Uplifting festive service for children is a sweet success

The annual Christingle at Canterbury Cathedral is one of the most popular family gatherings, especially designed for children.

And it is vulnerable and deprived youngsters who benefit because the atmospheric candlelit service is organised in aid of The Children’s Society.

This year marked the 50th anniversary of Christingle, which is held all over the country around Christmas.

For more than 30 years, a service has been hosted in the Diocese by Canterbury Cathedral.

Hundreds of families from all over Kent took part this year, with children carrying the Christingles - oranges decorated with red ribbon, sweets and dried fruits and a candle - to highlight the Christian story.

This year, pupils from Borden and Bredgar Primary Schools played a major part in the service on Friday and Bishop of Dover, the Right Reverend Trevor Willmott, gave the address.

Diocesan president, Margaret Willmott, said: “We were really looking forward to Christingle this year and invited everyone to come along to enjoy this uplift- ing service which is especially for children and to help us raise funds for such a special cause.

“For thousands of children across the country, Christmas is just another time when they feel no one cares about them at all.

“This year we wanted to help even more of the country’s most vulnerable children.”