0:00:04 > 0:00:07Nestled 25 miles off the French coast
0:00:07 > 0:00:10is the picturesque island of Sark.
0:00:11 > 0:00:16The smallest of the main Channel Islands has just 600 inhabitants,
0:00:16 > 0:00:19but 50,000 visitors in the summer.
0:00:21 > 0:00:22They come for its tranquillity...
0:00:24 > 0:00:28..its beauty, but also its eccentric charm.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34Sark has no cars, no streetlights
0:00:34 > 0:00:40and islanders and tourists alike get around either by bicycle...
0:00:40 > 0:00:41- Hello.- Hello.
0:00:41 > 0:00:43..or horse-drawn carriage.
0:00:46 > 0:00:51At the centre of the island's community are Sark's two churches.
0:00:51 > 0:00:55The Methodist chapel, run by lay preacher Karen Le Mouton,
0:00:55 > 0:00:58and Gill Nicholls at the Anglican St Peter's.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01Aren't you just gorgeous!
0:01:03 > 0:01:04But as the summer ends,
0:01:04 > 0:01:07St Peter's will be without a vicar
0:01:07 > 0:01:09as Gill Nicholls has decided to leave.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12This has probably been one of the best years of my life.
0:01:12 > 0:01:14As the tourists leave,
0:01:14 > 0:01:18Sark must brace itself for the quiet months without them.
0:01:18 > 0:01:23Winter for those that live and work here is no soft option.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28Sark is a very close-knit community.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31You just have to muck in and pull together.
0:01:33 > 0:01:35With the long, dark nights ahead
0:01:35 > 0:01:38and the search ongoing for a replacement vicar,
0:01:38 > 0:01:42this winter, Sark's island spirit will be tested.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21The only way to get to Sark is by boat from Guernsey.
0:02:23 > 0:02:24But in the autumn,
0:02:24 > 0:02:28the boat service goes down to only one or two boats per day.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33And after months of frenetic activity for the islanders,
0:02:33 > 0:02:35a sense of calm descends.
0:02:37 > 0:02:42It's like Sark breathes a big sigh of relief that,
0:02:42 > 0:02:46"Oh, my goodness, that's that, now we can just get back to normal."
0:02:46 > 0:02:50Because so many people do so many different jobs during the season
0:02:50 > 0:02:53to earn enough money to see them through the winter,
0:02:53 > 0:02:57so everybody's working flat-out all the time.
0:02:57 > 0:02:59And then the boats change and,
0:02:59 > 0:03:02"Ah!" Yes, they've got time to just stop
0:03:02 > 0:03:06and have those conversations or do things they want to do or decide,
0:03:06 > 0:03:09"I'm not going to do that today, I can do that another day.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11"I've now got the time to do that."
0:03:18 > 0:03:21For those islanders who make a living from the sea,
0:03:21 > 0:03:23it's the end of the season.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27To protect their tour boats and fishing boats
0:03:27 > 0:03:29from winter's harsh weather,
0:03:29 > 0:03:32all vessels are lifted out for safe storage.
0:03:34 > 0:03:38Baz Adams has lived on Sark all his life.
0:03:39 > 0:03:40In the summer months,
0:03:40 > 0:03:43he works the lobster-fishing season six days a week.
0:03:44 > 0:03:48But Sark's lobsters and crabs can sleep a little easier tonight
0:03:48 > 0:03:51as the fishing season closes today.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55Baz and the others must down tools until March.
0:03:58 > 0:04:00At least, having a closed season,
0:04:00 > 0:04:02you give nature a chance.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04Otherwise, you're just taking all the time.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07You know, it's like a garden.
0:04:07 > 0:04:13You keep digging potatoes, but there comes a time they aren't there.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16What are you going to do in the winter, Baz?
0:04:16 > 0:04:18Repair the pots, I suppose.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22We're going to have to do a bit of replacing.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25I don't know whether to replace the pots or replace me.
0:04:25 > 0:04:26LAUGHTER
0:04:26 > 0:04:29- Would you rather be fishing? - I would.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41The fishing boat harbour falls silent.
0:04:41 > 0:04:46And with the tourists gone, Sark returns to its natural state.
0:04:46 > 0:04:48The islanders get their island back.
0:04:51 > 0:04:53Tessie?
0:04:55 > 0:04:57Go on. Nice and steady.
