Churches across Tyne and Wear are inviting their local communities to come together and bring the promise of Christmas to some of the UK’s most vulnerable children by supporting their Christingle celebration in aid of The Children’s Society.
A number of services are being held throughout December and beyond. Everyone is welcome to join the festivities and all money raised will go towards helping the children the charity works with, including those who go missing from home or experience hardship, abuse and neglect.
Families and communities are welcome to come and celebrate together at the festive spectacle, which revolves around the lighting of Christingles – oranges decorated with a candle, red ribbon, dried fruits and sweets on cocktail sticks. These items highlight different parts of the Christian story. A Christingle event is an opportunity for people of all ages to join in, light a candle and enjoy the warmth and delight of this special festive occasion.
Christingle has been taking place for almost half a century with around one million people attending each year. It plays a huge role in supporting The Children’s Society’s vital work to help some of this country’s most vulnerable young people, with over £1 million raised at Christingle events each year.
Matthew Reed, Chief Executive of The Children’s Society, said: “It’s fantastic that so many Christingle events are happening across Tyne and Wear to help vulnerable children and we’re truly grateful to everyone who attends for their support.
“For many young people experiencing huge challenges in their lives the only promise of Christmas is that the bad things in their lives will feel much worse. Some will feel so unsafe, unloved, and unable to cope that they’ll run away from home. These Christingle events make it possible for us to support these young people to have better lives and make a real difference to the children in need of our help.”
To find out about Christingle visit www.christingle.org
Christingles being held in Tyne and Wear include services at:
| Date | Time | Venue | Street | Town | County | Post code |
| 17/12/2017 | 16:00 | Church of St. John the Evangelist | Kingston Park Avenue | Newcastle upon Tyne | Tyne and Wear | NE3 2HB |
| 24/12/2017 | 17:30 | St Oswald’s Church | 9 Church Street | Houghton Le Spring | Tyne and Wear | DH4 7DB |
| 24/12/2017 | 17:00 | St Mark’s CHurch | St. Marks Terrace | Sunderland | Tyne and Wear | SR4 7BN |