Colchester Cemetery and Crematorium hosted its annual Carol Service on 10 December, where it welcomed residents for a peaceful afternoon of reflection and remembrance.
The chapel reached full capacity, people of all ages came together. Russell Gadsby opened the service with a warm welcome and opening words, setting a peaceful tone for the afternoon’s proceedings. Jenny Humphreys shared the Christmas story The Birth of Jesus, which was followed by a beautiful moment as Susi Long and Helen Robertson led the lighting of the candles. The atmosphere of reflection continued with Jenny Edwards from Coffin Club Colchester, who shared Michael Morpurgo’s moving World War 1, Christmas Letter. Councillor Jocelyn Law then shared a message on The Gift of Love, before Jenny Humphreys returned to deliver a heartfelt message of remembrance and hope.
A particularly touching part of the service was the time of reflection, which invited those present to hang memorial tags and light candles in memory of loved ones. After a reading of Signs by Saul Hunnaball, the mood turned celebratory with a community rendition of The Twelve Days of Christmas led by Graham Long, before Lee Copping brought the service to a peaceful conclusion.
The service raised £100 for Coffin Club Colchester to support their work with end-of-life celebrations and education.
Councillor Jocelyn Law, Portfolio Holder for Communities and Public Protection, said: “I found the service both moving and uplifting; it provided a vital moment of stillness and shared remembrance for our community at a busy time of year. It is heartening to see so many residents come together in unity and peace. I am grateful to those who helped organise this well-attended event, there were tears but also laughter, as loved ones were remembered whilst the Christmas spirit was also celebrated. The dignity of this setting truly facilitates meaningful reflection. We extend our gratitude to all who attended and offered support to one another.”
A video of the carol service is available to view until 12 January 2026. Please visit https://watch.obitus.com and enter the login details provided below to access the video:
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