0:04:57 > 0:05:01With the change in seasons, it's a big day for shepherd Dave Scott,
0:05:01 > 0:05:05his herd of ewes and his sheepdogs Poppy and Tessa.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08Nice and steady, doggies.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11Of course, driving sheep down the main highway
0:05:11 > 0:05:14is made easier by Sark's lack of cars.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16They're going to winter pastures.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19Well, winter cliff land.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22Um...they've pretty well polished off the field grass now and, er...
0:05:22 > 0:05:26we'll start chucking quite a bit of hay out to them
0:05:26 > 0:05:29and I always prefer to do that out here.
0:05:36 > 0:05:40Tessie, come here. Poppy. Poppy!
0:05:41 > 0:05:44It's quite handy because Tessie knows all the gaps,
0:05:44 > 0:05:47so she tends to run on ahead and cover them. Popsie!
0:05:49 > 0:05:51With barely a word uttered.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54Tesso, on you go, woofer.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02Steady on, doggies.
0:06:04 > 0:06:05Once at the headland,
0:06:05 > 0:06:09the ewes settle into their winter home quickly.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11In all their multicoloured glory.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14Why are the sheep different colours, Dave?
0:06:14 > 0:06:17Well, when we put the ram on... We put the rams...
0:06:17 > 0:06:19The rams were on a couple of months ago.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22And, er...you put a harness on him
0:06:22 > 0:06:24and you put a crayon in the harness
0:06:24 > 0:06:27and every week, you change the colour.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30So when it comes to lambing time,
0:06:30 > 0:06:33we know roughly which ewes are going to lamb each week.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37How many potential mums-to-be do we have here?
0:06:37 > 0:06:39We have about the same as last year, a little less.
0:06:39 > 0:06:43Probably about 90, 95 ewes, maybe.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45Due about 20th Feb to start. We're a bit later.
0:06:45 > 0:06:49Usually, we're Valentine's Day, but we're a little bit later this year.
0:06:54 > 0:06:56With Gill back on the mainland,
0:06:56 > 0:06:59Sark is now without a permanent Anglican vicar.
0:07:00 > 0:07:05The job is unpaid, but does provide the vicarage as a residence.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08And on the neighbouring island of Guernsey, it's the Dean,
0:07:08 > 0:07:11Paul Mellor's responsibility to find a replacement.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16The quest for a new vicar is ongoing.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19Since Gillian left, we've had seven expressions of interest,
0:07:19 > 0:07:22to whom we've sent all the details,
0:07:22 > 0:07:26but none of them yet have turned into definite applications.
0:07:26 > 0:07:32So after Christmas, we'll probably go to a wider advertising campaign
0:07:32 > 0:07:35and hopefully that will bring forth the right candidate.
0:07:35 > 0:07:37ORGAN RECITAL
0:07:37 > 0:07:40One, two, three.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43CHOIR SING
0:07:45 > 0:07:49St Peter's has been on Sark for almost 200 years.
0:07:49 > 0:07:51And even with a distinct lack of vicar,
0:07:51 > 0:07:53many things continue as normal.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56# To the faces of God...#
0:07:56 > 0:08:00The choir still has to keep match-fit, so rehearsals continue,
0:08:00 > 0:08:05led by farmer, part-time fireman and choirmaster, Kevin Adams.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10Winter is going to be the worst time to find a vicar.
0:08:10 > 0:08:15And you've got to like Sark in the winter and the summer.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21In the winter, when it's very much more a community,
0:08:21 > 0:08:24but obviously, with the longer, dark nights
0:08:24 > 0:08:29and it can feel very remote when you haven't got regular boats every day.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32Finding a vicar is very difficult and we keep searching.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37We do need somebody to steer the tiller.
0:08:42 > 0:08:43At Sark's post office,
0:08:43 > 0:08:47dealing with the post is just a fraction of what they do.
0:08:49 > 0:08:53It might be one of the smallest department stores in the world.
0:08:55 > 0:08:57It's all run by Caroline.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59And only today, at the very end of November,
0:08:59 > 0:09:02will she set up a new temporary department.
0:09:02 > 0:09:06- There we go. - The Christmas department.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09I don't like to see things out too early.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12And the customers don't like to see things too early either.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18I think Christmas is one of the nicest times on Sark.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21It's a time when we all get together after the season
0:09:21 > 0:09:25and enjoy each other's company and just have a really good time.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36Lay preacher Karen Le Mouton is a Channel Islander.
