Christmas carols go online as churches in Inverness join forces
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Churches in Inverness have joined forces in an innovative online venture to ensure people can still enjoy a Christmas carol service and readings despite the coronavirus pandemic.
Two combined services put together by12 city churches of different dominations will go out via social media on Sunday and Christmas Eve while daily messages of hope are also being shared in the run-up Christmas.
Those involved include Chris Dowling, co-pastor of King’s Fellowship at Smithton, who said the pre-recorded services would last about one hour and each would be slightly different.
Both the carol services and the daily messages will go out at 6.30pm via all the churches social media pages and a joint page, Thy Kingdom Come.
Mr Dowling said under the current restrictions, only 50 people could attend a service – although the city was in tier one and other music venues were allowed to accommodate up to 100.
"We know that many people, regardless of where they are faith-wise, will come out at Christmas to hear the Christmas story and sing some carols," he said.
"Obviously we can’t do that this year so we hope this will be nearly as good."
Rev Mike Robertson, of the Church of Scotland’s Barn Church at Culloden, said many people were fed up with the pandemic even though the area had not been as adversely affected as elsewhere.
He felt it was important to offer traditional carols and stories which had connected people over the years.
"Christmas is a very powerful time for the message of hope but people can also find it difficult particularly if other people are not here," he said.
"We just need to hold on to as much as we possibly can.
"There is talk this year of Christmas being cancelled – it is not.
"But the way we do things might have to change.”
Mr Robertson said the story of Christmas was an eternal one and that the message had not changed.
Karen Halkett, the newly-ordained pastor of Inverness Christian Fellowship which meets in Merkinch Community Centre, is also involved.
She said all the churches had played a part such as filming a song, or a reading and she felt it showed a sense of unity.
"A lot of churches the last Sunday before Christmas would have carol services in the evening," she said.
"But this year, even if people could attend a service in person they would not be allowed to sing carols.
"This way, they can sing to their heart’s content."
Other churches involved are Inverness Vineyard, Junction Church, St Columba’s Church of Scotland, Ness Bank Church of Scotland, Inverness Cathedral, Inshes Church of Scotland, Hilton Church of Scotland, Castle Street Baptist Church and Destiny Church.
Related story: Unlocking Christmas with hope
