This morning the fourth candle on the Advent crown was lit at Trinity, Abingdon.
There was a very moving baptism, followed by a nativity tableau.
Revd Ian Griffiths, the new minister of both All Saints Church, Abingdon, and Trinity Church, Abingdon, led the service.
In the evening there was a carol service with traditional carols and readings.
Many people go to church at Christmas to re-experience the wonder of Christmas and sing the traditional carols, who don’t go at other times.
The annual Carol Singers from Abingdon Christian Aid were on the Market Place yesterday. John Enticott always sent me a picture for the blog. This year the singers braved the cold wind and hopefully raised quite a bit from passing shoppers. They even had some impromptu dancing from a happy toddler or two. It would have been Johns’s 77th birthday, and although everybody who knew him missed him, the brass band and singing did him proud. Thanks to John’s daughter for sending this.
The Town Crier was ringing his bell and announcing the Street Art Exhibition which had its last day today at the Community Shop. It was something new to Abingdon and well worth a visit.
Some firemen came to town later in the day. They were recruiting ‘On Call Fire Fighters’. Anybody interested can go along to the Fire Station any Tuesday Evening from 7-9 pm.
Tha Abingdon Country Market Stall were busy selling home produced cakes and jams at the Farmer’s Market this morning in Abingdon.
The Country Market recently stopped their weekly Market at the Guildhall, but continued to trade at the Farmers Market. However, today they were upset by news that they are no longer wanted at the Farmer’s Market, even though they were founding members 15 years ago. Their presence does enhance the Farmer’s Market in Abingdon, and they would be greatly missed, so I hope a way can be found to continue to allow them to trade alongside the Farmer’s Market.
This alleyway was blocked off to prevent young people making a quick getaway from the police at Reynolds Way shops about ten years ago. It features in a documentary about Young Reoffenders in the UK – filmed in Abingdon.
Whereas the number of young people getting into a life a crime is dropping, there are young people in their twenties already into a cycle of repeat offending.
They are the feature of The Documentary The UK’s Young Reoffenders: Rule Britannia (which contains bad language). This documentary could have been made in many towns but they found willing participants here.