Advent at All Saints

Carol Service

Our annual Christmas Carol Service provides an opportunity for our students, staff, parents and friends of the school to gather together to celebrate and reflect on the Christmas season. This meaningful and joyous expression of our faith, brings together the All Saints community to worship, reflect, and celebrate the central event of the Christian narrative—the birth of Jesus Christ.

The students participate in the service through the choir, orchestra and liturgical reading group. We are always privileged to be joined by clergy from our deanery and the sisters from nearby religious communities.

Advent Assembly Themes 

The Advent assembly themes of "Stay Awake," "Prepare a Way for the Lord," and "O Come, Let Us Adore Him" guide students in their journey to Christmas. These themes encourage vigilance in our spiritual life, emphasise making room for the Christ in the business of Christmas preparations, and call the All Saints community to worship and revere the Christ Child. Each assembly begins with the lighting of the Advent Wreath, so that students understand the signs and symbols that help us enter into a time of prayer within the Catholic Tradition. 

 Carol Singing

Each year, students from the All Saints Choir go out into a local nursing home to bring the joy of the gospel to our neighbours. The residents were delighted to listen to the beautiful voices and to join in with the singing. 

Carol Singing at Willows Care Home

Christmas Hampers

Our annual Christmas Hamper drive involves every form group gathering non-perishable items into a beautifully decorated box so that fifty-six hampers can go out into our local community before the Christmas holidays. Students understand the high level of deprivation within our local community and use this as an opportunity to turn their faith into action through generosity. The hampers support our local parish food banks and the work of the SVP in Barking and Dagenham. 

Wrap Up London Charity Drive

Our year 12’s led a school-wide campaign for the charity Wrap Up London, collecting 141 coats to keep those living on the streets of London warm over the winter. 

Random Acts of Kindness Advent Calendar

Our school-wide Advent calendar is situated in the main foyer of the building and is passed by all students every day. Each window opens to a random act of kindness challenge, which included “pick up a piece of litter you didn’t drop”, “call a grandparent or relative and tell them you love them” and “hold a door open for someone”. These challenges inspire students to live out our core values, spreading the joy of the gospel around the school site and beyond.