Carol service fire drama

Maddie_C and I were at an unnamed church this evening. It was in Essex, but that is all I’m prepared to say. It was the 9 lessons and carols. We’d just had the angel appearing to Mary when all eyes turned to the right as flames began to be seen on one of the high window ledges. There were lots of flames already because of the candles, but these were bigger than your usual candle flames. By the time we’d started on the birth of Jesus a stepladder had been obtained from the vestry and the fire extinguished. But the spectacle wasn’t over. No sooner had the angel appeared to the shepherds when two more fires started on an adjacent window ledge and pews had to be moved so that the step ladder could be manoeuvred into position so that the churchwarden could once again ascend to the heights with his special fire putting-out pole. Once the wise men were on their way the drama was past, but many members of the congregation kept glancing up at the candles on the window ledges just to be sure.

The readon for the drama? ‘Oasis’, the soft green material used for flower displays had been used to position a lot (and I mean a lot) of candles on the window ledges. Oasis burns.

If you are a church warden and have surfed in via Google looking for the phrase ‘Is oasis flammable’ or Does oasis burn?’ or ‘Is oasis a good thing to use to support candles during a carol service?’ then you have come to the right place.

DO NOT use oasis to support candles. It will burn and cause a drama. Thank you.