St Peter's Parish News
Thursday 1 January 1970
Festival of Light
The weather warnings of Storm Bert loomed over the weekend, and pre-Christmas fairs all over the country were being cancelled. Harpenden and Watford both abandoned their events for fear of high winds. On Sunday, the word was spreading that Berkhamsted Town Council would call off the Festival of Light, and despondency was spreading. Would gale force winds wreak havoc? Would any visitors show up? With uncertainty in the air, we were hesitant about proceeding with the candlelit display that has become an annual fixture here at St Peter’s. At the 11th hour, the word came that a truncated Festival would proceed: outdoor stalls and rides were cancelled, as was Santa’s Parade, and the Elves’ Posting House retreated, along with the cast of Cinderella, to the sanctuary of the Civic Centre.
“And we, shall we be faithless? Shall hearts fail, hands hang down? Not so!” In St Peter’s, we decided that we would maintain unflinching the widely advertised church event, and our valiant volunteers went to work lighting thousands of candles, setting up stalls and getting ready to welcome the community. In the end, rather a lot of people still came into town – perhaps the word of cancellation had not spread, perhaps they were simply determined to find some winter cheer. The threatened gales failed to materialise, but the crowds found St Peter’s Church a welcome haven from the relentless drizzle – and what a haven this was! Visitors queued at the west door, welcomed by the various costumed incarnations of St Nicholas with chocolates; they wandered in, marvelling at the breathtaking sight of this historic building bathed in candlelight; many lit candles prayerfully; our choir sang a selection of seasonal motets; and raffle tickets, books, honey and bags were sold. Donations were gratefully received, and Fr Stuart did a marvellous job shaking a donations bucket at visitors. Over 2700 people passed through our doors on Sunday.
Enormous thanks are due to all volunteers who gave their time to make this event happen, and especially to project manager Martin Moore! Thank you all of you for bearing up and defying Storm Bert!
