This picture was from our Christingle Service last year! It takes place at the beginning of December and is a great child - orientated service.
Press cuttings... these were about the Lantern Festival we held to celebrate the feast of Saint Nicholas:
Lantern trail to see St Nick
By Thom Airs
A trail of light from traditional lanterns will wend its way through Littlemore, in Oxford, as the community celebrates its links with the festive St Nicholas.
The Littlemore Lantern Festival on Thursday will see dozens of children and their parents tread a candle-lit route through the village in the hope of catching a glimpse of the elusive patron saint of children.
The annual event, which began about a decade ago, is influenced by traditions in mainland Europe, where children look to “St Nick”, rather than Father Christmas, for gifts.
The festival was originally organised by a German vicar at St Mary and St Nicholas Church, in St Nicholas Road -- and current incumbent Margreet Armitstead, originally from The Netherlands, is about to oversee her sixth event.
The Rev Armitstead said: “Both myself and my predecessor came from countries where, as children, we grew up with St Nicholas. We had the presents and the songs that go with Father Christmas in this country.
“There is now this tradition here, so we have the St Nicholas festival with artwork, songs and a procession.”
On Thursday, children and parents will arrive at Littlemore Community Centre, in Giles Road, at dusk to create artwork before picking up lanterns and walking around the village.
The Rev Armitstead said: “The children bring a carrot or an apple for St Nicholas's horse. Once at the church, they are asked to take off their shoes and go to the vestry, where they leave their shoes and the carrot or apple.
“They then sing a song and go back into the church and hear St Nicholas knocking on the door -- so far we've never actually seen St Nicholas, but every year we always look out for him.
“The children can then go back into the vestry and they should find their shoes filled with sweets. It is a lovely event and it's really magical watching the different-coloured lanterns making their way through Littlemore.”
Accompanied children are welcome to join the event at the community centre at 4pm.
The procession is expected to begin at about 5pm
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Youngsters march in lantern parade
Taliah Harris
The streets of Littlemore were bathed in the glow of candle-lit lanterns as the village's annual festive parade attracted a record crowd.
Almost 50 children and their parents braved the cold and walked from Littlemore Community Centre, in Giles Road, to SS Mary and Nicholas Church, in St Nicholas Road. Pictured is Taliah Harris, aged four.
The event, which began about a decade ago under the guidance of a German vicar celebrates St Nicholas, the patron saint of children who is the traditional bearer of presents at Christmas time in mainland Europe.
Current vicar Margreet Armitstead, originally from The Netherlands, has organised the event for the last six years. She said after this year's parade: “It was a great success, with a huge number of people -- more than in previous years.
“There were probably about 45 children and their parents.
“It was a really good turn out, It was great to bring everybody together -- it was very festive.”
In keeping with the tradition of the event, the elusive “St Nick” paid a flying visit to the church and left sweets in the children's shoes which were left in the vestry.
The Rev Armitstead said: “He did make an appearance. No-one spotted him but I managed to speak to him briefly. He thanked the children for the carrots they left out for his horse. He is a very busy man!”
