Using the abridged text of the peerless story that Dickens himself used in his frequent public readings of the story, all twenty-two characters will come alive in the voice of a single speaker. The reading will be one hour and twenty minutes including a five minute intermission. As the Congregational Meetinghouse pews are sometimes felt to be nothing less than “Dickensian,” attenders may wish to bring their own seat cushions!

Intended for the child in all of us, children are most welcome to this event, if accompanied by an adult. Because of the length and content of the reading, parents may want to gage what age children will most enjoy the experience.

A reception featuring Christmas cookies and “a family version” of “Smoking Bishop,” a hot sweet punch often served on festive occasions in Dickens’ day, will be served follow the reading. There is no admission charge, but a free will offering will be asked to benefit the family shelter for the homeless at Saint Luke’s “Life Works” in Stamford.

Written in 1843, A Christmas Carol was an immediate literary and popular success. Like many of Charles Dickens’ famous novels, it was written against a backdrop of the abhorrent social conditions of the early Industrial Revolution in Great Britain. Dickens knew these at first hand and close range. His reporting of them are among the most graphic descriptions of contemporary life in all literature. Equally memorable are his colorful characterizations in this story of such figures as the very kind and decent Bob Cratchit, the generous and always happy Mr. Fezziwig, in his “capacious waistcoat,” and that most lovable old miser and villain, Ebenezer Scrooge himself, have become common household names on both sides of the Atlantic ocean. Of course the three famous ghosts of Christmas, Past, Present and future will also appear to guide Scrooge, and us, through a fearsome but ultimately hopeful “once upon a time,” Christmas Eve.

All of these and more will make a graphic appearance in the solitary voice of the Reverend Ronald Evans, a lover of Dickens’ stories and champion of the old family custom of reading aloud. Though somewhat different from the usual texts read Sunday after Sunday in the historic Darien Meetinghouse, Dickens’ Christmas Carol carries a message like so many Bible stories that cannot be confined to a single place or season.

All are welcome to share in this special gift to the community on Sunday afternoon before Christmas at magical story telling hour of 4:30 p.m. For more information, call the church office at (203) 655-0491.