A new carol is premiered in Glencraig
Sunday 21 December 2014 was an exciting day in the life of the members of Glencraig Parish Church Choir. At their service of 9 lessons and carols they sang a carol entitled ‘The Carol of St. John’ which was specially commissioned for them by Anthony Shillingford. It was written by the composer and organist Simon Clark from London.
As the title suggests, the carol is based on the words of the Christmas Gospel from St John Chapter 1 verses 1–14 and principally on verse 14, which we believe is the first time that these words have ever been set to music.
As the nephew and godson of the late Sir Graham and Lady Shillington and the late Molly Shillington, Anthony Shillington is a child of the Parish. It was, indeed, in Molly and Lady Shillington’s names that the choir robes were presented and dedicated at a special anniversary service in 1978.
Last May Anthony and his wife Suzanne were visiting Northern Ireland and joined the choir in Glencraig one Sunday morning. Anthony was so impressed with the choir and in particular, with our organist, Mr Peter Harris, that he wanted to present a piece of specially commissioned music to the choir. The format was to be Peter’s choice and so a new carol was written for the enjoyment of the parishioners of Glencraig and, we hope, many others in the future!
With thanks to Eve Parkhill