22/12/2017
More than 56,000 Christmas services have been registered so far on AChurchNearYou.com, a mobile phone-friendly website enabling people to find church services across the country.
The site uses geo-location technology to show users the exact location of their nearest Church of England church, with up-to-date details of services and other facilities.
Users simply enter a postcode or press "find" to use their current location.
Four Christmas services will be taking place on average in each of the Church of England’s 12,500 parishes, according to the figures, with nearly 28,000 carol services registered and 1,000 nativity services.
For churchgoers who are thirsty after carol singing, 4,472 services will celebrate the season of joy with mulled wine and 6,653 will share around the mince pies at their services.
The website and wider digital work is part of the Church of England’s Renewal and Reform strategy for sharing the Christian faith on digital and social media.
Three #GodWithUs Christmas films released by the Church of England showing Christmas services at All Saints Church in High Wycombe, Bucks, have already been viewed over 700,000 times. Watch them here.
Adrian Harris, Head of Digital Communications for the Church of England, said: "Experience the true joy of Christmas by being welcomed into your local church over the festive season.
"Our brand new, mobile first website allows people across the country to find services and events nearby as we head towards Christmas Day and mark the birth of Jesus Christ, who is God with us.
"We’re thrilled with the number of churches who have got involved in the Church of England’s #GodWithUs Christmas campaign.
If you would like to attend one of our 16,000 churches this Christmas to celebrate #GodWithUs, visit www.AChurchNearYou.com to find your nearest church offering the kind of service you are looking for.