THE annual Christingle service is a long tradition in the small village of Reydon, in the diocese of St Edmundsbury & Ipswich. The congregation of St Margaret's set it up in the village hall, and dozens of families come to what, Glyn Williams, tells me is "a really happy service, with lots of clapping and full-on actions to accompany the singing". The children make their own Christingles, and it is an opportunity explain their symbolism as well as to raise money for the Children's Society.

The service started with carols, and then the hall was plunged into darkness, to demonstrate how Jesus spread light around the world. The Assistant Curate, the Revd Elizabeth Gregory, first lit a tealight, then a small candle, then a big church candle, then a lantern, and, finally, a sparkling indoor firework, which drew many gasps. Then the lights came on, and there was the Team Vicar, the Revd Richard Henderson, dressed in orange, ready to be transformed into a lifesized Christingle.

With the help of the children, he was arrayed with Children's Society balloons on sticks, a red sash around his waist, and an enormouscandle on top of his head. There was much applause and laughter. "We wanted to do things differently," he said.