Neil Rees

The little known story of the first Anglican female preachers
The little known story of the first Anglican female preachers

The Church of England first appointed female preachers during the First World War. This is the story ...

What is Lent and why do we keep it?
What is Lent and why do we keep it?

Lent is a traditional period in the Church calendar which precedes Easter. This the story ...

Why do some Christians celebrate Christmas on 7 January?
Why do some Christians celebrate Christmas on 7 January?

Across most of the Orthodox world, many millions of people celebrate Christmas on 7 January. This is the story...

Who were the magi remembered by the Church at Epiphany?
Who were the magi remembered by the Church at Epiphany?

Epiphany on January 6 recalls the visit of Magi, or wise men, to the infant Jesus. It falls on the 12th day after Christmas and brings the Christmas season to a close. But who were the wise men that are remembered on this day?

What is Epiphany and why do we celebrate it?
What is Epiphany and why do we celebrate it?

At Epiphany, we remember the wise men who came to find Jesus. This is the story...

When Jesus himself was a refugee from the holy land
When Jesus himself was a refugee from the holy land

As we watch the news of people fleeing the holy land, it reminds us that Jesus himself was also a refugee from that area. This is the story...

What are the Twelve Days of Christmas?
What are the Twelve Days of Christmas?

There is a well-known Christmas song called the Twelve Days of Christmas. Some people think it is steeped in biblical allegories. This is the story ...

What was the Census that took Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem?
What was the Census that took Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem?

In the Christmas narrative Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem because of a census. This is the story ...

The story of songs in Luke's Nativity - and their influence on Christian worship
The story of songs in Luke's Nativity - and their influence on Christian worship

The songs of Mary, Zechariah, the angels, and Simeon, are known as the Christmas Canticles. They have continued to be used as rich songs of praise down through the ages.

The story of the Christmas tree
The story of the Christmas tree

The Christmas tree is not in the Bible but is rooted in Christian symbolism. This is the story...

Christmas – the original story
Christmas – the original story

The Christmas Nativity story as we know it is formed by harmonising two different accounts from the New Testament. This is the story ...

What is Advent and why do we celebrate it?
What is Advent and why do we celebrate it?

In churches across the land, Advent marks the coming of Christmas. This is the story ...

The story of Thanksgiving
The story of Thanksgiving

Every fourth Thursday of November, Americans everywhere, whether in the US or overseas mark Thanksgiving. This is the story ...

The story of Remembrance Sunday
The story of Remembrance Sunday

Each second Sunday in November people gather together for Remembrance Sunday. This is the story...

What is Bible Sunday?
What is Bible Sunday?

Every year at the end of October, Bible Sunday is held in many churches across the world. This is the story...

What are Harvest Festivals and why do we have them?
What are Harvest Festivals and why do we have them?

Through September and October, British churches of most denominations have a Harvest Festival, but the modern Harvest Festival is mainly a Victorian development based on biblical themes.