becomes possible. We see the God who cannot be comprehended, the One who has no beginning is born, and the One who created everything lies in a cradle. It is all about our ability to see the light shining in the darkness and hear the Word spoken at creation. As Christmas approaches we start thinking hard about how God appears to us. Join the Dean of Bristol Cathedral as he considers the way Christmas is depicted in art and what we expect to see when we look at a religious image. Admission Free

Wednesday 9th December at 7.30pm

The Very Revd David Hoyle

THE NATIVITY IN ART The Abbey Choir

9 LESSONS & CAROLS

At the heart of our nation’s Christmas celebrations is the inspiring tradition of Nine Lessons and Carols, begun in the West Country in the 1880s and then later developed at King’s College Cambridge after WWI. Our most treasured Christmas carols are interwoven with the story of Christ’s birth told by St Luke and St Matthew. This year the Abbey Choir will feature music of immense beauty by JS Bach, Byrd, Franz Biebl, Chesnokov and carol arrangements by the late Sir David Willcocks. Admission Free Free advance tickets available

19th & 20th December at 6.30pm

 

 

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For the last three years thousands have packed the Abbey for The Malmesbury Nativity, enjoying the amazing work of our four young professional actors from Wiltshire and the passion and exuberant joy of Christmas carols reinvented and played by a live band. At the centre of each year’s Nativity are four local historic figures, Hannah Twynnoy, Aldhelm, Eilmer and William of Malmesbury, joining forces to tell the story of the Nativity to the people of Malmesbury. This is all wrapped up in the story of another contemporary Malmesbury family. This year Grandad

THE MALMESBURY NATIVITY

December 23rd at 7pm, Christmas Eve at 1pm, 3pm & 5pm

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is not looking forward to being alone at Christmas, and Mum, Dad & Billy are stuck at Malaga Airport, trying to get back home for the Nine Lessons. Will they make it? Will Grandad need his mistletoe? Will we all end up singing Feliz Navidad? Great fun for all ages, with the Abbey Kitchen open for nibbles, mulled wine and cider. Tickets Adults £2.50, Children Free N.B. Christmas Eve tickets sell out quickly

 

 

Fun, Christmas songs, puppets and quite a few surprises. The Angel Gabriel has been really busy in heaven, with his fantastic puppet friends, and together they have come up with the craziest, mosthilarious, fabby-est, greatest, nicest rescue plan, ever! 45 minutes of Christmas fun for younger children and their families. Admission Free

Sunday 20th December at 3pm

Abbey Puppet Theatre Co. (Est. 2014)

PUPPET NATIVITY Malmesbury Abbey

FAMILY CELEBRATION

Christmas Day at 11am

The presents are wonderful, the Christmas Day lunch is a herculean effort to both cook and eat, and the relatives are (insert appropriate adjective here,) but don’t miss the astonishing joy and celebration of the Abbey’s Christmas Day 11am service. Arrive early and bring your presents; the Abbey is packed with people from across Wiltshire enjoying Christmas carols led by our Nativity Band and a service that all generations will love. And, please bring a bottle of champagne as we all stay for a celebration after the service. Admission Free

 

 

ABBEY ADVENT & CH RISTMAS D IARY 2015 Sat 28th Nov 6.30pm Advent Carols by Candlelight 1 Sun 29th Nov ADVENT SUNDAY 9am & 10.30am Advent Holy Communion 4pm All-age Advent Communion 6.30pm Advent Carols by Candlelight 2 Fri 4th Dec 7pm Youth Action Wiltshire Carol Service Sat 5th Dec 7.30pm Malmesbury Community Choir Christmas Concert Sun 6th Dec ADVENT II 9am & 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship & Junior Church 7.30pm Organ Recital – James McVinnie (Bach, Muhly & Messiaen) Wed 9th Dec 7.30pm The Nativity in Art – talk by Dean David Hoyle Thu 10th Dec 10am Malmesbury CE Primary School Christmas Service Sat 12th Dec 7.30pm Malmesbury Singers Christmas Concert Sun 13th Dec ADVENT III 9am & 10.30am Holy Communion 4pm Informal Worship & Junior Church Wed 16th Dec 7.30pm Malmesbury School Carol Service Sat 19th Dec 6.30pm Nine Lessons & Carols by Candlelight 1 Sun 20th Dec ADVENT IV 9am & 10.30am Holy Communion 3pm The Puppet Nativity for younger children 6.30pm Nine Lessons & Carols by Candlelight 2 Wed 23rd Dec 7pm The Malmesbury Nativity Thurs 24th Dec CHRISTMAS EVE 1pm, 3pm & 5pm The Malmesbury Nativity 11.30pm Midnight Communion (Carols from 11.15pm) Fri 25th Dec CHRISTMAS DAY 9am Holy Communion 11am Family Celebration 12 noon Coffee & Champagne (bring a bottle)