Princess Alexandra attends Whitehall Carol Service

Thursday, 8th December 2011

Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra attended the Whitehall Carol Service, held in conjunction with Christians in Government UK, at Westminster Abbey on Wednesday 7th December 2011.

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.

The Address was given by the Right Reverend Sandy Millar, Honorary Assistant Bishop, Diocese of London.

The Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions read The Story of Creation (from Genesis 1 and 2); Sir Gus O’Donnell, Cabinet Secretary, read Prophecy of the Christ (Isaiah 11: 1-9); The Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, read The Birth of Jesus (St Matthew 1: 18-23); Andrew Stunnell MP read The Visit of the Magi (St Matthew 2: 7-12); and The Rt Hon Francis Maude MP, Minister of State for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, read The Gospel (St John 1: 1-14).

Prayers were led by the Reverend Andrew Tremlett, Canon of Westminster and Rector of St Margaret’s Church and said by The Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP, Minister of State, the Department for Work and Pensions; the Rt Hon Professor The Baroness Cox of Queensbury; and Steve Webb MP, Minister of State, The Department for Work and Pensions

The service was sung by the Westminster Abbey Special Service Choir conducted by James O’Donnell, Organist and Master of the Choristers. The organ was played by James McVinnie, Assistant Organist and before the service by Andrej Kouznetsov, Organ Scholar. Trumpeters from the Band of the Coldstream Guards, conducted by Major D Wolfendale, also played.

See also:

Order of Service (PDF, 91 KB)