On Sunday 18 December 2011, a special evening of carol singing was held at St. John's, Ravenhead as part of a nationwide attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest group of carol singers across multiple venues.

As news of the record attempt spread, we started to learn of interest from the local and regional media. The
St. Helens Reporter ran a front page article with photograph ahead of the attempt, while the St. Helens Star carried an item in their editions during the week before and after the event.

Links To Items Carried By Local Media/Organisations - Links May Become Invalid Over Time
St Helens Star: St Johns Church In World Record Carol Bid (before)
St Helens Star: Carol Crew In Good Voice At World Record Attempt (after)
St Helens Reporter: Singing Sensations (before)
St Helens Reporter: 'Reflection on a Challenging Year' - Wednesday 4 January 2012, page 6
St Helens Reporter: 'Uniting For A Record Bid' - Wednesday 4 January 2012, page 41
Diocese of Liverpool: Carol Singing Event In St Helens & Burscough (before)
Diocese of Liverpool: Record Breaking Carol Service at St Johns, Ravenhead (after)
St Helens Council: Leader's News (Dec/Jan 2012) (This item is no longer available at sthelens.gov.uk)
Wish FM: New Year's Message from St Helens Council

The organisers of the evening were invited onto BBC Radio Merseyside's Breakfast Show to be interviewed by Tony Snell on the Friday before the World Record attempt, before being contacted to conduct another interview following the event. The exposure proved fruitful, as many people attending on the evening spoke of how they had learned of the attempt through the newspapers and radio.

Read: BBC Radio To Broadcast World Record Interview

Ahead of all this, invitations had been given out during Christmas meals at the St John's Centre, while a local leafleting campaign had been carried out.

Watch The World Record Attempt As It Happened
Click the image to start the video.


The attempt was filmed using a single static camera.
This footage is amongst the evidence sent off to Guinness.

Download: Welcome Booklet & Programme (PDF)

We sang along with over 18,000 other people across England, Wales, Scotland and Switzerland as the previous record was surpassed by over 4,000 singers. Though the final record is still subject to confirmation by Guinness - who will announce their findings during 2012 - the number taking part was a huge achievement in itself.

125 eligable participants were in attendance at St. Johns, as regular church members were joined by the local community and visitors from across the town in this special and unique evening.

Outside of the World Record attempt, those gathered used 'Once In Royal David's City' as a 'warm up carol' and listened to 'Mary Did You Know" to close the evening.

Watch A Photograph Slideshow Accompanied by 'Mary Did You Know'
Click the image to start the video.


Due to copyright restrictions, we cannot use the same recording of 'Mary Did You Know'
that was featured during the carol singing evening.

Sunday 18 December 2011 - Following the Attempt...
A New World Record Set This Evening?
Early indications suggest that a new World Record for the largest group of carol singers across multiple venues has been set this evening - with singers at St. Johns amongst those taking part.

Guinness have yet to offically verify the achievement - and final confirmation could take some time. However, churches throughout the country have been declaring their participating attendances throughout the evening, with the latest total given as 17,117 - beating the previous record of 14,100 set in 2009 by the Disney Corporation. At the time of writing, 57 churches had yet to declare their attendance.
Read More...



Monday 19 December 2011 - Press Release Issued To Local & Regional Media
Carol Singing Record Attempt Hailed A Success
A nationwide attempt to set a new world record for the largest number of carol singers across multiple venues has been hailed a success by organisers Premier Radio after over 17,000 people took part on Sunday 18 December.

The co-ordinated effort included the 125 in attendance at St. John's Church, Crossley Road, Ravenhead, St. Helens, who boldly sang popular carols, Silent Night, O Come All Ye Faithful, O Little Town Of Bethlehem, Away In A Manger and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing as part of the record attempt.
Read More...



Wednesday 21 December 2011 - Final Total Of Carol Singers Revealed
Carol Singing Total Confirmed As 18,414
Premier Radio confirmed the final total of Carol Singers taking part in the World Record attempt stands at a magnificent 18,414 - more than 4,000 above the previous record.

