The Church’s biggest-ever Christmas campaign will feature a newly illustrated children’s storybook, daily reflections, online services, and a huge range of free resources for families, schools and churches, and is expected to reach millions.
The Church of England today launches its biggest-ever Christmas campaign – The Joy of Christmas – inviting people everywhere to rediscover the hope and joy at the heart of the season. Running throughout Advent and Christmas, the campaign offers a huge range of free resources for families, schools and churches, helping people pause, reflect and celebrate wherever they are.
For the first time in its history, the Church of England has produced a fully illustrated children’s picture book as part of its Advent and Christmas campaign. The Grumpy Owl and the Joy of Christmas, written by Jonathan Maltz and Christopher Poch and brought to life with stunning new artwork by award-winning illustrator Jago, offers a heart-warming retelling of the nativity story through the eyes of a rather grumpy owl who learns the true meaning of joy. This beautifully illustrated edition invites children and families to rediscover the wonder of the first Christmas in a way that is engaging, accessible and fun. It marks a milestone for the Church, as its first dedicated children’s picture book produced specifically for the Advent and Christmas season.
Churches across England will once again open their doors to welcome people this Christmas. Last year, millions attended Christmas services, and similar numbers are expected again in 2025. The Church’s church-finder website, AChurchNearYou.com, lists thousands of local services and events, from traditional carol services and Christingles to gatherings with mince pies, mulled wine or family-friendly activities. For those who can’t make it to a church building – whether because of health, work or other commitments – there will be plenty of ways to join in online. Services streamed by local churches will be available throughout Advent and Christmas, and the Church of England’s National Online Services, which attracted more than 21 million views in 2024, will return with a special addition: a short, uplifting Christmas Day service designed for those at work, led by key workers including a firefighter, a nurse and a police officer, with carols from a Police Choir.
Find out more and download resources at cofe.io/TheJoyOfChristmas.
Find local services at AChurchNearYou.com
Picture Credit: Church House Publishing