St. Michael’s Church, Shap was packed for the school Christmas
presentation on the history of Christmas celebrations throughout
the ages. Head teacher, Lois Whittaker welcomed the audience, before
the children from the Nursery formed a traditional Nativity tableau
at the chancel steps. The narrators throughout the evening were Bethany
Dutson and Imogen Charnley of Class Four.
Class Four processed into church behind a lighted candle whilst singing
the medieval carol ‘Gaudete’, they then enacted a medieval
Christmas Mumming Play with St George overcoming the dragon and the
Bold Turk to rescue Princess Jasmine.
Pupils from Class Two presented a Victorian Christmas, they entered
church dressed as Victorian carol singers whilst singing ‘Here
we Come a-Wassailing’, they then sang ‘Tom the Lamplighter’.
Wartime Christmases were recalled by the Junior children, they told
of the Christmas Truce during the First World War and sang ‘Stille
Nacht – Silent Night’; they then created a Second World
War Christmas in an air raid shelter to the background of sirens
before singing ‘White Christmas’.
Class One demonstrated how we celebrate Christmas today and sang ‘Jingle
Bells’; then they joined the Nursery children to sing and sign ‘Twinkle
Twinkle Little Star’.
The various presentations were interspersed by Carols for everyone
to sing, these being accompanied by Janet Wood. The whole school
brought the proceedings to a conclusion by singing ‘A Magical
Time of the Year’ before Revd Carole Marsden led closing prayers.
|