This year's Carol Sing at Bradford Friends Meeting was a lovely event. The cozy stone meetinghouse, tucked away in Marshallton, was built in 1765 and doesn't have electricity. Heat was provided by two wood stoves, and the bright morning sun streaming through the windows offered ample light. After the crowd settled in and spent a few minutes in silence, the singing started with the Quaker favorite "Simple Gifts." A splendid group of musicians accompanied us: a violinist, a flautist, a guitarist, and two dulcimer players, led by keyboard player and vocalist Noreen Davish.
After maybe 45 minutes, we closed with "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" (including the "figgy pudding" verse!), people literally wished "Merry Christmas" to the people sitting near them, and we got to sample the apple cider that had been simmering in big vats atop the wood stoves. Singing is hungry work, so fortunately there were excellent cookies, pound cake, brownies and other goodies on the refreshment table. I got to say hello to my dear friend Cathy Quillman and Unionville's Lou Mandich.
The Carol Sing is one of two Sundays in the year when Bradford's usual meeting for worship isn't held (the other is the Marshallton Triathlon). All ages attended, from infants to senior citizens. I heard the toddler behind me ask his parents in wonder, "Is this a church?" Apparently he wasn't used to meetinghouses!
While driving home on Strasburg Road I noticed that earth was being moved for a subdivision just west of Marshallton. Called "Marshallton Walk," it comprises one single-family house and 12 twin homes and is being built by Ryland Homes (now CalAtlantic).
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