PRESS RELEASE
HIS MAJESTY KING CHARLES SENDS WARMEST WISHES TO 100,000 CHRISTIANS TAKING PART IN CAROL SINGING FLASH MOBS
His Majesty sent his “warmest good wishes” to all who have gathered this weekend to come together to celebrate the “Shine Your Light Campaign”, a nationwide campaign which has seen and will see carol-singing flash mobs spring up across the UK and Ireland in the lead-up to Christmas, admiring the campaign’s “efforts to bring many Christian denominations together, and share in faith this festive period.”
The letter from Buckingham Palace shared that The King was most touched to learn of the success of the event last year, and sent wishes for a Happy Christmas and a peaceful year ahead to all who attend this year. The Shine Your Light Campaign is gathering pace as Christmas fast approaches, with over 1100 events currently across the UK and Ireland having united 100,000 Christians to share the real meaning of Christmas with 1 million people through carol singing and nativity plays.
The campaign has been backed by over 75 key Christian denominations and organisations and has been endorsed by representatives across the major political parties.
Dr Jonathan Oloyede, Convenor of the National Day of Prayer and Worship which is spearheading this national call, welcomed this endorsement from His Majesty The King, saying:
“To see Christians publicly recognised for taking the true message of Christmas into our communities by His Majesty, The King is such an encouragement.
We look forward to being able to share with him the great stories of inspiration from across the Isles as many spread light, hope and joy everywhere!!”
Shine Your Light is a Christian grassroots movement, which last year saw over 78,000 Christians from over 700 churches take their Christmas events into public spaces in December 2023. This year, the campaign will see over 100,000 Christians singing the real meaning of Christmas to over 1 million people, with large events taking place across the whole of December in public places across England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic.
In the lead up to Shine Your Light, there has been an advent social media campaign on Instagram @shineyourlightnextgen which has seen prominent influencers such as Bear Grylls and Gemma Hunt read the nativity story from the Bible to raise awareness of the campaign and the true story of Christmas.
To find out more or sign-up visit www.shineyourlight.org.uk
For further information, including additional photos and interviews with spokespeople, contact Claire Thacker at Jersey Road
E: claire@jerseyroad.agency
M: +44 (0)7542 913 599
Notes to editors
About Shine Your Light
Shine Your Light is a nationwide Christmas campaign taking place this year over the weekend of 13th – 15th December 2024. This Christmas, the vision is to mobilise over 100,000 Christians outdoors to reach 1 million people in the streets, offices, workplaces and public places with the Gospel.
This UK and Ireland grassroots movement saw over 75,000 Christians from over 700 churches take their Carol services and nativity events into shopping centres, town halls, high streets and public spaces in December 2023. This was suggested by
many leaders to be one of the largest Christmas outreaches on behalf of the UK Church.
Shine Your Light is a united collaboration of many Christian Denominations, organisations, local churches, and networks; including The Salvation Army, Bible Society, Evangelical Alliance and hundreds of local congregations in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic.
Last year’s campaign was endorsed by the Prime Minister, Downing Street among others. The weekend was highlighted by many media outlets including Good Morning Britain where hundreds of thousands heard that Shine Your Light was about proclaiming Christ at Christmas!
Find out more: www.shineyourlight.org.uk/
Facebook: National Day of Prayer and Worship
Instagram: @shineyourlightnextgen
YouTube: @nationaldayofprayerandworship_
X: @ShineLight2024