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From The Winchester Star dated 16 December 2005

By VAL VAN METER
The Winchester Star

The annual Lessons and Carols Candlelight Service at Clarke Coun- ty's Old Bethel Memorial, set for 5 p.m. Sunday, is the closest thing to time travel most of us can take.

"The lessons, the carols, the music, the lighting is exactly as they would have experienced it 150 years ago," said Ian Williams, president of the Old Bethel board of trustees.

The National Historic Landmark, on a bluff above the Shenandoah Riv- er, still looks as it did prior to the Civil War.

"They had the same experience we can have in 2005," Williams said.

Lit by candles, decorated with fresh cut greenery, Old Bethel welcomes visitors with laymen reading from the Bible and local residents singing sea- sonal songs with the congregation singing Christmas carols. This year, as last, the 6th Dimen- sion Handbell Choir will also perform at the service.

"It's a very short service," Williams said, usually lasting about 30 min- utes. So, he said, it's appropriate for children, even though the church is not heated.

"It's the heart and soul of Christ- mas as most people think of it," Williams said. "If you like tradition, with none of the glitz and glitter of modern times, Bethel is the place for you.

Bethel is located on Bethel Lane, off Swift Shoals Road, south of U.S. 50 in: Clarke County.

From The Winchester Star – Monday 19th Dec 2005

By Sarah A. Reid
The Winchester Star

MILLWOOD — It wasn’t Bethlehem, but it was closer than most will get to the manger all year.

There was no heat to draw them and little light to guide them, yet people packed Clarke County’s Bethel Baptist Memorial Church Sunday for the 25th annual Lessons and Carols Candlelight Service.

John Lathrop reads the First Lesson, Isaiah 62:6-7, 10-12, during the Christmas at Old Bethel Lessons and Carols Candlelight Service Sunday evening. (Photo by Ginger Perry)

“I have been doing it since I was wee high,” Simon McKay, 12, said about coming to Bethel Baptist Memorial Church’s Sunday Colonial candlelight Christmas service.

McKay, his brother Evan, 9, and his parents, Branson McKay and Maral Kalbian, sat in a pew historically reserved for men — across from a plaque recognizing his great grandfather, Beverly Brownley McKay.

Packed tightly across the aisle from them, the Bielawski family, Cedric and Mary of Berryville, brought their son and grandson, Britt and Henri of Stephens City, for their first Colonial candlelight Christmas service.

“This is unique,” Cedric said, his breath forming little white puffs. “There are other old churches like this around here but they don’t have something like this — with candlelight.”

The candlelight drew in a variety of people — from ladies in fur coats with sharp suited men by their side to casually dressed families complete with young children.

The standards, that probably came over on the Mayflower, brought a familiar melody to the service.

A baby issued a singular cry during the chorus of “Jesus, Jesus Rest Your Head.”

The congregation fumbled some words — in this case in the colonial version of the Christmas carol “O Come All Ye Faithful.”

And a few women took the high notes a little higher than some would have liked.

But the high ceilings and worshippers were forgiving as darkness fell around what colonial Baptists knew as God’s Acre on the Hill.

Attorney Ian Williams, chairman of the Old Bethel Board of Trustees, led the lay service with Episcopal morning prayers.

Organist Mark W. Steiner interspersed the readings, called lessons, with Colonial Christmas carols sung by worshippers.

The 6th Dimension Handbell Ensemble chimed in with carols that were softly hummed to.

The hum was traded for soft gasps when flames were passed from usher to worshipper to worshipper during the song, “Silent Night.”

Smiles spread with the flames and spread wider when worshippers greeted each other after the church’s sole service.

“It has gotten bigger and bigger every year,” Williams said as he balanced on the thin edges of the pews, blowing out kerosene lanterns that just a few minutes before had provided dim yellow reading light. “It is more and more popular by word of mouth. People enjoy the setting and they enjoy the simplicity.”

Like the McKays, Williams has a link to the church through a relative — his father, James L.B. Williams.

Beverly B. McKay said James was instrumental in renovating the 19th century church.

He was also instrumental in starting the Christmas service and passing along its meaning to his son.

“You only go through life one time,” Williams said. “The best you can do is leave a part of yourself behind. If someone picks it up, that is how you make traditions.”