BROMSGROVE’S first ever drive-in carol service will take place at 10.30am this Sunday.
The event, in the car park of the former Dolphin Centre, is the brainchild of Rev Stephen Levett, minister of Bromsgrove Methodist Church.
He said: “A while ago I realised Covid restrictions meant that churches would be unable to hold normally popular well attended carol services this year as numbers are restricted by social distancing and congregations are not currently permitted to sing indoors.
“I thought that the only way we could both safely come together as a community and sing would be by sitting in cars.
“I was however doubtful we could make it happen given all the challenges to be overcome in setting up such an event.”
Stephen had almost given up on the idea, but was then contacted by Bromsgrove District Council’s events officer about the pop-up drive-in cinema on the car park next to the centre.
He was asked if he wanted to lead a carol service using the drive-in facilities.
Due to Covid-safety procedures the service is pre-recorded with carols and other content appearing in the cinema screens and sound broadcast directly into peoples’ cars.
Stephen added: “Though arriving and staying in our cars is a novel way of gathering,
“I’m hoping by coming and singing Christmas carols together in this way we can still have a heart-warming and hope filled community experience at the end of a tough year.”
Tickets, which are free, need to be pre-booked and are for a car and not individuals.
They can be requested from Stephen via email at [email protected]. Pedestrian access is not permitted.
Because places will be limited, the service will be streamed live on the Bromsgrove Methodist Church’s YouTube page here.
