Moravian Christingle 2025
Celebrating Jesus, the light of the world!
In Moravian churches, the Christingle Service is usually held on the Sunday before Christmas or on Christmas Eve. Essentially, it is a children’s service, which reminds us that the Christ-child lies at the heart of our Christmas celebrations.
This Moravian Christmas celebration has been widely adopted by churches of other denominations.
A tradition of the Moravian Church since 1747
The idea of the Christingle began in the Moravian congregation of Marienborn, Germany, on 20th December, 1747. At a children’s service, hymns were sung and the minister, John de Watteville, read verses which the children had written to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
He then explained to the children the happiness that had come to people through Jesus, “who has kindled in each little heart a flame which keeps burning to their joy and our happiness”. To make the point even clearer, each child then received a little lighted wax candle, tied round with a red ribbon.
What does 'Christingle' mean?
No one knows for certain when the word “Christingle” was first used or from what it is derived. Various suggestions have been made. One is that it comes from the old Saxon word “ingle” (fire), meaning “Christ-fire or light”. Another is that it derives from the German “engel” (angel), meaning “Christ-angel”, or it may derive from the German “kindle” (child), meaning “Christ-child”.
Better still, why not visit one of the Christingle services taking place at a church near you! Below you can find all of the Christingle services in our Moravian churches for 2025.
Christingle services taking place this year 2025
Here is a list of all of the Christingle Services taking place this year in our British Province.
Just click on the region to reveal the congregations.
St Margaret’s & St George’s URC & Moravian Church, Harlesden
21 December — 11:00am - Ecumenical Christingle Service
Hornsey Moravian Church
21 December — 11:00am
Fetter Lane Moravian Church
21 December — 3:00pm
Brockweir Moravian Church
14 December — 6:00pm — Moravian Candle Service
19 December — 6:00pm — Nativity Walk with Christingles
Bath — Weston
Christmas Eve — 4:30pm
Bath — Coronation Avenue
22 December — 6:00pm
Swindon Moravian Church
21 December — 4:00pm - Friends Meeting House, Eastcott Hill
East Tytherton Moravian Church
15 December — 6:30pm — Village Carols with Christingles
21 December — 10:30am — Christingle Service with Lessons & Carols Featuring Happy Hooves miniature therapy horses
Leominster Moravian Church
14 December — 4:00pm
Hall Green United Community Church (Birmingham)
21 December — 10:30am
Leicester Moravian Church
21 December - 2.30pm
In person and Zoom Christingle Service
Meeting ID: 944 106 4801
Passcode: 355659
Ockbrook Moravian Church
Christmas Eve — 6:30pm
In person and Zoom Christingle Service
Meeting ID: 944 106 4801
Passcode: 355659
Horton Moravian Church, Bradford
21 December — 10:30am
Lower Wyke Moravian Church, Bradford
21 December — 1:45pm
Gomersal Moravian Church
21 December — 4:30pm
Wellhouse Moravian Church
21 December — 3:00pm
Baildon Moravian Church
21 December — 6:00pm
Community Christingle - St. Oswalds, Bradford
Christmas Eve — 4:00pm
Fulneck
Christmas Eve — 6:00pm
Fairfield, Manchester
Christmas Eve — 3:00pm
Royton Moravian Church
21 December — 3:00pm
University Road
14th December — 4:00pm
Ballinderry Moravian Church
21 December — 3:00pm
Kilwarlin Moravian Church
21 December — 4:00pm
Gracehill Moravian Church
Christmas Eve — 3:00pm
