Carols by Candlelight
St Oswald's Church, Guiseley, Guiseley, LS20 9BB
Saturday 5th December 2026 7:00PM
Christmas starts here ! If you love the sounds of a choir softly singing, the ethereal atmosphere of a candlelit church, or the warming comfort of mulled wine and mince pies, then this is for you!
St Peter’s Singers will lead you on a carefully curated journey through the Christmas story, singing some of your favourite Christmas songs and inviting you to join in too! You will also hear one or two newer works that revisit ancient texts in search of the mysteries at the heart of the Christmas story. So relish the celebration and the joy, but also enjoy that chance to set aside the stress and pressure, and reflect in a moment of stillness and peace.
The programme includes a dash of French brilliance with two of Francis Poulenc’s short motets to ancient latin texts: the thrilling Hodie Christus natus est (‘Today Christ is born’) and the much more mysterious Videntes stellam (‘Seeing the star’). It also features Cecilia McDowall’s achingly beautiful setting of the old English poem There is no rose of such virtue, which was commissioned by King’s College, Cambridge for their famous Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols in 2021.
St Peter’s Singers are passionate about the music we sing and want to share it with as many people as possible. We do all we can to make anyone who comes to our concerts feel welcome and at ease. So if you’ve not tried this music out before, why not come along and bring a friend? Everyone is welcome.
What to expect at a St Peter’s Singers concert
Please note: St Peter's Singers makes every effort to provide accurate and complete information, but reserves the right to make minor variations to the programme if circumstances demand them.
St Peter’s Singers will lead you on a carefully curated journey through the Christmas story, singing some of your favourite Christmas songs and inviting you to join in too! You will also hear one or two newer works that revisit ancient texts in search of the mysteries at the heart of the Christmas story. So relish the celebration and the joy, but also enjoy that chance to set aside the stress and pressure, and reflect in a moment of stillness and peace.
The programme includes a dash of French brilliance with two of Francis Poulenc’s short motets to ancient latin texts: the thrilling Hodie Christus natus est (‘Today Christ is born’) and the much more mysterious Videntes stellam (‘Seeing the star’). It also features Cecilia McDowall’s achingly beautiful setting of the old English poem There is no rose of such virtue, which was commissioned by King’s College, Cambridge for their famous Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols in 2021.
Programme
Advent
Advent Responsory | Richard Marlow
This is the Record of John | Orlando Gibbons
Never weather-beaten sail | Hubert Parry
Wachet auf | arr JS Bach
There is no rose | Cecilia McDowall
Nativity
Hodie Christus natus est | Francis Poulenc
Infant Holy | Polish trad arr Wilcocks
Dormi Jesu | John Rutter
Interval
Break forth O beauteous heavenly light | JS Bach
In the stillness | Sally Beamish
The Word made flesh | Philip Wilby
The Shepherds’ Farewell | Hector Berlioz
Epiphany
Videntes stellam | Francis Poulenc
Bethlehem Down | Peter Warlock
The Three Kings | Peter Cornelius
Finale
Calypso Carol | John Bertalot
Advent Responsory | Richard Marlow
This is the Record of John | Orlando Gibbons
Never weather-beaten sail | Hubert Parry
Wachet auf | arr JS Bach
There is no rose | Cecilia McDowall
Nativity
Hodie Christus natus est | Francis Poulenc
Infant Holy | Polish trad arr Wilcocks
Dormi Jesu | John Rutter
Interval
Break forth O beauteous heavenly light | JS Bach
In the stillness | Sally Beamish
The Word made flesh | Philip Wilby
The Shepherds’ Farewell | Hector Berlioz
Epiphany
Videntes stellam | Francis Poulenc
Bethlehem Down | Peter Warlock
The Three Kings | Peter Cornelius
Finale
Calypso Carol | John Bertalot
Proceeds will be shared between St Oswald's Church and St Peter's Singers
St Peter’s Singers are passionate about the music we sing and want to share it with as many people as possible. We do all we can to make anyone who comes to our concerts feel welcome and at ease. So if you’ve not tried this music out before, why not come along and bring a friend? Everyone is welcome.
What to expect at a St Peter’s Singers concert
Please note: St Peter's Singers makes every effort to provide accurate and complete information, but reserves the right to make minor variations to the programme if circumstances demand them.
Event Details
Doors Open at 6:15PM
From 7:00PM to 8:45PM