0:09:36 > 0:09:40Originally from Jersey, she's been on Sark for three years now.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43I remember my first Christmas here, thinking,
0:09:43 > 0:09:45it is a bit like stepping back in time.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48And there's not so much commercialism here.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52There's a lot more of people actually spending time
0:09:52 > 0:09:55making things and rather than going
0:09:55 > 0:09:59and buying things all the time, and spending time with one another.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02And going back to those values that are really important.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09BELLS PEAL
0:10:11 > 0:10:14Good news has arrived from the Dean on Guernsey.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18A locum vicar has been found for St Peter's
0:10:18 > 0:10:22to tide them over for the critical Christmas period.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24So for December only,
0:10:24 > 0:10:28the Anglican vicar on Sark is retired Nigel Walker.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33Well, I had an e-mail from the Winchester diocese
0:10:33 > 0:10:36saying that there was a vacancy in Sark.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41As my wife and I, our children had all deserted us
0:10:41 > 0:10:42and weren't coming,
0:10:42 > 0:10:46I thought, what an excellent way of spending Christmas.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48- So, you hadn't been to Sark before? - Never. Never.
0:10:48 > 0:10:50Quite a new experience.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53# Once in Royal David's city... #
0:10:53 > 0:10:58To welcome Nigel to the parish, the congregation are out in full force.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00And after weeks of practice,
0:11:00 > 0:11:04the choir, led out by Baz, are keen to impress.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08I think it's very important that we should have a vicar over Christmas.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13Christmas in Sark, you know, it's really special.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17As I say, it would be nicer to have one of our own.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23I think if you're a vicar, you've got to be friendly, you know.
0:11:23 > 0:11:25It's quite a good job, really.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28- He's friendly.- He's friendly. He could be a vicar!
0:11:28 > 0:11:30HE LAUGHS
0:11:33 > 0:11:36First of all, I just want to introduce who I am.
0:11:36 > 0:11:41My name is Nigel Walker. I've been retired now for eight years.
0:11:41 > 0:11:42Prior to retirement,
0:11:42 > 0:11:46my last ministry was the Anglican chaplain in Brussels.
0:11:46 > 0:11:51And let me tell you, my wife and I are delighted to be here.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55# As Joseph was a-walking
0:11:55 > 0:11:57# He heard an angel sing... #
0:11:57 > 0:12:00It's always a very meaningful time, isn't it?
0:12:00 > 0:12:04I mean, it's a wonderful time for people to gather here at the church.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08But I think the great thing is there's less razzmatazz here.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11And we're delighted to be able to appreciate Christmas
0:12:11 > 0:12:14and what it really does actually mean, the birth of Christ,
0:12:14 > 0:12:17rather than all the razzmatazz, which we see back home.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19I'm delighted to be free of that.
0:12:24 > 0:12:29The Food Stop supermarket is run by committed Christmas fan Julie Baker.
0:12:32 > 0:12:36Oooh, I love Christmas! I've always loved Christmas.
0:12:36 > 0:12:38When do you start getting Christmassy?
0:12:38 > 0:12:41Oooh, I start counting from August.
0:12:42 > 0:12:46Julie always has big plans for her Christmas displays in the shop.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48But with this year's extravaganza,
0:12:48 > 0:12:51she may well have surpassed herself.
0:12:51 > 0:12:55- Who do you want next? - The painter. He goes here.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00Never before has Sark been entertained
0:13:00 > 0:13:03by Norwegian handmade elves.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06- Then the one with the sandpaper.- OK.
0:13:06 > 0:13:11They're made up to order. We thought they'd go in the window.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13When we saw them, they're too big.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16So we had to build a little house to put them in.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19- Leave all the nails and that on it. - Yeah, I was going to.
0:13:19 > 0:13:21- No, the other way.- Why?
0:13:21 > 0:13:24Because he has to saw... His saw has to rest on there.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26Oh. Silly me.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29Once in position, the elves get to work.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32Just pull the switch and see if they work.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36LAUGHTER
0:13:38 > 0:13:40I love the pencil behind his ear.
0:13:43 > 0:13:44Oh, yes, that's great.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47Well, I hope the children like it.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50It's us, really, that like it.
0:13:51 > 0:13:53Well, I hope they get off there in the night
0:13:53 > 0:13:55and fill up all the shelves for us.
0:13:55 > 0:13:57LAUGHTER
0:14:09 > 0:14:12Christmas is fast approaching.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14And on The Avenue, Sark's main street,
0:14:14 > 0:14:17the Christmas lights are starting to go up.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22But they're not the only things popping up on Sark.
0:14:24 > 0:14:29Across the island, knitted sheep have started to appear.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33And some of them in the most unlikely places.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38- Is this something to do with you, Karen?- Possibly.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43You're not going to say?
