A NEW Church of England campaign, which seeks to encourage people to attend their parish church at Christmas, has been launched. The initiative, #JoyToTheWorld, centres on a website — www.achristmasnearyou.org — where people will be able, from 1 December, to type in their postcode and find details of the Christmas services in their area.

The information can be filtered to find out which churches offer parking, wheelchair access, and even which services will include a free mince pie or glass of mulled wine.

Parishes are being asked to visit www.achristmasnearyou.org/upload to complete a short form so that their services are included in the database.

Churches Together on Merseyside has released an album of carols by a school choir and readings from local-radio presenters, which seeks to enable anyone to hold a pop-up carol service in a pub, club, or school. Carols To Go also includes packs of sheets with the carols’ words. It will be available from next week at www.merseychristmas.com.