The property and construction industries’ annual charity event, the Story of Christmas, raised £630,000 in its 41st year.
The annual Christmas carol service has raised almost £11m since it began in 1978.
The service, held on 12 December at St George’s Hanover Square, W1, included organ recitals, classic choral carols and nine lessons from a cast of celebrity readers.
Actor Iain Glen lit up the church with his energetic rendition of The Night Before Christmas, with other stand-out readings from Sir John Major and Zoë Wanamaker.
Guests then moved on to the charity reception and charity auction at the Dorchester Hotel, where they were invited to bid on lots including tickets to Story of Christmas president Ian Hislop’s TV show Have I Got News For You.
The funds will be used to finance capital and construction projects benefiting the homeless and disadvantaged children in the London area.
This year’s charities included Centrepoint, The Children’s Trust, Depaul, Haven House Children’s Hospice, St Mungo’s, The Tim Henman Foundation, West London Mission and XLP.
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