Joy Hammond, a member of our congregation at Ashington Church, has won a prestigious national competition to compose a new Christmas carol. The carol, called "Long, Long Ago" was picked as the winner from over 100 entries from all over the country in a competition called 'The Christmas Factor'. Run by Ecclesiastical Insurance, the competition is part of a wider campaign with ChurchAds.net to put the Christian message back into Christmas.

Joy, an amateur musician, was tempted to enter the competition to win the £1000 prize money for our church's renovation, which is due to be completed in the spring. Having been involved with church worship for a number of years, Joy is a member of our worship team here at Ashington, but has not actually composed anything for about 10 years.

She admits to being 'flabbergasted' at winning. "I heard about the competition from our church notice sheet and thought I'd give it a go" says Joy. "I sat down at the piano and started to play a little melody line and tried to get the lyrics to reflect all the things I associate with carols. To be honest, I thought the carol was too simple to win the competition."

But it was the simplicity and beauty of the song that impressed the judges, and as part of the prize the carol has been professionally arranged and recorded, and played on several radio stations.

Joy's carol was not the only competition entry from Ashington. Tim Fooks, who is also part of our worship team, wrote another beautiful carol called "Joy has come to the World".

Both carols were performed at Ashington Church's Christmas carol service by a joint choir from Ashington and our sister Church Washington.

"We are all absolutely delighted for Joy, and very proud of her and Tim. And, of course, we are very blessed by the prize of £1000 which is a beautiful gift towards the church" says Chris Maclay, our Vicar at Ashington.

"Having the carols performed at the Ashington Christmas carol service was a wonderful treat for all who came to the service, and there could not be a more fitting way to bless and wish everyone a wonderful, peaceful and very happy Christmas."

To listen to the new carol, click on the link below:

http://www.ecclesiastical.com/uploads/Long%2C%20Long%20Ago%20(Rowan)_tcm9-10090.mp3#false