Christ returns to Dundees Christmas celebrations

|PIC1|Dundee City Council has u-turned on its decision to turn on the lights without any reference to Christianity.

Leaders of the Church of Scotland’s Dundee presbytery had called upon local Christians to contact their councillors about the proposed “Winter Light Night” tonight.

The Council promised an illuminations spectacular, street artists, music and a children’s torchlight production, but removed all reference to Christmas and dropped the traditional message from a local church leader from the programme of events.

The Rev Allan Webster, vice-convener of the presbytery’s church and society committee and chaplain to Dundee City Council, said the decision to drop the term ‘Christmas’ and the telling of the Christmas story was “an erosion of the religious festival”.

Lord Provost John Letford backed down this week, saying that the move had tarnished the reputation of the city.

He extended invitations to Church of Scotland and Catholic Church leaders to join the procession and deliver an address.

“This has caused a great deal of embarrassment for the council and a lot of personal pain and embarrassment for me,” he said.

“There has been great disappointment with the way it has been handled. It was a vague policy document that seems to have caught us on the hop.

“It’s very disappointing that the city’s reputation has been tarnished.

“We should not forget that Christmas is a time to remember the message of Jesus and it would be wrong not to let people exercise that right.”

Rev Webster welcomed the news and confirmed he would be addressing the crowds at the end of the procession. “Everybody is delighted,” he said.

Church bells will ring out across the city at 6pm to signal the start of the festivities.