Carols on the doorstep and church services can be enjoyed this Christmas in Banburyshire

Christmas is usually the busiest time of year for our churches but Covid has forced some limitations - and innovations - this year.
By Roseanne Edwards
Published 18th Dec 2020, 10:04 GMT
Updated 21st Dec 2020, 12:14 GMT
Many churches are still offering opportunities for Christmas worship and outdoor carol singing. Picture by GettyMany churches are still offering opportunities for Christmas worship and outdoor carol singing. Picture by Getty
Many churches are still offering opportunities for Christmas worship and outdoor carol singing. Picture by Getty

Everyone is encouraged to join in with Carols on the Doorstep on Sunday, December 20 at 5.30pm. See the website here for more details and to download the carols. Four carols will be sung along with the presentation on the Premier Radio and the event will take about 15 minutes.

At St Peter & St Paul's Church, Chipping Warden, there will be Carol Singing and readings at 3pm on Sunday, December 20 with the Donkey. Children are welcome.

On Christmas Day there will be Holy Communion at 10am. At St Mary Magdalene Church, Wardington there will be a short service of Family Carols on Christmas Eve in the Churchyard at 4pm followed by a Christmas Communion Service in Church at 4.30pm.

The listing for various mass times at St John's and St Joseph's, BanburyThe listing for various mass times at St John's and St Joseph's, Banbury
The listing for various mass times at St John's and St Joseph's, Banbury

At the Parish Church in King’s Sutton there will be Christmas Eve Midnight Mass at 11.30pm; Christmas Day 11am Mass. Social distancing measures will be in place.

At All Saints, Middleton Cheney there will be Carols in the Churchyard on Sunday December 20 at 4.30pm. Christmas Eve communion services at 11.30pm take place at other benefice churches, Chacombe, Marston and Sulgrave. On Christmas Day there is a 10am Family Communion at All Saints with a blessing of toys and a short Carol Service outside church for distancing.

At Milcombe St Laurence’s Church bells will ring for ten minutes on Christmas Eve at 6pm to welcome Christmas. Residents are invited to go to their front door and ring their own bells to join in. There will be a service at 8pm at the church.

On Christmas Day there will be a short Communion Service at 11.15am. Bring a mask and you will be able to sit two metres apart. The Christmas Crib, complete with the Nativity figures, is on display.

At St Mary’s Banbury there will be a Midnight Mass at 11.30pm on Christmas Eve with a Holy Communion service at 10am on Christmas Day.

St Mary’s Chipping Norton holds a Christmas Eve Cristingle Nativity Trail for children from 2pm - 4pm with a Midnight Communion Service at 11.30pm. A Christmas Family Celebration will be held at 10.30am on Christmas Day.

At St Peter’s, Brackley there will be 15-minute Christmas Eve Christingle every half hour from 3pm. Pick up your Christingle components at church on Monday morning.

On Christmas Day there will be a God with Us all-age Communion service at 9.30am. Book your seat at stpetersbrackley.org.uk

If any other church would like to have their services added to this list, please send details in an email to [email protected] by 9am on Tuesday, December 22.

* At St Paul's, Warwick Road, Banbury there are Christmas Eve Family Celebrations (for families only) at 10am and 4pm and Christmas Day Celebrations for all at 9am and 11am. For more information and to book visit www.stpaulsbanbury.org.uk/christmas.

(The 11am service on the 25th will be live streamed on the Youtube channel https://bit.ly/stpaulsbanbury )

* Please see image of mass listings for St John's and St Joseph's Banbury.

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