Crowborough's civic carol service is at 7.30pm on Wednesday 2 December at All Saints; Carols by Candlelight follows on 20 December at 4pm and 7pm. All welcome.

Crowborough’s civic carol service is at 7.30pm on Wednesday 2 December 2026 at All Saints Church on Chapel Green. It is the town council’s own service and the last event in its 2026 programme. All Saints then holds Carols by Candlelight twice on Sunday 20 December, at 4pm and 7pm.

The quick answer

  • Civic carol service: Wednesday 2 December, 7.30pm, All Saints Church, everyone welcome
  • Carols by Candlelight: Sunday 20 December, 4pm or 7pm, All Saints Church
  • Also: Light Up a Life on 5 December, carols at Ashdown Forest’s Winter’s Day on 12 December, the pop-up nativity on the morning of 20 December
  • Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services: not published by any Crowborough church yet; All Saints lists a free Christmas Day lunch
  • Is it on this year? Yes. The civic service is on the town council’s 2026 events page, and the candlelit services are on the All Saints calendar

The civic carol service, Wednesday 2 December

Crowborough Town Council lists a Civic Christmas Carol Service on Wednesday 2 December at 7.30pm at All Saints Church, Chapel Green, and says “everyone is welcome to attend this community carol service” (Crowborough Town Council). The council describes its year as running from the Boundary Walk through the fireworks and the Christmas Cracker “before ending the year with Civic Christmas carols”, so this is the town’s own civic service.

The council has not published a running order, a choir or a collection. No booking is mentioned.

Light Up a Life, Saturday 5 December

All Saints holds Light Up a Life on Saturday 5 December, with refreshments from 4.30pm and the service at 5pm. The church invites people missing someone this Christmas to dedicate a star on its Christmas tree in their memory. Donations go to Hospice in the Weald, all are welcome and there is no need to book (All Saints Crowborough).

Carols on Ashdown Forest, Saturday 12 December

The Ashdown Forest Centre at Wych Cross, RH18 5JP, holds A Winter’s Day from 11am to 3pm on Saturday 12 December, now in its fourth year. The Conservators promise festive carols sung by local choirs, spiced apple punch or hot chocolate, hand-crafted gift stalls, woodturning demonstrations and craft workshops. Entry and parking are free, and well-behaved dogs on short leads are welcome (Ashdown Forest). The choirs have not been named.

Carols by Candlelight, Sunday 20 December

All Saints’ calendar lists two sittings of Carols by Candlelight on Sunday 20 December: 4pm and 7pm, each about an hour. The church calls it “a beautiful service of readings and carols, in the candlelight” (4pm service, 7pm service). Booking is not switched on for either service, so as things stand you just turn up.

The same morning, the All Age Pop-up Nativity runs from 10.45am. All Saints says it “attracts our largest congregation”, with songs led by the music group, a crèche, and tea, coffee, soft drinks and cakes afterwards. It is not live streamed (All Saints Crowborough).

Date Time What Where
Wed 2 Dec 7.30pm Civic Christmas Carol Service All Saints
Sat 5 Dec 4.30pm (service 5pm) Light Up a Life All Saints
Sat 12 Dec 11am to 3pm A Winter’s Day, with choirs Ashdown Forest Centre
Sun 20 Dec 10.45am All Age Pop-up Nativity All Saints
Sun 20 Dec 4pm Carols by Candlelight All Saints
Sun 20 Dec 7pm Carols by Candlelight All Saints
Fri 25 Dec from midday Free Christmas Day lunch All Saints, Downstairs Rooms

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

No Crowborough church has published its Christmas Eve or Christmas Day services yet. The All Saints calendar, checked on 29 October, runs to the end of January but has no crib service, midnight communion or Christmas morning service on it. We also looked for St John’s, St Michael and All Angels in Jarvis Brook, St Richard’s and St Mary’s: none has posted Christmas times online. This page will be updated as they appear.

What All Saints has published is a free Christmas Day lunch in its Downstairs Rooms, open to anyone of any age: coffee from midday, drinks from 12.30pm, lunch at 1pm, and the King’s speech on a big screen at 3pm. Booking is switched on in the calendar, so sign up rather than turning up (All Saints Crowborough).

Getting there and parking

All Saints is on Church Road at Chapel Green, TN6 1ED, a short walk from the High Street. The town centre car parks are on our parking in Crowborough page. For road and rail disruption over December, including the Uckfield line, see the roadworks and travel page.

More Christmas in Crowborough

Running a carol service in Crowborough, Jarvis Brook, Rotherfield or the villages? Email hello@crowboroughtoday.co.uk with the date, time and venue and we will add it, free.

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