Teignmouth Churches are collaborating with churches and schools across the South West to take Christmas cheer online.

Organisers expect thousands to watch online the biggest carol and nativity event in the South West.

Jason Ham, of South West Carols, says: ‘We may not be able to gather together for the traditional Christmas carol concerts and school nativity plays this year, but hundreds of schools and churches from across the South West have joined together to create a unique online Christmas extravaganza instead.

‘Creativity and imagination are combining for the first ever South West Carols online event,’ he says.

Billed as a ‘celebration of all the good things that take place at this time of the year’, the event will include musical performances from Exeter Cathedral Choir and London Community Gospel Choir, alongside award-winning Folk trio Wildwood Kin and worship leader Lucy Grimble.

Local singer songwriter Joe Hardy, has also collaborated with 25 South West Worship Leaders to create a special recording of a traditional Christmas carol.

With the pandemic preventing traditional school nativity’s taking place, South West Carols will also see primary schools across the region taking part in the region’s biggest ever nativity play. Expect lots of cuteness as children from across the South West get their costumes ready to tell the greatest story of them all!

The event has come about through South West Churches and Christian organisations working collaboratively to think outside the box in using online methods to still reach people, whilst even at this time there are still many restrictions on holding services and in person events.

North Teignmouth Community Church is one of the churches taking part and their Community Pastor, Marcus Thomas said: ‘This is going to be an amazing event which will showcase the message of Christmas. I hope you can tune in for this festive spectacular with something for all ages!’

South West Carols will take place on Saturday and Sunday, December 5 and 6, from 7pm to to 8pm each night. It will be broadcast live on the southwestcarols.com website, as well as on Facebook and YouTube, with live presenters and audience interaction throughout.

As well as traditional carols, creative musical items and a nativity produced by children across the region, it will also feature interviews, stories and fun moments to make you laugh out loud. So, grab a cup of hot cocoa, dig out that box of chocolates, get toasty by the fire and invite all your friends to the first ever South West Carols!