“Friends, family and faith.” People across the Church of England share what’s at the heart of Christmas, as we look forward to celebrating the true meaning in online and onsite services this year.
The four-minute promotional film features powerful personal reflections from people in a wide range of walks of life, speaking about what Christmas means to them.
It forms the centrepiece of the Church of England’s Advent and Christmas campaign #AtTheHeartOfChristmas which encourages people to hear the real Christmas story through their local church.
The soundtrack for the film is a new carol version of In the Bleak Midwinter by one of the country’s top young composers, Rebecca Dale, which has been released as a single earlier this week.
The track, recorded by St Martin’s Voices, under the direction of Andrew Earis, in the church of St Martin-in-the-Fields, London, has already reached the top of the classical charts.
The film takes a look at what is “At the heart of Christmas” through personal stories, tales of hardships overcome, generosity, faith, Christmas memories and hopes for the future.
Those taking part include frontline workers and volunteers who served their communities throughout the pandemic, clergy, a family, and pupils and teachers at a school in Hereford.
