MORE than 100 people braved the driving rain to enjoy the annual Dartmoor Prison Carol Service at St Michael and All Angels Church in Princetown.

Visitors came together for carol singing at the historic church, built between 1812 and 1814 by French and American prisoners of war who were among the first prisoners at HMP Dartmoor.

Since 1994, the church has been in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust, the national charity protecting historic churches at risk, which raises funds to pay for the building’s upkeep. Proceedings were led by the Rev Louise Cooper, chaplain of HMP Dartmoor, with support from the Rev Preb Nick Shutt.

The service celebrated the historic connections of the building, with readings from the French Consul Honoraire in Plymouth Monsieur Alain Sibiril, as well as from HMP Dartmoor’s governing governor, Bridie Oakes-Richards. Carol singing was followed by mulled wine and mince pies crafted and served by representatives of High Moorland Women’s Institute, part of an impressive organisational effort coordinated by church volun-teer Pamela Law.

Nearby Dartmoor Brewery sponsored a Christmas Memory Tree in the church, which was erected by the Churches Conservation Trust ahead of the service. Over the next few weeks until Christmas local people are being invited to visit and leave a message on a tree decoration for loved ones past and present on the tree. A separate tree has been donated by the Duchy of Cornwall.