THE Bishop of Barking, Rt Revd David Hawkins, is once again inviting primary school children from the Barking Episcopal area to design his Christmas cards.

Bishop David launched his annual Christmas card competition with a visit to St John's school in Buckhurst Hill, where last year's winner Maddie Andrade is a pupil.

The competition, which is open to children who attend primary schools in the London Boroughs of Barking & Dagenham, Havering, Newham, Redbridge and Waltham Forest, and the Essex local authorities of Epping Forest, Harlow and Ongar, has a theme of ‘The true meaning of Christmas'.

There are two categories - one each for Key Stages One and Two. There will be one winning entry from each category and both the winning designs will be professionally printed and used as the Bishop's official Christmas cards.

Prize winning children will also receive a pack of 50 of their card designs to send to their own family and friends.

Designs can be created using paints, crayons, pencils, felt tips or pastels an must be no bigger than A5 size paper.

Bishop David said: "The Christmas Card competition is one of the highlights of my year. I'm hoping that the theme will encourage everyone to think about the real meaning of Christmas and the importance of the relationships we all have, particularly our relationship with God. The judges and I will be looking for designs that not only demonstrate the young artists' originality, selfexpression and artistic talent but also communicate the reason for the Christmas season.What is it really all about?

"Last year my office was inundated with hundreds of designs and so I know there is a huge amount of artistic talent among the primary school children in the area.

"The judging will be a joy and a challenge as we are faced with difficult choices in choosing the winners."

The closing date is November 6 (5pm) and the prize winners will be notified during the following week.

? Contact Gill Nichol, Bishop David's Communications Adviser on 020 7249 3486 for an information pack. Entries may also be submitted via a church within the Barking Area.

Page last edited: 16/10/2009
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