A total of 220 churches took part across England, Wales, Scotland and Switzerland, giving an average attendance of 83.7 per church. At St. Johns, we have submitted our eligable participating attendance of 125.
Read More...



Thursday 22 December 2011 - Evidence & Witness Statements Sent Off To Guinness
Our evidence for Guinness is all gathered and posted by Special Delivery to arrive the next day. This includes the video and pictures above, our independent witness statements and press cuttings from the St Helens Star and St Helens Reporter.



Friday 23 December 2011 - Delivery of Our Supporting Evidence is Confirmed
We receive confirmation that our witness statements and supporting documents have arrived safely at their destination.


Saturday 24/Sunday 25 December 2011 - An Invitation To Our Carol Singers - And Others!
Anybody who enjoyed - or missed - singing the carols with us at the World Record Attempt are welcome to join us over Christmas weekend for another chance to sing these family favourites. At St. John's on Christmas Eve, we have a traditional Festival of Lessons and Carols by Candlelight at 8pm. On Christmas Day there is a Traditional Language service at 8:30am and a Christmas Day Family Celebration from 10:45am - both at
St. John's.

Alternately, anyone who was at the World Record attempt will have received a special souvenir carol sheet. Tune into Premier Radio from 7pm on Christmas Eve and you'll be able to hear a special carol service broadcast which will use the carols in your copy. Premier Radio is available on DAB (Digital) Radio, online, and on Freeview, Sky and Virgin Media TV services.

2012 - Confirmation?
Guinness can often take between 6-9 months to verify all the evidence and confirm a new World Record. Keep visiting www.stjohnsravenhead.org.uk for updates as and when we get them.

Sunday 22 January 2012 - Thanks from Premier Radio
Premier Radio Thank Carol Singing World Record Participants
This morning, we have received a letter of thanks from Premier Radio, addressed to everyone who took part in the Carol Singing World Record event at St. Johns during December 2011. Click here to read the letter.

Thursday 2 February 2012 - Ravenhead's Supporting Evidence Is Rubber Stamped
Premier Radio have today confirmed by email that our supporting evidence has been processed and meets the requirements for inclusion - well done to everyone involved! We continue to await final confirmation from Guinness regarding the overall record...

What They Said...

"Tonight was a wonderful opportunity for the community to join together in a special and unique event which celebrates Christmas in a familiar and traditional family manner. Events like this illustrate that the church exists for the community it serves and that it will work to try and engage with the needs of local people all year round - not just at Christmas. It was a privilege to host this event and to welcome everybody who came along. We extend an invitation to anyone who enjoyed singing the carols to join us for a traditional Festival of Lessons and Carols on Christmas Eve from 8pm."
St. John's Church, Ravenhead

"It's inspiring to see so many people across the whole of the UK get on board for this record breaking attempt. It's been a lot of fun, and has brought people out to celebrate and really be a part of the spirit of Christmas. As far as we can tell with these initial figures, we've broken the record. We hope to get the rubber stamp from Guinness in the next few months."
Peter Kerridge, Premier Radio

"It was lovely to come together and sing some great carols, knowing that you were part of something bigger; something that for many of us will probably be a once in a lifetime opportunity."
Carol Singer at St. John's

"...on another bright note, I ended the year as one of the independent witnesses at St John's Church in Ravenhead for their successful attempt at the world record for carol singing."
Cllr Marie Rimmer, Independent Witness
From 'Reflection on a Challenging Year', The St Helens Reporter Wed 4 Jan 2012

Thanks to everybody who helped prepare and present the evening and to local and regional media and other organisations who have taken an interest in the event, particularly BBC Radio Merseyside's Breakfast Show with Tony Snell, The St Helens Reporter, The St Helens Star, Shine and the Diocese of Liverpool.

We also send our thanks to Cllr Marie Rimmer, Mr Ian Rimmer, Dr Lore Feldberg and Mrs Jean Jones, our independent witnesses and counters for the evening. These people are not connected to St Johns, but gave their time freely for this community event. Without their assistance, the event would not have been able to go ahead.

Finally, thanks to all at Premier Radio who were the nationwide organisers and co-ordinators.