Children at King’s School Kew testing the audio equipment
Reflections on #SouthwarkAdvent
Written by George Clarke, Digital Communications Manager
As for most of us in the Church, December was an exceptionally busy time working on our second #SouthwarkAdvent campaign. We made five films at schools in our diocese as well as the collective Christmas Blessing video led by the Dean of Southwark Cathedral. This was a very different experience to making the 2023 Advent films, but the focus on music and Church of England schools made for a fun (and unpredictable) challenge. Now that Christmas has been and gone I wanted to share some reflections, and to bring you all behind the scenes to see what’s involved in making these films.
In case you missed our blogs…
- Christingles at Christ Church School in Purley
- Steel pan at Immanuel and St Andrew School in Lambeth
- Archbishop Tenison’s School choir at St Matthew’s Church, Croydon
- ‘Star Carol’ at St Saviour’s and St Olave’s School, Southwark
- King’s School Kew take part in Journey to the Manger at Southwark Cathedral
Lessons from last time…
Even as we were filming our 2023 #SouthwarkAdvent Calendar we knew we would be doing something very different this time around. In that first, spirit-led campaign we had the opportunity to share scripture and profile many of our parishes, but filming 25 videos in 40 days wasn’t something I could readily repeat. More importantly though, I believe we answered the spiritual calling on us when we made those films, so it was time for something new – though it was wonderful that we got to reshare them on TikTok to a new audience.
A whole new challenge
Filming in schools presents a very different set of complications to filming in churches: everything from organising photo-consent to scheduling film dates and, of course, the nature of working with children made things unpredictable, but also exciting. The unexpected musical component to this year’s campaign also presented technical challenges to overcome. Nonetheless, we selected five schools and while we had an idea of what we hoped to film, none of us actually knew what was going to happen. Wholesome chaos was the most likely outcome, and we were quite happy with that as an aim – very far removed from the tight structure of the advent calendar films!
The sound of… music?
Looking at the films now, music was at the heart of each one. At King’s School in Kew not only did the children sing about the three wise men as they made their nativity figures, but they also took part in collective worship at Southwark Cathedral with other schools. We heard steel pan at Immanuel and St Andrew’s in Lambeth and choirs delivering carols from Archbishop Tenison’s School in Croydon and St Saviour’s and St Olave’s in Southwark. The children at Christ Church School Purley too, sung before they made their Christingles.
On reflection, music connected each film together moreso than the joint Christmas blessing – this was coincidental but perhaps unsurprising. After all, music bridges the gaps between different ages, sexes, races and cultures. As Christians, we don’t have to worship in the same language or style to be united in shared purpose.
The future of the church
We all know the church needs to reach more young people, and in these films we were lucky enough to share some of the ways Church of England schools in our diocese are already making space for thousands of children to learn about Jesus’ birth every year. Beyond anything else, I hope I could convey some of the real hope and joy I experienced while making these films. Whether through classroom lessons, nativities, concerts or events like Journey to the Manger, it was great to see the children engaging with Christianity.
Highlights
It was tremendous fun to work with the children in these films – and unlike when filming with adults they found the idea of being on TikTok exciting! We didn’t have a set script and the kids were often very funny – one Year 2 retelling of the nativity that didn’t make the cut included how there was no room for Jesus in the AirBnB. I was also impressed with the quality and the enthusiasm in the music the children performed. Though the films were undoubtedly some of the trickiest edits I’ve ever had to do – at one point the children got as much PVA glue on the camera equipment as their artwork – it was very difficult not to find yourself smiling.
It’s the spiritual highlights that really matter though, and it was moving to see the pupils at Christ Church Purley praying with their Christingles, and to listen to the carols and sung worship at St Matthew’s Church, St Saviour’s and St Olave’s and Southwark Cathedral. I likewise found it inspiring learning how children are taught about Jesus at the heart of Christmas at Immanuel and St Andrew’s, and practice generous giving towards their local foodbanks. It is my hope that these six films also brought you some enjoyment and hope, and perhaps gave some ideas around things you can do in your context to engage with young people.
What next?
So what’s in store for #SouthwarkAdvent 2025? We already have some ideas – but you’ll have to wait and see…