0:14:43 > 0:14:47Mm...I think there's a lot of people who know something about them.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52It's very sad that they got frightened
0:14:52 > 0:14:56and shot off to find places of hiding in all this bad weather.
0:14:57 > 0:15:02But they might make a reappearance very soon, I hope.
0:15:10 > 0:15:12Down at the fishing harbour,
0:15:12 > 0:15:16Baz has arrived for a rendezvous that's become an annual tradition.
0:15:19 > 0:15:20He's here to meet a little boat
0:15:20 > 0:15:23that's travelled 25 miles from the French coast
0:15:23 > 0:15:27laden with a precious Christmas cargo of mistletoe.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33They've known each other for years
0:15:33 > 0:15:36and Baz is more than happy to chat away in French.
0:15:47 > 0:15:51I think it's about seven years he's been bringing mistletoe.
0:15:53 > 0:15:55He said, "Can you get mistletoe?"
0:15:55 > 0:15:58I said, "Well, you have to buy it from the market in Guernsey."
0:15:58 > 0:16:01He said, "I've got an idea. I'll come and bring some."
0:16:01 > 0:16:03He loves doing things for Sark.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27It's lovely stuff, isn't it? It's the beginning of Christmas.
0:16:27 > 0:16:29It makes you feel a bit more Christmassy.
0:16:35 > 0:16:37Armed with enough mistletoe
0:16:37 > 0:16:41to keep Sark's entire population kissing for months,
0:16:41 > 0:16:43this welcome gift from their French neighbours
0:16:43 > 0:16:46is in turn given away.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48Here I come. Would you like some mistletoe?
0:16:48 > 0:16:51Oooh, we'd love some. We've got some space in the kitchen.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53- Lovely.- Great. Thank you very much. That's lovely.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55Thanks very much, Baz. See you.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00Although some customers do offer payment in kind.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18When the sun goes down, Sark is dark.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22For 11 months of the year with no streetlights,
0:17:22 > 0:17:25there's little or no light pollution.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28So views of the night sky can be breathtaking.
0:17:29 > 0:17:33But for Christmas, Sark's government makes an exception.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35The lights are mostly traditional,
0:17:35 > 0:17:39but the talk of the town this year is a dazzling new arrival on Sark.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44I think it looks amazing. You don't like it?
0:17:45 > 0:17:48You wouldn't want it in your front garden, but it's great here.
0:17:48 > 0:17:50It's just The Avenue.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53Dirt road, lots of little shops, half of them closed for winter.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56It's fun. It's our Oxford Street, isn't it?
0:18:00 > 0:18:04With fewer distractions, people on Sark have the time and space
0:18:04 > 0:18:06to craft their own special Christmas.
0:18:06 > 0:18:11And one in particular is working as hard as a Norwegian elf.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14Can I ask you what you are doing?
0:18:14 > 0:18:17I'm threading some ribbon through a cape
0:18:17 > 0:18:20for our fancy dress for Christmas Eve.
0:18:20 > 0:18:24What's the final, finished costume going to be?
0:18:24 > 0:18:26Very glamorous.
0:18:26 > 0:18:30Long red skirt, long red-velvet gloves,
0:18:30 > 0:18:35a Santa's hat and a bodice.
0:18:39 > 0:18:41With Julie as artistic director,
0:18:41 > 0:18:43there's a tradition for staff at Food Stop
0:18:43 > 0:18:46to be in fancy dress on Christmas Eve.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49We've been snowmen, robins,
0:18:49 > 0:18:52Christmas puddings, angels,
0:18:52 > 0:18:56Turkish delight, Santa's little handfuls.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00Am I right in thinking
0:19:00 > 0:19:02you're the driving force behind all of this, Julie?
0:19:02 > 0:19:05I'm the one that's barking mad.
0:19:06 > 0:19:08A bit of entertainment for people.
0:19:10 > 0:19:11If you come in on Christmas Eve,
0:19:11 > 0:19:13you'll see us wearing them in all our glory.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22It's the last week before Christmas.
0:19:22 > 0:19:24And despite some heavy rain,
0:19:24 > 0:19:28Methodist lay preacher Karen is clearly a lady on a mission...
0:19:31 > 0:19:34..as she begins to round up her knitted flock.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44I know you don't like being in the dark.
0:19:49 > 0:19:51That's lovely. Thanks ever so much.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53- You're most welcome. - Did they behave?
