St Michael's Church in Lichfield usually gets 450 worshippers at its Christmas Eve Christingle Service meaning the church has been packed to capacity. The last few have been standing room only so they decided to thin numbers out by holding two services this year.
The Rector of Saint Michael's, the Revd David Kirk Beedon said: "We ended up still being pretty packed at both services! The total for the two services was 700 which suggests that the Christmas message still has a large audience. This is especially good news as the church collection at the two services goes to The Children's Society working with some of the most disadvantaged families and youngsters."
In Aldridge, St Mary's Parish Church saw 1,600 people attend its Christmas services - up 10 per cent on ast year, which itself was up 10 per cent on the year before. One parishioner, talking about the Christmas Eve Carol Service, commented: "I have been coming to church for 60 years, since I was five years old, and I hadn't ever seen that many people in the church before."
At Colton, near Rugeley, attendance at the Christingle Service went up nearly 36 per cent from 162 to 220; while attendance at the Carol Service increased 23 per cent from 88 to 108. A congregation member commented: "No particular explanation can be offered - we believe God is involved!"
In South Staffordshire, around 1,100 people attended the various Christmas Eve services at St Benedict Biscop Church in Wombourne - up 10 per cent on 2005. And 480 people attended the Carols around the Crib service.
The Revd Paul Brown, Vicar of Wombourne, said: "Every chair and pew in the church was taken and people were standing three deep at the back and in the entrance."
In West Bromwich, attendance at Midnight Mass at Saint Francis' Church in Friar Park increased from 130 in 2005 to more than 170 this year.
Attendance was also up at Normacot and Meir Heath churches in Stoke on Trent; with 927 people attending Christmas Eve and Christmas Day worship services.
In the Parish of Chesterton, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day attendances were up 26 per cent to 277 following the introduction of additional services.
And in Lilleshall, attendance at the Carol Service went up from 178 to 192 (eight per cent); and the Christmas Day attendance was up from 85 to 107 (26 per cent). But the big increase was in the Christingle Service which saw attendances increase from 212 to 334 - a rise of 58 per cent.
