Black Santa goes digital!
Dean Sammy Crooks – Belfast’s first Black Santa.
It is 44 years since Dean Sammy Crooks stood on the steps of Belfast Cathedral for the very first Cathedral Sit Out in 1976. Wrapped in his black clerical cloak, the press gave him the name which has stuck – ‘Black Santa.’
Five different Deans of Belfast have carried on the tradition, each year raising thousands of pounds which are given away again to support hundreds of local charities.
But for December 2020, with a the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the country, the current Dean of Belfast, the Very Rev Stephen Forde, realised that things must be done differently. Black Santa is going digital!
Dean Stephen Forde is the current Black Santa.
With the practical support of financial services giant PWC, a new website, which goes live on December 1, has been created www.BelfastBlackSanta.org supporting this year’s Black Santa appeal across the country and across the internet.
The website will feature video reports from charities who have benefited from the Black Santa Appeal. Well known celebrities will add their encouragement to give generously. The Dean will post a daily video for the ‘17 Sleeps to Black Santa,’ when Santa Live takes up position on the steps of the cathedral.
Most importantly, people will be able to make their donations, large or small, via the website to support of this year’s Black Santa Appeal, with a focus on charities supporting people with mental health issues in the face of the current pandemic, in addition to a wide range of other needs.
Dean Forde said: “In the face of unprecedented need, it is more important than ever that everyone who can is as generous as they can manage. Black Santa standing on the steps needs every pound his digital counterpart can raise to support those charities who will make Christmas real every day of the coming year.”
Site Directory
- Home
- About us
- News
- Parishes
- Agherton
- Ahoghill and Portglenone
- Antrim
- Ardclinis, Tickmacrevan, Layde and Cushendun
- Armoy, Loughguile and Drumtullagh
- Ballinderry
- Ballintoy, Dunseverick and Rathlin
- Ballymacash
- Ballymena (Kilconriola) and Ballyclug
- Ballymoney, Finvoy and Rasharkin
- Ballynure and Ballyeaston (Ballyclare)
- Ballyrashane & Kildollagh
- Ballywillan, Portrush
- Belfast Cathedral
- Billy & Derrykeighan
- Broomhedge
- Carnmoney
- Carrickfergus
- Christ Church, Lisburn
- Cloughfern
- Coleraine
- Connor and Antrim St Patrick
- Craigs, Dunaghy and Killagan
- Derriaghy
- Derryvolgie
- Drummaul, Duneane and Ballyscullion
- Dunluce
- Dunmurry
- Eglantine
- Finaghy and Upper Malone
- Glenavy
- Glencairn
- Greenisland
- Holy Trinity and St Silas with Immanuel
- Jordanstown
- Kilbride
- Kilmakee Parish
- Kilroot and Templecorran
- Kilwaughter and Cairncastle with All Saints Craigyhill
- Lambeg
- Larne & Inver, Glynn & Raloo
- Lisburn Cathedral
- Lisburn St Paul’s
- Magheragall
- Mallusk
- Malone
- Monkstown
- Mossley
- Muckamore and Killead
- Ramoan and Culfeightrin (Ballycastle)
- Rathcoole
- Saint Katharine
- Skerry, Rathcavan & Newtowncrommelin
- St Aidan and St Mary Magdalene
- St Bartholomew’s, Stranmillis
- St George’s
- St Mark (Ballysillan)
- St Mary with Holy Redeemer
- St Matthew’s, Shankill
- St Michael Belfast
- St Paul & St Barnabas
- St Peter & St James
- St Simon and St Philip (Drew Meml)
- St Stephen and St Luke (Lower Falls)
- St Thomas’s
- Stoneyford and Gartree
- Templepatrick and Donegore
- The United Parishes of St Nicholas and All Saints
- Upper Falls
- Whitehead & Islandmagee
- Whitehouse & St Ninian
- Whiterock
- Woodburn
- Children/Youth
- Support
Follow us online
© Copyright The Church of Ireland Diocese of Connor 2024 | Web Design by LD2.digital