What better place to welcome in a new year and celebrate Shaftesbury as we continue the pioneering work of our Victorian founders?
Supporters were invited to join us on 4 January for the annual Epiphany carol service at the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula within the walls of His Majesty’s tower. It has been a Shaftesbury tradition in past years, and once again, the chapel’s regular congregation gave us a warm welcome. The retiring collection was in aid of Shaftesbury, helping us to continue our work in 2026.
Epiphany celebrates the visit of the wise men to the infant Jesus, the time that God revealed himself to the world. The word epiphany comes from the Greek word epiphaneia, meaning ‘appearance’ or ‘manifestation’.
Led by The Reverend Canon Roger Hall LVO MBE, attendees joined with Christians around the world to pray for unity and the church’s worldwide mission, amid what he described as “troubling times”. There were also prayers for Shaftesbury; for staff and volunteers and for all those we support.
Donors and Trustees, past and present, were invited to join us in recognition of their loyalty and commitment to our work, travelling from across the country for the Sunday morning service. It was a novel opportunity to bypass the throngs of tourists to pray in an ancient place of worship, steeped in history.
The tower is best known for its gruesome past, which is in marked contrast to the peaceful tranquillity of the royal chapel, one of two within the grounds. Much of the original building was destroyed by fire, but the present church was built by Henry VIII in 1519. It’s the resting place of Thomas More and two of Henry’s wives, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, both executed at the tower.
Shaftesbury too has a long, rich heritage, which made the setting all the more apt. Most of those present have supported us over many years.
Sheila has been volunteering as a Friend of Shaftesbury John Grooms Court in Norwich since it was established in the 1980s. Paul from Hampshire attended with his wife, Pauline and old friend, Rosemary. They met 40 years ago when they both worked at Shaftesbury in Director positions. They’ve long since moved on but continue to support our work and have remained in contact with each other ever since.
“What a great venue, wonderful choir, an uplifting service and an opportunity to celebrate the great work of Shaftesbury. I am very proud of all you are doing,” said Paul.
It was also an occasion to welcome our newest Trustee, Theresa Villiers, a former MP and cabinet member, now involved in academic work, teaching law. She has a longstanding interest in social care and is motivated to ensure children and adults with disabilities receive the support they need to thrive.
“I very much enjoyed the service and the opportunity to meet staff, volunteers and supporters. I’m so pleased to have joined Shaftesbury and look forward to attending many more occasions like this one,” Theresa commented.
The singing was one of the highlights of the service; a time for reflection in an unforgettable setting. A professional choir of 12 voices made a magnificent sound, performing a mix of traditional and lesser-known Christmas carols to punctuate readings from Shaftesbury representatives including our CEO, Sally Chivers, Lead Ambassador, John Robinson and our Vice Chair, Duncan Ingram.
Simon is a Yeoman Warder who lives at the tower with his young family. Popularly known as a Beefeater, part of his role is to uphold ancient traditions, which included escorting readers to the lectern with a ceremonial mace. By order of the monarch, photography is not permitted during the service, but Simon and his colleagues were on hand afterwards to share some of the chapel’s fascinating history.
The distinctive wooden ceiling made of chestnut came as part of Catherine of Aragon’s dowry. Guests were also shown what was originally the lepers hall where sufferers were kept separate from the main congregation, with a small hole in the wall giving them a view of the altar.
Despite the constraints of such a historic building, Reverend Roger Hall and his team are committed to inclusion and are in the process of making it wheelchair accessible. This will enable us to expand our list of invitees for next year.
Shaftesbury is grateful to all the chapel staff and volunteers for their warmth and hospitality and for their generous support of our charity over the years.
(Featured image, from left: Reverend Cortland Fransella, Yeoman Warder Simon Towe, Shaftesbury CEO Sally Chivers, Reverend Roger Hall)