KING Charles spoke in his Christmas Day message of “Christmas celebrating the power of light overcoming darkness”.
His message was true, just five days before, on Tuesday, December 20.
On that date a Carol Service was due to be held at St Matthew’s Church at Cheriton Fitzpaine.
However, the service nearly did not take place due to lighting issues.
Rev Janet May, Team Vicar Designate, North Creedy and Crediton Ministry Hub, explained: “On Monday (Decembeer 19), our Churchwarden went to the church and discovered the lights weren’t working.
“With our Carol service on the following evening, this was not good news.
“Finding an electrician who could help us urgently was difficult, but we eventually managed to get someone out to have a look. It was not good news.
“The wiring is faulty, thanks to the church being an ancient building and it is not going to be an easy fix and not possible to get it sorted until the New Year.
“The electrician was wonderful and strung some lights around the pillars and some fairy lights from the screen at the front of the church.
“We lit candles all around the church and it looked beautiful. Thankfully the plugs were still working, so we could still have the organ play and warm mince pies and mulled wine after the service.”
She continued: “Members of the community arrived for the Carol service with torches and lamps to help light the church.
“The community came together to sing and celebrate the wonderful joyful story of Jesus’ birth.
“It was not just shepherds, but an electrician, not just gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, but candles, torches and fairy lights that made the service a very special occasion.”
Alan Quick