Hosts of knitted angels are popping up in towns around the Diocese, thanks to the creative dedicative of church members to bring Christmas joy to their communities.
At All Saints Christ Church in Snodland, the fortnightly ‘Mix and Fix’ group run by churchwarden Sheila, has been knitting since January and has knitted over 500 angels between them.
Rector, the Rev Danielle Pearson Smith, says it originally began as project knitting poppies during the first lockdown for those who were vulnerable and unable to get out and about, but it soon developed:
"It progressed to angels for a blessing to the community. It has given the ladies lots of joy and we hope they will give lots of joy to our community."
The church has sent angels into their local care homes and other organisations, and had a box of angels at the back of both churches so that people could take one to give to a neighbour or relative who might welcome a blessing. A knitted angel has also been included in Christmas hampers distributed by the church to ex-veterans at the Royal British Legion, and to families and individuals in the community.
During the final week of Advent, Danielle says the church has been hiding angels around the town:
"Our ladies have continued knitting angels this month just so we have enough to distribute!"
Angels have been appearing in the Cudham and Downe area too, where about 70 angels have been distributed so far, including on the railings of the local recreation ground.
The Rev Rachel Archer, the curate at Cudham and Downe Churches, explains that parishioner Beryl Packman has headed up the project, which like in Snodland, grew out of an earlier initiative:
"We knitted butterflies of hope at Lent and Easter and left them around Cudham and Downe for people to find. These were so well received that we decided to create angels of joy and protection during Advent and Christmas. They have all been knitted by church friends."
Alongside hiding angels, Rachel has been posting a series of Facebook live videos throughout Advent giving hints at where the angels will be placed, as well as opening the doors of her Real Advent Chocolate calendar each day.
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