Summary
JUST when everyone else is winding down for Christmas, for the people who run our churches, the work is just beginning. Leckhampton vicar Paul Wilkinson is no different. In the days leading up to Christmas Day, he has a packed calendar of services at St Peter's Church and elsewhere around his parish. The Reverend is team rector of a parish of no fewer than five churches on the southern outskirts of Cheltenham. He also has strong connections with Leckhampton Primary School, "Christmas isn't as busy a time for us as Easter, but there is still a lot going on and it's quite demanding for all of us," he said. "Having said that I enjoy it very much, but it is quite nice to sit down to lunch on Christmas Day and start relaxing." The Christmas services began last Sunday with the annual carol service. Yesterday was the first of three special services for children, where the Christmas story is told. The very young - from pre-school children up to infants - helped to decorate the Christmas crib during the informal service.
Today there are two more services for children, with processions and carol singing to help get them into the festive spirit. "We get a lot of children and their families attending these services; they're extremely popular," said Paul. "Before I came there was just one service but it got so busy that the decision was made to split it into two."See the full content of this document
Extract
Meet the Vicar
Christmas Eve ends late for the rector, with the first communion of C...
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