2018 Choral Evensong for the Commemoration of Charles I, King and Martyr. Lessons were read by Dave Laverty, President of the Old Carolians Association, and Stephen Brownlow, Headteacher of King Charles I School.
The Choral Evensong was held this year in the main body of St Mary's Church with the Church Choir, and the service was led by the Team Rector, the Rev Canon Rose Lawley.
Two of the hymns were particularly well known to the congregation of around 22 Old Carolians, their friends and relatives. These were 'Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise' and Richard Baxter's 'Ye Holy Angels bright'. The Choir's descant in the last verse was memorable. They also led the congregation in singing verses from Psalm 3, as well as the 'Magnificat' and the 'Nunc Dimittis'.
Headteacher of King Charles I School Steve Brownlow read the first lesson; President Dave Laverty read the second lesson, taken from St Paul's letter to the Corinthians. A huge number of couples getting married would know this reading as including the favourite verse 'And now these three remain: Faith, Hope and Love. But the greatest of these is Love.'
Canon Lawley read the Collect for King Charles, King and Martyr, and then, in her address, reminded us about the deep meaning of St Paul's Epistle. St Paul spoke of the generosity of God's love and His constant, ever present relationship with us. King Charles was also a regular, constant and devout member of the Church of England, but, in more temporal affairs, he was lacking in so many ways, as indeed we all are. The gifts that we bestow on others must be given with love; otherwise, they are useless. Charity without love is also no good, like throwing scraps to a dog. Charles's moral lectures to others were examples of his pride, and led on to a conflict in which lives were destroyed. God's love, on the other hand, is never proud and never ends. It never leads to conflict.
A final blessing and organ voluntary gave a rousing send-off to us as we returned into the freezing cold and darkness of a Kidderminster February Sunday.
'Captain' Peter Vaughan, Religious Affairs Correspondent