MORE than 150 people in a region hit hard by the pandemic attended a church event designed by its organiser to “bring light into the darkness”.

The event, in St Thomas’s, Barrowford, in Lancashire, was held on Hallowe’en last Saturday, and was designed by a lay worker, Caz Pinder, to highlight the true meaning of the day.

“We were just trying to bring the community together, let people know we are there, and that everybody is welcome and can be included,” Mrs Pinder said.

“I wanted to show the significance of All Hallows’ Eve, the preparation for the Christian feast of All Saints’ and All Soul’s Day, where we remember the souls of saints who have — and still — reflect the light and glory of God in our lives. It’s also a time when we remember loved ones who are no longer with us.

“My dad died from Covid in May, and my uncle died from cancer three weeks later; so I know the impact this time has had on people. The country is in such darkness, but Christ is about fetching light, and I felt we could fetch some light into the darkness. Some people were aware of the religious significance of the day, but a lot of the children just see it as a spooky event, and we tried to explain it.”

An appeal on Twitter raised £120 to help fund the event; the Christian Gift Shop UK and Christian Publishing and Outreach donated activity books and postcards; and shops provided enough sweets and other treats to fill almost 250 children’s gift bags. A pumpkin had carved into it the name of Jesus and the three crosses of Calvary.

“It went brilliantly,” Mrs Pinder said. “People were prayed with and prayed for. Prayer slips were filled out with the names of those to be remembered, and to enable prayers to be said in church. Candles were lit for loved ones. The light of Christ was shining brightly, bringing love and light into the current darkness we are all enduring.”