This Sunday December 3, St Mary’s Rye’s parish church hosts two special services – the Annual Toy Service at 10:30 am and the Lights of Love service at 3pm.
The toy service is in aid of Family Support Work and those attending are encouraged to bring a new toy or game unwrapped to the service to be passed on to a family in need.
Family Support Work is a Sussex based charity with a branch in St Leonard’s.
The Lights of Love service is in aid of the local St Michael’s Hospice and the tree, in the side chapel, features remembrances of family and friends we may have lost in the past year, or previous years, whom people want to remember in particular at Christmas. The photo above shows a tree from a previous year which usually remains in place through the Christmas period and until New Year’s Eve.
St Mary’s largest Christmas tree is usually in the main part of the church by the pulpit and St Mary’s Rector Canon David Frost was on crutches last year after toppling from a ladder while decorating it. This year the tree will arrive on December 11 and be decorated by the congregation on December 17.
Rye News Library
Image Credits: Rye News library .