0:19:53 > 0:19:56I think so. I didn't have to tell them off too often.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59- Oh, good. OK.- Thanks, Karen.- Bye!
0:19:59 > 0:20:02It's time to spill the beans.
0:20:02 > 0:20:04What exactly are you doing today?
0:20:04 > 0:20:07Well, 26 sheep were made,
0:20:07 > 0:20:11plus an awful lot of items to do with the nativity, as well,
0:20:11 > 0:20:14like the Kings and Mary and Joseph and Jesus.
0:20:14 > 0:20:18So the whole nativity is a knitivity.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20Hi, Caroline. Hello, Sheila.
0:20:22 > 0:20:26Karen has harnessed a wool-based creative streak on Sark.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30Right, Ramble, you'll have to go in the other side.
0:20:32 > 0:20:34I put an advert in the Sark Scribe
0:20:34 > 0:20:36and lots of people came forward and said they'd be happy
0:20:36 > 0:20:39to knit for this community project.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43He's got bit of sawdust on him from the, er...
0:20:43 > 0:20:46- Who knew there were so many knitters?- Exactly.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49And that they could knit so fast!
0:20:49 > 0:20:55Karen's special knitivity service will be a first for Sark.
0:20:55 > 0:21:00It'll be fun and the whole meaning of Christmas will be evident.
0:21:00 > 0:21:05But not all the sheep for Karen's service will be knitted.
0:21:05 > 0:21:07Persil? Come on, then, Pers.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09Come on, little Persil.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13Here he is, the little boy.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15Karen has booked a special live appearance
0:21:15 > 0:21:17from the island's superstar sheep.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21Out you come.
0:21:21 > 0:21:25We first met Persil when he was a newborn lamb, bottle-fed
0:21:25 > 0:21:28and quickly becoming part of Dave's family.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30Come on, then.
0:21:30 > 0:21:34In sheep terms, Persil is now a teenager.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36And officially a family pet.
0:21:36 > 0:21:41Other sheep can only dream of a life like his.
0:21:41 > 0:21:45Persil's special. And even the dogs know it.
0:21:45 > 0:21:47You're an old, wise dog, aren't you, Tessie?
0:21:47 > 0:21:51Tessie knows, she knows as soon as a lamb's bottle-fed,
0:21:51 > 0:21:54you can't do anything with it dog-wise.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57I think Persil probably thinks he's a dog a lot of the time.
0:21:59 > 0:22:01He loves getting out, Persil.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03Don't you, Pers? Eh?
0:22:05 > 0:22:08Haven't been to church for a while. No.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10All right, Pers?
0:22:10 > 0:22:12Off we trot. Come on.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22Christmas Eve arrives.
0:22:22 > 0:22:24# Good King Wenceslas looked out
0:22:24 > 0:22:26# On the feast of Stephen
0:22:26 > 0:22:27# When the snow lay round about... #
0:22:27 > 0:22:31The festivities start with carol singing at the Post Office.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33LAUGHTER
0:22:33 > 0:22:35This is the best bit of Christmas, for me.
0:22:35 > 0:22:39When everybody gets together and we all sing carols, it's lovely.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42We'll all finale up at the church.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45Go up for the candle service and the church will be packed
0:22:45 > 0:22:47and that will be really lovely.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50- Merry Christmas, Caroline, thank you.- Merry Christmas!
0:22:50 > 0:22:51Have a good time, everybody.
0:22:53 > 0:22:57Across Sark, the sense of excitement is palpable.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59Do you want some mulled wine, Ben?
0:22:59 > 0:23:01But for none more so than Julie.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06I was wide awake last night, didn't go to bed till four o'clock.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10Today will be one long party in the shop.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12This is the mulled wine bucket.
0:23:14 > 0:23:16The staff, like a team of lady Santas,
0:23:16 > 0:23:20proudly sport Julie's latest Christmas creations.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22And no attention to detail is spared.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26You've even got shoes to match.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30Yes, we've cut holes in the gloves so we can use the tills.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35Thank you very much, Merry Christmas.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37Oh, it's nice and hot now.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39There we are, happy Christmas.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47At the Anglican Church of St Peter's, there's a frenzy of
0:23:47 > 0:23:52activity, getting things ready for this evening's candlelit service.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56But there's time to rekindle some old acquaintances.
0:23:56 > 0:24:00Since I've been here, they've been here. So, yeah, they're lovely.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05We've got an ear missing from one of the donkeys...
