An opinion poll reveals that 77% of the population has not heard of Stir Up Sunday.

It’s next Sunday 24 November and always falls on the Sunday before Advent Sunday.

The name comes from the old Sarum Rite prayer for the day which was translated in 1549 for the Book of Common Prayer:

Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The latest version, to be heard in most Church of England churches as the post communion prayer this Sunday, appears in Common Worship:

Stir up, O Lord, the wills of your faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may by you be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

It can now be heard as next Sunday’s post communion prayer in Common Worship used in most Church of England churches.

Stir up has given rise to the idea of stirring the Christmas Pudding mixture on this day.

Stir Up Sunday, now designated Christ the King, is the climax of the Christian Year which we shall start again next week on Advent Sunday.

Keeping Advent & Christmas (£9.99) is available here