It is a cold, frosty evening shortly before Christmas;
shivering, I approach the lights guiding me to the main
doorway of St Mary’s, Watford’s parish church for the
last eight centuries. Glancing towards the large white
house, Watford Place, I walk past the alms houses which
are just a few steps away from the listed building known
today as the Old Free School. My thoughts conjure the
idea that perhaps on a similar night over 300 years ago
Dame Elizabeth Fuller might have made the same journey.
Perhaps she hurried, shivering, from her home, Watford
Place, along the garden path past the imposing building
she had built for her school in which she provided free
education for the poor boys and girls of Watford. Surely
Elizabeth Fuller was a lady with important ideas ahead
of her time, not only educating children born into poverty
prevalent in a small market town like Watford in 1700,
but insisting on the inclusion of girls in her enterprise.
Did she think about those pupils as she walked to attend
candle light Christmas music being sung in nearby St
Mary’s Church?
On this December evening in 2015, it is today’s WGGS
girls and their parents who are gathering in St Mary’s.
Once inside, each of us holding a glowing candle, the
flames throw shadows and flickering colours on the faces
of the current school choir and of past pupils who have
come, hoping to meet up with friends and staff from their
school days. A brave, solo voice begins to sing ‘Once in
Royal David’s City’ as the choir processes along the nave
to their places sitting next to the lights of the Christmas
tree in the Sanctuary. Once again the annual tradition
of WGGS “Carols by Candlelight” has begun. To my
memory this tradition has been celebrated for 40 years,
no doubt much longer … At 7pm on the final Monday
of term before the Christmas holidays, past and present
pupils and parents alongside past and current members
of staff, enjoy lovely voices singing carols made even
sweeter by the wonderful acoustics of the church, and
always followed by the conviviality of coffee and mince
pies.
The proud heritage of girls’ education begun at Dame
Fuller’s Free School has unswervingly evolved into
twenty-first century WGGS, and is surely reflected and
strengthened in such long standing traditions.
Our traditional Christmas Carols with all the choirs,
various musical bands and the orchestra also take place
in the main school hall over two afternoons, complete with
decorations and Christmas tree. Traditions such as these
unite the school as one community of pupils and staff
with our multiplicity of religious and cultural backgrounds
… just enjoying being together, celebrating music and
talent, well-earned at the end of the long hard work
accomplished in the Autumn Term.
Miss Chandler.
“I think the most
important thing about
both carol concerts
is simply the shared
experience. Events like
this lend a real sense and
spirit of community to
the school and make me
feel part of something
that’s greater than
myself. “
- Mr Wynne
12
STAFF REPORT
"
The Candlelight Carols exemplify
the amity and solidarity of
Christmas at Watford Girls"
-
Lara, Lower 6
Always a magical occasion, but this year there seemed to be something
special, particularly the moving and spontaneous rendition of ‘Humble King’
by the Year 13 girls at the end. A testament to music’s ability to communicate
hope and happiness across all faiths and age groups in our school.
“It was a quiet
moment of calm
reflection amidst
all the chaos and
indulgence of a
modern Christmas”
-
Mr Bevan
“It is an event we all treasure
– it is part of the long
standing tradition of our
school and is a celebration
of our link with St
Mary’s. The service
is always wonderfully
uplifting”
- Dame Helen Hyde DBE
“I love to hear, coming from
the dark recesses of the
Church the beautiful voices of
former and present students,
forming a once and future choir
encompassing all that we most
love about our school”
-
Ms Hart
“The Candlelight Carols at St Mary's
provided some much needed
peace and time for reflection
amidst the otherwise
hectic and frenetic last
few days of term. A
chance to pause and
regain some perspective
about what makes the
festive period special”
-
Mr Wynne
“Christmas officially starts
for me with Carols by
Candlelight. I love that
wondrous moment where
the lights go out, the
candles are lit and, as
the light spreads through
the church, a beautiful
lone voice is heard singing
the first verse of Once in
Royal David’s City”
-
Miss Sutherland
The last word surely belongs to Bethany, U6:
“The Carol Concerts at Watford Girls are always a wonderful way to get into the Christmas
spirit and feel part of something. Being in a choir is a wonderfully warming experience, especially
in the hall surrounded by your classmates so near to the festive season”
Carols by Candlelight
