Advent to Easter

Leigh Hatts, author of Keeping Advent & Christmas, is calling on churches and businesses to discover the riches of Advent and not celebrate Christmas too early. “Putting up Christmas trees and decorations before Remembrance Sunday or Black Friday is devaluing Christmas,” says Leigh Hatts. “First comes the Advent season of Old Testament prophesies and expectation […]

As dusk falls we are entering Advent. Tonight Advent carol services are starting in Salisbury, Winchester and other darkened  cathedrals lit only by candles. In parish churches Advent wreaths are ready to have their first candle lit in the morning. We are entering a period of reflection on Old Testament prophesies and the coming of […]

Copies of Keeping Advent & Christmas are on sale at Southwark Cathedral shop this weekend during Christmas Market. Open 10am-5.30pm (4pm Sun).

St Andrew’s Day today, Friday 30 November, is a special day for many in Amalfi, Istanbul and Patras whilst it’s  a holiday in Romania and Scotland. Andrew, crucified on an X cross, was a John the Baptist follower who introduced Jesus to his brother Peter. O Glorious St Andrew, you were the first to recognise […]

The original printed paper Advent calendar invented in 1903 did not have a chocolate behind the doors. An experiment with sweets failed in 1908 and chocolates only starting being included during the 1990s. This year the shops are offering calendars costing as much as £79.99,  £85 and even £149.95. These, sometimes containing alcohol along with […]

This Sunday is not the start of Advent or Christmas. It’s Christ the King and the climax of the Christian year. But the the first line of the old 6th-century collect for this Sunday, which some Anglican churches will have as the Post Communion prayer, has led to the popular name Stir Up Sunday. Stir up, […]

The ‘festive Maltesers McFlurry ‘ is already available in McDonalds where paper bags proclaim ‘Christmas is here’. But it’s not. Last Sunday was the Second Sunday before Advent or the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. Next Sunday is the climax of the Christian year when we celebrate Christ the King. Advent starts in two weeks time. Only […]

Cardinal Vincent Nichols has declared Corpus Christi Church in Covent Garden to be the Westminster Diocesan Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament. When the delightful little Corpus Christi church in Maiden Lane was opened in 1874 it was only the second church in England to have the dedication. St Juliana of Liege, who in the 13th […]

Today Thursday 31 May is Corpus Christi when we give thanks for the gift of Holy Communion. We do this because from about 1208 St Juliana of Liege received messages from God suggesting that we should do so. She had a long struggle to convince all the male clergy that this was God’s wish. The […]

This weekend we reach Trinity Sunday. The Trinity is the name for God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. three in one and one in three. Since the end of November we have lived through the birth, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. Trinity Sunday is the beginning of the second half of the year when […]