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To mark the second Sunday of Advent, the Rev Kate Bottley visits Fairford in the Cotswolds to discover more about some of the central figures of the Christmas story – the angels.

In St Mary’s in Fairford, a church filled with angelic artwork, Kate meets Hope Price, an author who has collected hundreds of accounts of modern-day angel encounters. Hope shares with Kate a few of the most impactful stories from her book and discusses her belief in angels as God’s messengers and protectors.

Kate then meets the Rev Ravi Holy, who shares his personal story of turning to faith and recovering from addiction. He tells Kate about the times he believes he has met angels and how their presence helped him and greatly impacted his life.

And in Harpenden, we visit a group busily knitting angel figures at High Street Methodist Church. Deacon Sarah Wickett explains how these little knitted gifts are handed out in the community, especially to local businesses and care home residents, as a symbol of the love, peace and joy at the heart of the Christmas story.

With music celebrating the good news that the angels brought, heralding that first Christmas.

It Came upon a Midnight Clear – St Pol de Leon, Penzance
O Holy Night – Monique McKen with Tessera
Hills of the North Rejoice – St George's Church, Jesmond
The Angel Gabriel – Barbara Dickson at the Steeple Church, Dundee
O Come, All Ye Faithful / Joy to the World – Kudos Gospel Choir in St Matthew's Church, Croydon
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing – Westminster Abbey, London