Salvation Army Commissioner Betty Matear gave a rousing address at the annual Salvation Army's Celebrating Christmas carol concert last night in which she reminded believers that Christmas is all about Jesus Christ.

Hundreds gathered at the Royal Albert Hall for the concert, which opened the Christmas season in true style with the BBC presenter Emily Maitlis hosting the evening and special performances by this year BBC Radio 2 Young Chorister of the Year award winner Joel Whitewood.

Commissioner Matear, who is also Moderator of the Free Churches Group, told Salvationists that the secular Christmas had become "so commercialised" and warned that talk of winterfest was "madness".

Affirming that Christmas was not about white snow or Christmas trees, she said, "Some think Jesus is dispensable. I'm dreaming of a right Christmas, one in which Jesus Christ takes centre stage. After all, it's all about Him."

She invited Christians to come and adore Him "for who He is", adding, "We declare unapologetically, clearly and confidently that He is the Son of God."

Guests at the concert included British actress Hannah Gordon and BBC Radio Five Live presenter John Pienaar, who both read passages from the Bible telling the story of the birth of Jesus.

Commissioner Matear called on Salvationists to reclaim the word "love", saying it had become "devalued" in society and that it needed "to be given a new purity".

She repeated her call to restore Christ to the heart of Christmas, saying, "Love came down at Christmas to put things right. In Jesus we are free to become all that He intends us to be. It's a right Christmas when we are right with God."