A NEW festival of light will brighten up one of the borough’s villages next weekend.
The Parish of St James and California in Finchampstead is to organise a special Lantern Parade and is inviting villagers to come together for the event.
It will take place in the grounds of St James’ Church in Church Lane – parts of which have been shortlisted for a national award.
The Lantern Parade will go through the church’s grounds and into the surrounding countryside, before returning to the churchyard for a bonfire.
It takes place from 6pm, on Saturday, October 21, so it will be a walk in the dark for everyone and people are asked to bring lamps, torches and glow sticks to light the path ahead of them.
And the church has been busy helping create special willow lanterns to use on the evening.
The first workshop was held at St Mary and St John California’s morning service last Sunday, while there’s another chance to get stuck in this Sunday evening from 6pm.
These willow lanterns can be sponsored in memory of a loved one: the parish office has a supply of special brown envelopes in which donations can be placed.
James Lawbuary, the parish’s youthworker, said: “We’re inviting the local community to bring lamps, torches and glow sticks and join us on the a short walk round the countryside, culminating in a bonfire up at St James’ Church Finchampstead.
“It’s shaping up to be rather exciting, the local schools and uniformed organisations are supporting it and hopefully we’ll have a good turn out.”
As we revealed two weeks ago, a project to extend St James’ graveyard, which dates back to the 12th century, was added to the judge’s list for the Church Times Green Church Award in the Biodiversity category.
The parish will find out if it is a winner at a ceremony which will be held at the Archbishop of Canterbury’s London home, Lambeth Palace, on Monday.
For more details, log on to parish.finchampstead.co.uk
