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Sea of candles to illuminate Southville church
Inspired by the celebrations of All Souls Day and Day of the Dead, a new event taking place in a Southville churchyard on Saturday evening invites everybody to come and celebrate family and remembrance.
The grounds of St Paul’s Church churchyard on Coronation Road will display a beautiful sea of light as 5,000 candles are lit for the inaugural Light the Night.
Some 5,000 candles could be lit as part of Bristol’s first Light the Night event
In many countries across the world, it is a tradition to remember dead loved ones by visiting cemeteries and decorating them with candles and flowers to create an atmosphere of peace and calm.
is needed now More than ever
But an event of this scale has never happened in Bristol before.
Starting at 4pm on Saturday, November 2, anybody can attend for free, and buy and light a candle in remembrance of their loved ones.
Light the Night is the first of its kind in Bristol with organisers hoping it will become an annual tradition
Light the Night organiser George Grace, who also runs the Bedminster BID, first experienced this tradition in Poland.
He said: “We hope to create a beautiful, positive, inclusive and perhaps spiritual experience for religious and non-religious people.
“Having experienced All Souls Day in other European countries, we wanted to re-create the beautiful and peaceful atmosphere, while honouring tradition and those who have passed.”
The event’s crowdfunding page has received almost £1000 donations ahead of the evening.
George hopes that sponsors will ensure the tradition will be held again in years to come, as well as inspiring other churches across Bristol to take part.
Light the Night hopes to bring 5000 candles to the graveyard in remembrance of deceased loved ones
Canon Nick Hay, priest-in-charge of St Paul’s Church, said that he is “delighted” to host Bristol’s first Light the Night event.
He said: “We hope our central location will draw people in from the city centre and other parts of Bristol to experience this lovely evening.
“We’re really excited about this unique event. Invite everyone to come along, light a candle and enjoy a hot cup of tea.”
Light the Night is taking place at St Paul’s Church in Southville on Saturday, November 2 from 4pm to 8pm. For more information, visit www.lightthenight.site
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