Abbey welcomes The Children’s Society to annual Christingle service

Over 500 children from local schools attended the service which has been held at the Abbey since 1988. It is one of 6,000 services, expected to attract over one million people, which will be held across the UK between Advent and Candlemas.

Christingle was established by the Moravian Church in 1747 and The Children's Society introduced it to the Church of England in 1968, and it has since become a popular family and community event. Last year it raised £1.2 million for The Children’s Society.

Every child attending the service received a Christingle - a lighted candle (symbolising Jesus, the Light of the World), mounted on an orange (representing the world), and a red ribbon or tape around the middle of the orange (indicating the blood/love of Christ). Four cocktail sticks bearing dried fruit or sweets stuck into the orange signify the four seasons and the fruits of the earth.