It’s beginning to feel – and sound – a lot like Christmas in Bourne as a programme of festive services has been confirmed.

A Christingle Service at St Martin’s from 10.30am this Sunday will kickstart a month of Advent and Christmas services in the parish.

There will also be a candlelit Advent procession and service from 6pm on the same day with a Christingle Service and ‘Come and see’ carol service from 3pm and 6pm, respectively, at Brambleton Hall and St Martin’s on December 15.

There will be nine lessons and carols from 6pm in St Thomas on December 22 with a 3pm crib service and 9pm holy communion taking place at St Martin’s on Christmas Eve.

Christingle crib services will take place at 4pm and 5pm at St Thomas on the same day with a midnight mass at 11.15pm.

The same church will hold an 8am holy communion and 10am family communion on Christmas Day with St Martin’s also hosting a 10.30am praise service.

St Thomas-on The-Bourne also held a Rites of Passage on Sunday with eleven worshippers aged 10 to 20 being confirmed by Bishop Christopher Herbert.

Two had not been christened as babies, so were baptised in the first part of the service, before proceeding with the others to Confirmation and becoming full members of the Church of England.

A brief service was also held to mark the transition of an adult member of St Thomas to Anglicanism from another church, with a large congregation watching the joyful proceedings.