Christmas is a season of joy and deep spiritual meaning. It celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, who brought light into a world longing for hope and peace. It is a reminder that love came down and lives among us.

Across the Diocese of Manchester, Christmas is a time when churches, schools, and communities come together in celebration. From candlelit carol singing to nativity plays and special services, we share the news of Jesus’ birth as Emmanuel (God With Us). In the stillness of winter, we rejoice in the warmth of faith, fellowship, and the message that God’s love is for all.

National Christmas Campaign

The joy of Christmas lies in the good news proclaimed by the angel to the shepherds. Reflecting this message, the Church of England’s Advent and Christmas theme for 2025 centres on joy. At the heart of this year’s campaign are three creative and compelling publications designed to inspire and engage:

• The Grumpy Owl and the Joy of Christmas is a heart-warming retelling of the Christmas story, to help schools and churches share the joy of Christmas with children and families. Illustrated by Jago, the award-winning illustrator of The Jesus Storybook Bible, The Grumpy Owl and the Joy of Christmas tells the story of Jesus’ birth through the eyes of an owl who seems determined to miss all the excitement. Written by Jonathan Maltz and Christopher Poch, it will be published as a picture book by Church House Publishing in September and is available now for pre-order. A wealth of supporting digital resources for schools, churches and households will also be available.
• O Come Emmanuel is a unique Advent resource exploring the symbolism behind the hymn ‘O Come Emmanuel’. It includes daily reflections by Jane Williams, Chris Russell, Esther Prior, Philip North, Muthuraj Swamy, Tanya Marlow and David Hoyle, and is made to help congregations prepare for the joy of Christmas. O Come Emmanuel is available as a full-colour book from Church House Publishing (published 1 September), and you can view downloadable sample pages here. The reflections will also appear on the Everyday Faith app from 1 to 24 December, accompanied by a range of online music, artwork and creative suggestions for local use. You can download an outline of these reflections, including themes and Bible verses.
• The Very Revd Nicholas Papadopulos, the Dean of Salisbury, explores twelve classic hallmarks of the festive season – from Christmas jumpers to pantomimes – in search of a deeper truth about the good news of God’s love. This mixture of profound and humorous reflections for the festive period will help those engaging with church enter deeper into prayer. Everyone who has shared the joy of celebrating Christ’s birth is encouraged to spend some time reflecting on that joy, and praying daily throughout the Christmas season.

Webinars

The national Church of England team are providing two webinars to help you prepare for Advent and Christmas. These are designed to help you make the most of your social media and digital giving over the festive period.

Explore the webinars:

Find a Service

Explore our map of churches or visit your local parish website to see what’s happening near you this Advent and Christmas. You are welcome, just as you are.