To mark the end of 2025, Chorley and Leyland Group organised a Carol Service at St Ambrose Church, Leyland, led by Fr Paul Robinson. The service not only celebrated the season, but also spread some festive cheer and highlighted some of the community engagement the group continues to deliver within their communities.
Funds on this occasion was the dispersal of the proceeds of the group’s Food Bank Appeal. The group donated a total of £9,200 to eight local food banks within the area, with each food bank receiving £1,150, this being raised from donations from individuals, the lodges and chapters within the group and from a generous donation from the West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity.
In attendance were various members of the group and over 100 brethren and companions from different lodges and chapters and members of their families. A dispensation had been obtained from Province, allowing Masons to wear their regalia which added and extra element of colour to an already vibrantly decorated church.
The group were also lucky to have the company of the Mayor of South Ribble, and Chorley and Leyland Group Vice Chairman, Paul Wharton-Hardman, his mayoral consort, husband Chris and the Mayors of Horwich and Westhoughton, Victoria Rigby and Gillian Wroe along with the Chairman of Farington Parish council, Shaun Bradbury.
Fr Paul began the service by welcoming everyone and inviting them to join him in a short prayer before getting the service going by requesting everyone able, be upstanding to sing the first hymn, the words of which were conveniently displayed on the large screens. The popular hymns were all sang with enthusiasm and no doubt everyone in the local area could hear the singing.
Prior to one of the hymns, Fr Paul asked for three volunteers for a fun rendition of ‘We Three Kings’. Of course, our group chairman Dave Bishop, and vice chairman Paul Wharton-Hardman sprung up at the chance, well more accurately, they were coerced into performing by the vicar, but Paul then managed to convince the Chairman of Farington Parish Council Shaun Bradbury to join them and they all sang with glee and to the rest of everyone in attendance, much amusement.
Between each carol there was a short reading by group members, group publicity officer Jonathan Battersby, group membership officer Nigel Monks, Paul Wharton-Hardman, Dave Bishop and Jeff Lucas, the master of Leyland St Andrew’s Lodge No 7391.
At the conclusion of the readings and hymns, Dave Bishop requested the assistance of the secretary of the group, David Hargreaves for the presentation to the food banks. The food banks that received a donation were; Urban Outreach (Bolton), Leyland Food Bank, Chorley Help the Homeless, Horwich Foodshare, SVP Chorley Buddies Good Food Club, Community Network and Outreach Service, Leyland, Penwortham Foodbank and Adlington Foodshare, the representatives of each offered a few words of explanation as to how the donations would be used.
Following the presentations, Dave gave his thanks to the brethren, companions and family members present and then Fr Paul concluded the service with prayer and a joyous rendition of ‘We wish you a Merry Christmas’. The congregation then left the church, retiring to Halls4All next door to the church, where festive refreshments were provided by the group and there was a surprise visit from Father Christmas himself who delivered a small gift to the children. This concluded a great afternoon which was had by all.