Port Isaac’s Christmas Voices Head to Truro Cathedral: What Will They Bring?

Over 70 singers from the north Cornish village to fill the Cathedral with local carols and traditions

Truro Cathedral will fill with the sound of Port Isaac on Wednesday the 10th of December as more than 70 singers bring an intergenerational celebration of carols, stories and village traditions to the heart of the city.

A night of community song

Five singing groups, including Port Isaac Academy schoolchildren, will perform festive favourites such as the Sans Day Carol and While Shepherds Watched. The programme also features local favourites Love Came Down at Christmas and Hark The Glad Sound.

There will be a first public performance of a new arrangement of Thomas Merritt’s carol Awake With Joy, written especially for the night.

Port Isaac has built a strong reputation for community singing, shaped in large part by the dedication of Janet Townsend MBE, who will lead the Port Isaac Chorale. Janet revived a choral tradition in the 1990s that had faded in the 1930s. With accompanist Jo Norton, she has also been helping schoolchildren prepare for their song, continuing her commitment to bringing generations together through music.

Lanterns, pipers and village stories

The evening will also include a lantern parade, a Cornish piper, and tales of Port Isaac past and present. Local artist Caroline Cleave has been working with Port Isaac Academy on lanterns and with the Port Isaac Heritage Group on display boards that explore the village’s history.

The service is the latest in a partnership between Truro Cathedral and the Federation of Old Cornwall Societies, highlighting the different carol singing traditions found across Cornwall. It will be livestreamed on the Federation’s YouTube channel.

Community support and voices from the village

Alan Sainsbury, Chair of Port Isaac Chorale, said “We are delighted to be part of this service which will feature Port Isaac’s thriving musical heritage – it is a wonderful opportunity to share our Christmas traditions with one and all.”

Caroline said “The whole village is very excited to share our Christmas traditions at the Cathedral. The service will reflect the theme of Port Isaac’s traditional village lantern parade this year, which is ‘One Starry Night’, celebrating the spirit of Port Isaac’s community shining together and supporting each other.”

FOCS president Nev Meek said “The Federation of Old Cornwall Societies is delighted to be bringing this Port Isaac Christmas to Truro Cathedral – celebrating Cornish carols as part of our living heritage is a cornerstone of the Old Cornwall Movement. We are so grateful to all our supporting funders who enable us to put this event on, and all the many people in Port Isaac who have given their time and effort to make this the wonderful evening we know it will be.”

Support for the service has already come from across Port Isaac and beyond, including The Doc Martin Fund, The Golden Lion, the Port Isaac Rowing Club, St Endellion Parish Council, Gorsedh Kernow, Cornwall Councillors Rosie Moore, Rob Nolan and Steven Webb, and Truro City Council.

Free to attend, supporting the RNLI

The service is free for all, with a retiring collection shared with the RNLI. The RNLI will also be present with a new Port Isaac Christmas card created by Port Isaac Academy pupils with artist Caroline Cleave.

Donations to support the service and the RNLI can be made through the crowdfunder here