Canterbury Cathedral will be bathed in candle light in support for The Children’s Society when their annual Christingle Service is held at Canterbury Cathedral on Sunday 28 December at 3pm
The Nave of the Cathedral is expected to be packed as children and their families come together from all over the diocese for this inspiring Service.
For more than 20 years this annual Service has traditionally always been held in Canterbury Cathedral on Holy Innocents’ Day. This year Bishop Trevor Willmott, Bishop of Dover, will be giving the address. Children from Bridge & Patrixbourne Church of England Primary School and St Peter’s Methodist Primary School in Canterbury are taking a major part in the service with their theme of “Childhood Poverty”. The Lord Mayor of Canterbury and the Sheriff of Canterbury will be attending, together with their grandchildren.
An estimated 6,000 Christingle celebrations took place across the country in 2013. Churches from all over the diocese of Canterbury held these services in aid of the Children’s Society and raised some £25,000 out of the overall total of £1.2 million for vulnerable children. The Christingle is a popular children’s Service and it is estimated that over half a million children take part in the celebration during the traditional period – November to February.
The Christingle is a custom of the Moravian church and originated in 1747 and was introduced to the Church of England by The Children’s Society in 1968.
Children coming to the service receive a Christingle which consists of an orange bearing a candle and a red ribbon and a display of fruits and sweets. It is estimated that 350 Christingles will be lit at the Service. All are welcome to come along to this event to celebrate the story of Jesus and help to raise important funds for the children which the charity supports.
• The Children’s Society is a children’s charity which wants to create a society where children and young people are valued, respected and happy.
We are committed to helping vulnerable and disadvantaged young people, including children in care and young runaways. We give a voice to disabled children, help young refugees to rebuild their lives and provide relief for young carers.
Through our campaigns and research, we seek to influence policy and perceptions so that young people have a better chance in life. For more information please see http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/about-us
• For more than 40 years The Children’s Society Christingle has been a key part of celebrations within churches and has raised essential funds to support the charity’s work with vulnerable children and young people across the country for further information about this please see http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/what-you-can-do/fundraising-and-appeals/christingle
• Canterbury Cathedral is the Mother Church of the Anglican Communion and seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Cathedral is both a holy place and part of a World Heritage Site http://www.canterbury-cathedral.org/
