Outdoor carol services in Tower Hamlets (east London) have been cancelled due to security reasons, after the advice of the council and police, after a first event on 6 December became “dangerously overrun”.

An unexpected crowd of around 7,000 people turned up to the event held at Columbia Road's Christmas market in the Bethnal Green area of east London.

Heather Atkinson, pastor of St Peter's Bethnal Green church, which organises the carol services, explained that “Columbia Road carols has been a great partnership between the shopkeepers on the road, the local community and the parish church. We cherish these relationships”.

That is why “this decision is in support of our community. We sincerely hope that the shops will now be able to remain open on Wednesday evenings”.

Atkinson was “grateful to God and to those working at the event that there were no serious injuries”.

The cancellation affected 2 more carol services planned, a decision “however sad to have to make, was wise”, said the church in a statement.

A huge outreach opportunity in England

Christmas carol services are probably the church-organised events most attended by non-believers in the United Kingdom.

Some churches gather hundreds or even thousands of visitors at events organised in December, where along with the carols, there is an evangelistic message about the biblical meaning of Christmas.

That is also the experience of entities such as the Christian Unions, which bring together in cathedrals or football fields large numbers of university students who seek to enjoy Christmas community with others.

Preachers with experience in sharing the gospel at these Christmas events consider them to be among the biggest mission opportunities in the country today.