Candellight filled St Mary’s Church in Upper Street on Sunday as more than 500 people packed in for a memorable carol service.

“It was the largest I’ve ever known at the church,” said vicar Simon Harvey, who was forced to turn some people away at the door.

“It’s my favourite time of year, especially the service on Christmas Eve when all the shops and bars have closed and our door is the last to stay open. You can actually hear people’s footsteps coming.”

Mr Harvey, whose wife Jennifer died in March following a short illness, added: “It’s been a hard year for a lot of people, myself included.”

The night was rounded off with “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”, which was written inside the walls of St Mary’s Church in the 18th century by the then minister, Charles Wesley, later a leading figure in the English Methodist movement.

• Keywords
  CANDLE MAKING, HYMNS, CHRISTIAN FESTIVALS
• Geographical keyword
  UPPER STREET
• Persons keyword
  Simon Harvey, Reverend, Islington St Mary Parish Church