THEY are a green lot at St Mary's, in the Kington group of parishes in Hereford diocese, especially the Revd Paul Buckingham, who originally decided that local apples should be the proper fruit for a green Christingle service. And so apples have replaced the traditional oranges.

The children (and adults) take an apple from beneath the family-service tree, and, using the kits (fairly traded) provided in brown-paper bags (no plastic), make up the Christingles for themselves after a demonstration by Mr Buckingham, using an outsize model lit up from within.

The local Churches Together has its own ideas about Epiphany, too. Three Magi, made by pupils at Lady Hawkins' School, travel up the High Street and Church Street, from shop window to shop window, during the 12 days of Christmas, and arrive in St Mary's for a united service, ready to present their gifts at the crib.

In return, they receive a light from the Christ-child, to be distributed among the members of the congregation, as the handbell team plays "We three kings".