0:24:06 > 0:24:08Finally, at the Methodist chapel,
0:24:08 > 0:24:12the stage is set for Karen's Nativity service.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15I've got items to do with the Nativity
0:24:15 > 0:24:18and Zoe's got all the sheep.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21The shepherd looks after the sheep, you see.
0:24:21 > 0:24:24That's Lamkins, that one.
0:24:24 > 0:24:25There you go.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28So, when I say about Mary, you can bring Mary up to me, all right.
0:24:28 > 0:24:32Fashionably late, star of the show is Persil.
0:24:34 > 0:24:38Hello, Persil. It'll be obvious when you'll need to do anything.
0:24:38 > 0:24:39Don't eat the shrubs.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42Pers! Don't eat the shrubs.
0:24:49 > 0:24:50Archie B, a mulled wine.
0:24:55 > 0:24:57- Thank you very much. - Happy Christmas.
0:24:57 > 0:25:02- Would you like a mulled wine? - Erm, yes, I will, actually.
0:25:02 > 0:25:06That's all the mulled wine now. That's all of it, so...
0:25:06 > 0:25:10- It's all in there?- So, take it easy with the portions.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13We're going to run out.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16So welcome to our knitivity service.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19Dave tells me that all of the sheep have been gathered in,
0:25:19 > 0:25:20is that right?
0:25:20 > 0:25:21- I think so, yeah.- Yeah?
0:25:21 > 0:25:24They're all here and he's going to be keeping an eye to make
0:25:24 > 0:25:28sure none of the sheep disappear off during the service.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30We've got Bethlehem.
0:25:35 > 0:25:38Oh, lovely, thank you, here's Mary.
0:25:39 > 0:25:43And the shepherds were there, looking after their sheep.
0:25:43 > 0:25:47All of you who have got a sheep, please bring them up.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55You've got a flock around you, Pers.
0:25:55 > 0:25:57THEY LAUGH
0:25:58 > 0:26:01He told them that Jesus had been born
0:26:01 > 0:26:06and he would be person who would save the world.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09He told the shepherds to go and see Jesus.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19Well, I think everybody really enjoyed it
0:26:19 > 0:26:22and it was a nice atmosphere and I think it was lovely the way
0:26:22 > 0:26:25everybody joined in and helped create the story.
0:26:25 > 0:26:29- Persil, do you think he enjoyed it.- He was very good.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31He was very well-behaved.
0:26:32 > 0:26:36There was a slight oopsy but I mean, you know, we're all to be forgiven.
0:26:43 > 0:26:46CHURCH BELLS RING
0:26:49 > 0:26:52Despite the uncertainty at the Anglican Church,
0:26:52 > 0:26:55six weeks ago, it's all come good in the end.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59And Nigel's on hand to lead tonight's all important
0:26:59 > 0:27:01candlelit service.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05# Away in a manger
0:27:05 > 0:27:08# No crib for a bed... #
0:27:08 > 0:27:11There are 200 people here in the church tonight.
0:27:11 > 0:27:15Over a third of Sark's population.
0:27:15 > 0:27:19# Lay down his sweet head
0:27:19 > 0:27:21# The stars in the... #
0:27:21 > 0:27:23Blessing of God all mighty.
0:27:23 > 0:27:27Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
0:27:27 > 0:27:32Be among you and with those whom you love, both now and evermore.
0:27:33 > 0:27:35Amen.
0:27:38 > 0:27:42In the days to come, as Nigel's time on the island comes to an end,
0:27:42 > 0:27:46the quest to find a permanent Anglican vicar goes on.
0:27:48 > 0:27:49I think we have to keep searching.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52There will be the right person out there.
0:27:53 > 0:27:57We've got these vicars coming month by month, so they're bringing ideas.
0:27:57 > 0:27:59Erm, and that's good to see
0:27:59 > 0:28:02because we've got to bring the church alive again.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05As winter takes a firm grip,
0:28:05 > 0:28:08all must do what they can to survive the lean months.
0:28:10 > 0:28:14Well, we'd sort of advertised that we were looking for a bit of work.
0:28:14 > 0:28:16We do try and help each other out.
0:28:16 > 0:28:18You know, we allow people to put notices up here
0:28:18 > 0:28:21and hopefully they will pick up jobs from that.
0:28:23 > 0:28:28And Karen begins a quest that could change her life forever.
0:28:28 > 0:28:32If I am ordained, then that will be for life.
0:28:32 > 0:28:34Obviously, it's got to be the right decision for the candidate
0:28:34 > 0:28:36as well as for the church.