Carolling set for town’s oldest original standing church
Published 8:11 am Wednesday, November 22, 2023
- Christ Episcopal Church has committed to having a caroling group for Historic Smithfield. Paul Putnam, standing, is conducting the group. Carolers singing bass in the back row are Fred Stanton, Tim Jones and Vincent Henderson. Altos and tenor in the middle row are Deb Denninger, Amber Price and Jason Price. Pictured in the front row are sopranos Karen Clark, Rashel Hauber, Susan Cooper, Patricia Fielding and Hailey Lanford. (Submitted photo)
Christ Episcopal Church, located at the corner of Church and Main streets, will be open for “Christmas in Smithfield” Dec. 2 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Sunday, Dec. 3 worship service will be at 10:30 a.m., followed by “Christmas in Smithfield” from 1-4 p.m..
The circa 1832 church is a perfect place to visit and rest after walks through this historic town, according to a church news release. Take the bus to 111 South Church St. to be right at the door of Christ Church. Then be ready for an historic tour and an opportunity to enjoy the outstanding stained-glass windows installed between 1900 and 1909 by the studios of Tiffany, Lamb and Mayer. In 1950, the last of the large windows was designed and installed by the studio of J. Wippell of England.
A $10 soup and sandwich lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church. Adjustments in price will be made for children.
Ornaments will be available for sale — $25 to $30 — made from stained-glass window designs. Don’t miss this opportunity to purchase these for Christmas.
Carolers will meet visitors on the street, featuring singers from throughout the Isle of Wight community.
They are the “Carolers of Joy” under the direction of Paul Putnam, recently retired as a choral director in the Smithfield public school system, and a director of the Virginia Children’s Chorus, the release stated. He has been the music director for Oakland Christian Church in Chuckatuck for the past 30 years. This is the third year Christ Episcopal Church has provided the carolers for “Christmas in Smithfield.”
