HOMELESSNESS was the theme of the Speaker of Hackney’s Carol Service this year, which took place at the Methodist Church, in Mare Street on Thursday (18 December).

At the start of the evening, residents sang carols with the Speaker on the steps of Hackney Town Hall, with musical accompaniment provided by the Salvation Army.

More than 40 people then attended the service during which representatives from Hackney Winter Night Shelter discussed significance of their work being undertaken throughout the borough’s churches during winter.

Cllr Ian Rathbone, the Speaker of Hackney, said: “It’s important to realise that at Christmas there are some who are not as fortunate as the rest of us. I’d like to thank Hackney Winter Night Shelter for their dedication to helping some of our borough’s most vulnerable residents at this time.”

Carols sung included Joy to the World, by former Stoke Newington resident Isaac Newton.

After the service had finished, guests joined Cllr Rathbone for refreshments at the church, while there were also collection buckets for donations to the Speaker’s charities this year, the Hackney Society; Laburnum Boat Club; and the King’s Centre Family Project, a branch of the Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities initiative.