Festive Bells Ring Out For Guide Dogs Charity

Published on: 12 Dec, 2024
Updated on: 12 Dec, 2024

From left: Tricia Giles of the Guide Dogs Mid Surrey Branch; the Rev Jonathan Thomas, Vicar of St Peter’s; and the Mayor, Cllr Louise Morales. Photo Jason Blackwood

By Jason Blackwood

It wasn’t a bleak mid-winter but a very windy, rainy night when the Guide Dogs Mid Surrey Branch held their carol service at St Peter’s Church, Old Woking, last Friday (December 6).

Despite the rain the church was packed. The service was conducted the vicar, the Rev’d Jonathan Thomas, and a reading was given by the Mayor of Woking, Cllr Louise Morales, who had arrived by bicycle, not by car as expected.

People from the Guide Dogs organisation took part as well as members of the church. Some of the singing was performed by the MbM Contemporary Gospel Choir, with the St Peter’s handbell ringers playing Silent Night and We Three Kings.

The Woking Sea Rangers did a reading and served refreshments after the service. A total of £850 was raised for Guide Dogs.

The vicar is a strong supporter of Guide Dogs and is in training to run the London Marathon next April in aid of the organisation.