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Saint Nicholas to visit Canterbury December 7th, 2002 |
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The local planning committee, chaired by Mrs Jane Maple of Blean, has announced the official arrival date of St Nicholas, the real Santa Claus and Father Christmas, for Saturday 7 December. The festival, being supported by civic and religious organisations, will run the entire day. Included will be an extended parade from St Augustine's Abbey to the Buttermarket and then the grand entrance to the Cathedral precincts. Children will be given gifts at the Cathedral Shop as they visit St Nick. In the evening a special concert will be held, led by David Flood and Matthew Martin of the Cathedral. The Advent Christmas theme will be seen through the music of Benjamin Britten with his “Ceremony of Carols” and the rarely heard cantata “St Nicolas”. This year's charities are St Nicholas School in Canterbury and an Anglican Communion project in Uganda, both with children in mind. Founder of the St Nicholas Society, Lay Canon Jim Rosenthal said, “Children are at the heart of these celebrations. St Nicholas is their patron saint. The Bishop of Dover has endorsed the festival as well.” The Dean of Canterbury and all the Cathedral Staff have been fully supportive of the festival. Canterbury City Partnership have once again been supportive of the festival and have promised extra support for 2002. Speaking from Canterbury, the Very Rev’d Robert Willis, Dean of the Mother Church of the Anglican Communion, the Cathedral Church of Christ, Canterbury, said, “It will be a great pleasure to welcome many people to the Cathedral, once again, for the St Nicholas celebration. I hope that this will become part of our regular tradition here in the Canterbury community. As Dean I want to invite and encourage one and all to join in the festival and truly to feel at home in the Cathedral. It is a very appropriate preparation for Christmas and the tradition of St Nicholas can assist us in our celebration.” It is expected the choristers will greet the beloved saint with their singing and the Cathedral Shop will offer a haven for those children wanting to visit the one and only “true” Santa Claus. Mark your calendars. St Nicholas Society, Kent |
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he
second annual Canterbury St Nicholas Festival is expected to draw crowds
from all over.
