I’m getting along to a Christmas service says Jo Brand – as new website helps millions find nearest seasonal service

Comedian Jo Brand is backing a new website launched by the Church of England on 27th November, to help people find a Christmas service near them.

Details of Christmas, crib, nativity, Christingle and carol services posted by many of the Church of England’s 16,000 places of worship are just a click away at www.christmasnearyou.com

“As usual, I am looking forward to Christmas this year and going to a church service,” says Jo. “I'm not really a churchy person although I do think Jesus was a good bloke. The singing of carols and Christmas churches decorated with nativity scenes and holly are a great attraction for families at Christmas time, particularly for me, because they remind me of my childhood in a small Kent village when it always seemed to be snowing at Christmas.”

By simply entering a postcode, www.christmasnearyou.com will show all the times and places of all nearby Christmas and carol services.

“I think many people in this country who are not regular churchgoers do manage to get along to a traditional Christmas service,” says Jo. “It marks a time of year when we should be thinking particularly about people for whom Christmas is a grim or sad time and how it's not all about presents and consumerism.”

In 2012 a similar site will promote special services to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.

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Notes to editors

A Christmas Near You takes its data from the A Church Near You database (www.achurchnearyou.com) which includes service and contact details of all Church of England places of worship.

A high res image of Jo Brand is available on request.

Information

Nick Clarke 020 7898 1459, 07779 780030 nick.clarke@churchofengland.org