CHRISTMAS songs and stories in the folk tradition are to be aired at the Wren Music-promoted 'Carols at St James' Service next week. Each year the carol service takes a different theme — this year it is 'Good News To The Poor'. Wren Music's professional team of folk musicians, singers and bards, will be joined by local people keen to share and pass on their own songs and stories, including the singers from two local youth workshop groups — Okehampton Youth Chorus and SoX. The evening will end with a recessional procession, and a musical guard of honour as all depart. The programme includes familiar and well-loved favourites, such as While Shepherds Watched, along with new arrangements in the distinctive West Devon folk style of carols. The West Devon traditional folk style is typified by three-part vocal harmonies; the middle (tenor) voice carries the melody, while the higher and lower voices provide decoration and variation around the tune. The service will be preceded by an introit — with music played from the Musicians' Gallery. Wren Music is staging the event in association with All Saints Parish Church, Okehampton and the Okehampton United Charities. The carol service takes place at St James Chapel in Okehampton, next Tuesday, December 19, from 7.30pm. St James is an ancient 'Mayoral Chapel' — one of only eight in the country — and belongs not to any denomination, but to all the people of Okehampton. First licensed as a chantry chapel in 1178, it was partially rebuilt in 1862, with a Musicians' Gallery, an unusual feature, harking back to the old Wessex churches documented by Thomas Hardy. With its location in Fore Street, St James is at the heart of the town and in the past was used by townspeople unable to reach the parish church in times of flood. Its best feature is the 14th century tower, with its clock and chimes. Wren Music is Devon's folk and community arts development charity.
