Christmas Pageant and Holy Eucharist

On a winter evening filled with anticipation and gratitude, the Chatham Hall community gathered in St. Mary’s Chapel for one of our most beloved traditions: the Christmas Pageant and Holy Eucharist, which has marked the end of the first term for almost 100 years. With the first semester officially complete, students, faculty, staff, families, and guests came together to pause, breathe, and celebrate the light of the season.

The service opened with music and welcome, setting a tone of joy and reflection. As Chaplain Barksdale reminded us, the Christmas Pageant is a narrative retelling of the birth of Jesus, one brought vividly to life by our student narrator, musicians, actors, dancers, and crew. 


This year’s pageant carried special meaning, as it always does, through the nearly century-old tradition of selecting a senior to portray Mary, chosen for her character and exemplary gifts to the community. It remains one of Chatham Hall’s highest honors and a powerful expression of trust, leadership, and grace. This year’s honor, voted on by their peers and faculty, was awarded to Ana C.G. ’26. 

Through scripture, song, movement, and silence, the familiar story unfolded anew. From the angels’ proclamation to the shepherds’ wonder, from the animals’ dance set to Handel’s Messiah to the kings’ journey guided by light, the pageant invited all present to experience the story not as distant history, but as living truth. The chapel was filled with the sounds of carols both ancient and joyful, carried by soloists and the St. Mary’s Choir, and grounded by moments of stillness that allowed reflection to take root.

Following the pageant, the community moved seamlessly into the celebration of Holy Eucharist. Communion was shared from the altar rail, a sacred act of welcome and unity, reminding us that all are invited into God’s love. The prayers, spoken and sung, lifted gratitude for the ways light breaks into ordinary places and for the call to carry that light beyond the chapel walls.

The service concluded with a blessing that felt both tender and energizing, an invitation to rest, to be restored, and to step forward renewed. As the final notes of “Joy to the World” rang out, the community was sent forth in peace, courage, and hope.

In true Chatham fashion, the evening did not end there. Students and guests made their way to Yardley for breakfast for dinner, sharing laughter, conversation, and the warmth of community that defines this season on campus.

The Christmas Pageant and Holy Eucharist remain a cornerstone of Chatham Hall life, an evening where tradition, creativity, faith, and fellowship meet. It is a moment to look back with gratitude, look inward with reflection, and look ahead with joy, carrying God’s light into the world.

See the pageant below.