A town orchestra says their audience will only get secular festive tunes this year.

Northampton Concert Band says it’s been gathering feedback from the community over the years.

It claims a survey of last year’s programme showed that carols scored consistently low in terms of audience enjoyment.

It says it doesn’t want people to feel ‘press-ganged’ into singing.

So this year their concert, held at the Holy Sepulchre Church, will consist of instrumental seasonal songs, such as ‘Walking in the Air’ and ‘Fairytale of New York’.

Concert Manager, Brian Crutchley, says church goers felt pressured to sing along, making them ‘uncomfortable’:

“I can understand that a lot of people do not enjoy singing in public, even with such a great band accompanying them.

“With the feedback we’ve had from our survey, we thought we’d drop carols from the concert altogether, which leaves room for other popular music for our audience to listen to.

He added, “If people want to sing carols, they’re better off going to a carol service.”

Stephen Bell, the band’s musical director promised they wouldn’t be “short-changing” their audience:

“They will still get two hours of top entertainment. The band will be performing some ‘lighter’ repertoire along with some well-known seasonal music.”

The band has 40 members and was originally formed by a group of First World War ex-servicemen in 1919.

Source and Original Content by Premier Christianity

A cross which is part of the Real Madrid club crest is being removed in an apparent move to appease Muslim supporters.

The European Champions, from the Spanish capital have signed a new lucrative sponsorship deal with the National Bank of Abu Dhabi.

Local newspaper reports suggest the change of the badge was brought in to make sure no offence was taken in the Islamic United Arab Emirates, where a marketing drive will take place.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez called the deal a “strategic alliance with one of the most prestigious institutions in the world”.

The change in design hasn’t formally been announced but it was seen at the launch of the new deal where a number of the club’s stars, including Welsh international Gareth Bale, were in attendance.

Premier has contacted Real Madrid but is yet to receive a response.

Source and Original Content by Premier Christianity

A senior Church of England bishop has said a passage from the Islamic Holy Book should be read out at the coronation of Prince Charles.

Speaking in the House of Lords the former Bishop of Oxford Lord Harries said it would be a ‘creative act of accommodation’ to use the Koran.

Normally at a coronation of a British King or Queen Christianity is the only religion involved in the service with readings from the Bible only.

Lord Harries, who’s now serving as an assistant bishop in the diocese of Southwark, told peers the Church should use ‘its historic position in a hospitable way’.

He raised a service at Bristol Cathedral last year where a passage of the Koran was read before the Christian service.

“It was a brilliant creative act of accommodation that made the Muslim high sheriff feel, as she said, warmly embraced but did not alienate the core congregation. That principle of hospitality can and should be reflected in many public ceremonies, including the next coronation service,” he said.

In the past Charles has spoken about his relationship with other faiths.

He once said he wanted to be known as ‘Defender of Faith’ rather than the current ‘Defender of the Faith’ title.

The bishop’s speech has been criticised by the Christian Institute.

Simon Calvert from the organisation told the Daily Mail: “Most people will be amazed at the idea that a Christian leader would consider the use of the Koran at a Christian service in a Christian abbey.

“People are just so disappointed when senior Church of England figures lose confidence in the claims of the Christian faith.”

Source and Original Content by Premier Christian Radio