A choir that started its life in a London Catholic church is hitting a high note for Christmas 2020, writes Joanna Moorhead

Back in 2005 the then parish priest of St Patrick’s in Soho Square, central London, decided to liven up the 5 p.m. Sunday Mass by asking a fledgling gospel choir to provide the music.

The congregation for that Mass rarely nudged above 10, so the priest had little to lose. Which is how the Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir, founded by a gospel singer and a part-time jazz musician, got its first regular gig.

Fifteen years on, the choir is hitting a high note. It has made a film, The Night Watchmen’s Nativity, telling the story of Christ’s birth from the perspective of some of the most disadvantaged people who were there at the time. While their rather modest expectation was that they’d be able to share it on YouTube and perhaps at some film festivals, it’s been snapped up by Sky Arts and will be broadcast this weekend as the curtain-raiser to the channel’s Christmas coverage.
Meanwhile the choir is providing backing vocals on Mica Paris’ new album, Gospel, released this week. And last but certainly not least, it’s made an insightful and challenging film on racism, entitled Courage, with the Revd Lucy Winkett of St James’s Church, Piccadilly, which is one of its regular performance venues.