Diocese of Chichester

Some parishes were able to continue with planned services but with smaller congregations as well as those watching online of course . Social distancing and other Covid secure measures were in place.

Realising that the celebration of Christmas was to be different this year, many churches continued with virtual events.

There were some delightful examples such as the Advent Window Trail at St Andrew’s Hove. The Parish of Clayton with Keymer, delighted its local community by spreading the joy of Christmas in the form of knitted angels.

There was the Christmas bus from St Matthias, Brighton with volunteers and members of staff walking alongside the bus on the pavements. The idea was to bring the fun and community spirit of Christmas to the people of Fiveways.

Shoppers were treated to the wonderful drive-in carols in the car park at Morrisons, courtesy of the parish team at All Saints Crowborough. You can watch the YouTube video here

Chichester Cathedral delighted audiences with real-time and virtual carol services and visitors enjoyed the stunning nativity scene installation, created by Visual Arts Advisor and Curator Jacquiline Creswell and Artist and Photographer Ash Mills.

There was a joyful Crib and Christingle service at Christ Church St Leonards led by Bishop Peter Wheatley with Covid measures in place. Also a carol service took place outside on the parish courtyard - good witness to every one of the Good News of the coming of Christ at Christmas - the light which shines in the darkness.

Rev Arwen Folkes and her parish team in Bishopstone created Away In a Manger where models of baby Jesus were left on an Advent Trail for children and families to find and take home to offer give a safe warm and comfy manger to.

At St Mary in Petworth, Fr Mark Gilbert led the Crib service in Church then outside for a socially distanced around the crib blessing and the singing of Away in a manger.

Chanctonbury churches put on a ‘mobile’ Christmas carols event to many of the streets around Ashington, Washington and Wiston. Singing carols, sharing a Christmas message and praying for each street as they went.

St. Margaret's Church in the Beacon Parish of Ditchling, Streat and Westmeston, created a unique life-sized nativity display. It formed the centrepiece of a stable experience created in the Chapel at the church, which, with the addition of Christmas lighting and seasonal background music, provided a beautiful space for visitors to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas.

Over 1500 visitors (including 200 children and their teachers from St. Margaret's School, Ditchling) have visited the nativity since 6th December, many of them leaving prayer cards on the Christmas tree.

The Rev. David Wallis, Vicar of the Beacon Parish, said, “We wanted to give people the amazing opportunity to step into the stable and imagine that they were there when Jesus was born. In these times when there are many things that we would love to do that we can’t, we hope that this will give people a much-needed uplifting experience, that is both moving and joyful for people of all ages.”

Also, on display at the entrance to the stable in St. Margaret’s is the original wooden crib set from which the life size nativity was created. This beautiful nativity scene was crafted around 25 years ago by Jonathan G Skelton, son of sculptor John Skelton MBE, and great nephew of Eric Gill who established a well-known artistic community at Ditchling Common in the early 20th Century. 

The Diocese would love to hear from parishes about your events and also stories from people who have been affected by Covid. Please contact Lisa.Williamson@chichester.anglican.org or telephone 07775022461