Carol Services in Southend: Candlelit Carols, Christingles and a Sing-Along in Priory Park

Southend’s main carol services in 2026 fall on Sunday 20 December, when seven are held across the city, from Carols in the Park at 2pm to Nine Lessons and Carols at Holy Trinity, Southchurch, at 6.30pm. The season starts with a brass band evening in Leigh on Saturday 28 November and ends with Christingle and crib services on Christmas Eve. None of the church listings asks for tickets.

Last checked 14 November 2026.

Overview

• Carols in the Park: Sunday 20 December, 2pm, Priory Park Bandstand. Free, song sheets provided.
• Candlelit carols: St Aidan’s, Leigh, Sunday 13 December at 6pm; St Andrew’s, South Shoebury, Sunday 20 December at 6pm.
• Nine Lessons and Carols: St Alban’s, Westcliff, at 3pm and Holy Trinity, Southchurch, at 6.30pm, both Sunday 20 December.
• Christingles: Sunday 20 December at St Andrew’s, South Shoebury, and Christmas Eve at St Andrew’s, Westcliff, and Holy Trinity, Southchurch.
• Crib services on Christmas Eve: St Mary’s, North Shoebury (3pm), St Aidan’s, Leigh (4pm), St Peter’s, Shoebury (4pm), Holy Trinity, Southchurch (4.30pm).

Carol services in Southend, date by date

Each church publishes its own dates on A Church Near You, the Church of England’s directory, and the links are in the sources below.

Carol concerts and sing-alongs

Carols in the Park, Sunday 20 December, 2pm. The Southend Band, the city’s civic brass band, leads its open-air carol sing-along at the Priory Park Bandstand (The Southend Band).

• Where: Priory Park Bandstand, Victoria Avenue, SS2 6NB.
• Cost: free. Song sheets are handed out.
• Good to know: it goes ahead whatever the weather, so bring a flask and a blanket. The band says Santa usually turns up with a sack of treats for the children’s choir.

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas, Saturday 28 November, 5.30pm to 7.30pm. The same band plays an early Christmas evening at Belfairs Methodist Church, Eastwood Road North, Leigh-on-Sea, SS9 4NG, followed by free cake and hot drinks. The band recommends booking in advance because it sold out last year (The Southend Band).

Candlelit carols and Nine Lessons and Carols

• St Aidan’s, The Fairway, Leigh-on-Sea, SS9 4PY: Carols by Candlelight, Sunday 13 December, 6pm. A joint service, with refreshments afterwards (St Aidan’s).
• St Alban the Martyr, St John’s Road, Westcliff, SS0 7JZ: Sunday 20 December, 3pm. The traditional Nine Lessons and Carols, with choir music and congregational carols (St Alban’s).
• St Andrew’s, Electric Avenue, Westcliff, SS0 9NW: Sunday 20 December, 4pm. Popular carols and the Christmas story (St Andrew’s Westcliff).
• St Andrew’s, Church Road, South Shoebury, SS3 9EU: Carols by Candlelight, Sunday 20 December, 6pm (St Andrew with St Peter).
• Holy Trinity, Southchurch Boulevard, SS2 4XA: Sunday 20 December, 6.30pm. Nine Lessons and Carols with a robed choir in the medieval church, then mulled wine and refreshments. There is free parking on the street (Holy Trinity).

Christingle services

• St Andrew’s, South Shoebury: Family Carols and Christingle, Sunday 20 December, 3.30pm (St Andrew with St Peter).
• St Andrew’s, Westcliff: Christmas Eve, 4pm. The church notes that the oranges are provided (St Andrew’s Westcliff).
• Holy Trinity, Southchurch: Christmas Eve, 4.30pm. A crib service with carols and a Christingle procession. Children are invited to come dressed as a character from the nativity (Holy Trinity).

Nativity and crib services

• St Andrew’s, South Shoebury: Sunday 6 December, 9.30am, with a collection of gifts for people in need, and St Peter’s in the same parish at 11.30am (St Andrew with St Peter).
• St Andrew’s, Westcliff: Sunday 13 December, 10am. Children and adults dress up and tell the Christmas story, within the usual Sunday service (St Andrew’s Westcliff).
• St Mary the Virgin, North Shoebury Road, SS3 8UL: Christmas Eve, 3pm. A gentle, interactive crib service with carols, suited to babies and young children, who can add figures to the crib (St Mary’s North Shoebury).
• St Aidan’s, Leigh: Christmas Eve, 4pm. Family carols at the crib (St Aidan’s).
• St Peter’s, South Shoebury parish: Christmas Eve, 4pm (St Andrew with St Peter).

Other Christmas dates in the city are on our Christmas in Southend page.

Sources

• The Southend Band: Carols in the Park and It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas, read 14 November 2026
• A Church Near You event pages, read 14 November 2026: St Aidan’s, Leigh, St Alban the Martyr, Westcliff, St Andrew’s, Westcliff, St Andrew with St Peter, South Shoebury, Holy Trinity, Southchurch, St Mary the Virgin, North Shoebury