Salvation Army Band leads carols for sheltered homes in Southampton

'On a Thursday evening at the beginning of December, the local Salvation Army Band joined Caraway Anna Chaplains Margaret and Juliette (Southampton West) in a festive time of Christmas carols outside two of the local sheltered housing blocks' says Anna Chaplain Margaret Hague.

'It was a very cold evening and we invited residents to either open their window or wrap up warm and join us for twenty-five minutes of Christmas carols. At the first location around 25 residents participated while others listened from their balconies.

One lady shared “I’ve lived here for 22 years and this is the first time anyone has done anything like this for us”. We were able to share the joy of Christmas before leaving them with a Good News Christian Christmas newspaper each, and driving on to the next sheltered housing block where another dozen residents were eagerly waiting to sing carols.'

'It was such a privilege to share with them. It also gave us a valuable opportunity to meet some residents for the first time.'

'Shortly, another brass band, Hamwic Brass will join us in a similar event outside a further two sheltered housing courts in the area.' 

                                   Margaret Hague – Lead Anna Chaplain for Southampton West, within the Caraway charity's Anna Chaplaincy team.

---