Religious stamps welcomed (By Church of England for Royal Mail's 2007 Christmas season)

The Sun (U.K.) ^ | November 6, 2007

[Stoat]

 

Religious stamps welcomed

 

Stamps ... religious theme

 

Published: Today

 

THE Church of England has welcomed the Royal Mail's return to a religious theme for its 2007 Christmas stamp collection.

It follows criticism last year about a lack of Christian images on the designs.

This year’s set of eight stamps is illustrated with pictures either of angels or the Madonna and Child.

Next year’s collection is expected to feature classic pantomime characters, according to a Royal Mail spokesman.

“Royal Mail alternates annually between secular and religious Christmas stamps,” the spokesman said.

“Last year featured a series of winter wonderland images so this year features angels and the Madonna and Child.”

Christina Baxter, chair of the House of Laity of the Church of England’s General Synod, welcomed the new stamps, unveiled today.

Dr Baxter had called for the Royal Mail to use Christian themes on its Christmas stamps every year.

She said of the Madonna and child image on a first-class stamp: “I very much welcome an explicitly Christian theme for that particular stamp and although the others are not to my personal taste, I nevertheless welcome stamps that carry values that are explicitly Christian, and I hope that the Post Office will produce Christian stamps next year too at Christmas.”

A predicted two billion letters will be sent over the festive period - the busiest time of the year for the postal service.

Monday, December 17 is tipped to be the busiest day of the year, with a predicted 123million items set to hit the postal system compared with an average daily figure of 83million.

The Royal Mail’s last recommended posting dates for UK mail are Thursday, December 20 for first-class items and Tuesday, December 18 for second class.

[Stoat]

BBC NEWS UK Church welcomes religious stamps

 

The Church of England wants to see Christian stamps used every year

 

The Church has argued that Christian-themed designs "remind people of the true meaning of Christmas".

The first edition of Royal Mail Christmas stamps was launched in 1966 with the design chosen from more than 5,000 entries in a competition for schoolchildren.

[Stoat]

If you think that Christian images on stamps are appropriate at Christmastime and would like to see them on Royal Mail stamps every year, you may make your wishes known here:

Welcome to Royal Mail

[Stoat]

Hark, the herald angels are back on this year's Christmas stamps the Daily Mail

(edit)

The choice has been applauded by religious groups. Christmas stamps were brought in more than 40 years ago and generally had a religious theme.

However, the Church of England complained in 2004 when there had been none for four years. Ever since Royal Mail has had a policy of alternating between religious stamps and secular ones.

Last year's collection was secular and featured scenes of a Christmas tree, a snowman, Santa Claus and a reindeer.

This year the stamps have angels representing peace, goodwill, joy and glory.

There are also reproductions of The Madonna of Humility by Italian artist Lippo di Dalmasio and Madonna and Child by Scottish realist painter William Dyce

(edit)

Christina Baxter, chairman of the House of Laity of the Church of England's General Synod, welcomed the return of the religious images.

She had last year called the secular images "regrettable" and called for the Royal Mail to use Christian themes on its Christmas stamps every year.

(edit)

Spokesman Patrick O'Neill said: "Last year featured a series of winter wonderland images so this year features angels and the Madonna and Child.

"Next year we will celebrate another of the themes that people associate with Christmas - pantomime."

 

[Does so]

This is unfair! Where are the stamps picturing Mohammed?

/s

[A.A. Cunningham]

Something else for you to be offended by.

[magslinger]

Toyota.