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“Has everyone got an orange?” Reverend Matt Davis asked the congregation at St Paul’s Abertysswg, as he stood on the altar dressed in a red Christmas suit with trees on it. This caused a few mumbles and little bits of chatter to travel around the pews.

It wasn’t, however, a suggestion for everyone to start packing their stockings early but a reminder that everyone needed a plastic bag filled with an orange, three sweets, sticks and a glow stick, which was given out before the service – this, after all, was a Christingle service.

Christingle is a celebration that tells the story of Jesus’ birth and also involves making a symbolic object of the same name.

The Parish of Ministry Area of Mynydd Bedwellte,  which covers a wide area including Abertysswg and Rhymney, has run several of these services and had around 1,000 children from local schools, such as Bryn Awel, come and make the object.

One attendee, Paul, said: “It’s brought a lot of people together,” from what he saw of the service.

“It was very informative and we all learned something new about the way the clergy are trying to get the message across to children.”

Christingle has been celebrated in the UK since 1968 with the first service in Lincoln though the tradition goes back much further to 18th century Moravian church, according to The Children’s Society. 

Some people in St Paul’s seemed to be Christingle regulars. When Rev Matt asked the congregation what the orange symbolises a member in the pew at the back responded instantly with “the world”. “Ten points,” said Matt, who went on to joke that they were now excluded from the game – for knowing too much.

The service was modern, fun, and interactive with a keen sense that community was underlying it all. This was confirmed when after the service everyone went through the wooden door at the side of the church, down the spiral red steps and into the basement for tea, coffee and a chat.

“A bit of hospitality – it’s important,” said Rev Matt, about the tea and coffee service the parish regularly provides after church services within the Mynydd Bedwellte area.

In a room covered in tinsel and eight-seater tables set out, there were smiles, Twinings, and a small history lesson that the church used to run fantastic afternoon teas.

Many are struggling this year and even Rev Matt economised on the Christingle by reducing the number of sweets from four to three. This reflects the story of Christmas, according to Rev Matt: “[The] whole Christmas story is about people in need.”

As people built their Christingle, Rev Matt explained the significance of each of the components. 

“Each of the midget gems look a little bit different,” he said, instructing people to add them to the sticks. 

“Sweets represent the people of the world,” just as the other parts represent things too- the orange is the world, the red tape is God’s love and the glowstick is the light of Jesus. 

“We all look different, we all are different,” said Rev Matt about the symbolism of the sweets, but the idea was highlighted that everyone could gather together in thanks and kindness – especially at Christmas. 

As ‘Calypso Carol’, a hymn with clapping, was about to start, one member of the congregation wasn’t sure what to do with their Christingle: “Shall I put the orange down?” they asked. 

“Yes,” came back the advice, and as a consequence, no oranges were squashed in the making of these Christingles.