Christmas Carols at The Tower, 4 December 2024

For over a thousand years, even predating the White Tower, a place of worship has occupied the North-West corner of the Inner Bailey of His Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London.  The beautiful chapel of St Peter ad Vincula (St Peter in Chains) dates from the reign of King Henry VIII in 1520.  Beneath the Chancel is the resting place of three English Queens – Anne Boleyn, Katherine Howard and Lady Jane Grey.  It has served the spiritual needs of generations of the Tower’s occupants and last Tuesday it warmly welcomed the Livery to a Christmas Carol Service; led by the resident Chaplain, the Rev Canon Roger Hall MBE. 

The Worshipful Company of Fletchers, one of our fellow Warrior Companies, again generously offered us 25 places at their carol service, a joint venture with one of their affiliates, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, whose Regimental HQ and Mess are in the Tower.

Our allocation was quickly snapped up and our party, led by the Master, mustered at the West Gate at 6pm sharp for a prompt start in the chapel at 6.30pm.

As usual, Roger’s direction of the service was touchingly humorous yet sincere and hugely moving, despite his enormous workload at this time of year.  The music, chosen and personally directed by Colm Carey, was, as usual, simply sublime.  The readings reminded us of the story of the first Christmas and filled us with the spirit of the Season.   Post-carols we trooped over to the nearby Fusiliers’ Mess for wine, food, chat and fun.

It was a really special evening.  We were privileged to enjoy the evening.  Our grateful thanks we extend to Roger and Colm, and, of course, the Master Fletcher and his Clerk for their invitation.  Our photographs show the Chapel with the Chief Yeoman Warder’s Mace and below our team on the steps of the Mess.