Angels aiming to bring everyone together this Christmas in Sheffield

The angels, which are attached to cards that read “You are not alone, you are loved by God this Christmas, take this home as a reminder”, will be hidden around the Eastern areas of Sheffield by the Church Army Attercliffe and Darnall Centre of Mission.

Gina Kalsi, aged 51, a Church Army priest said: “The campaign is aimed to a build the sense that we are all in this together during the lockdown.

“It is lovely knowing that someone might find it on their way to work and it would brighten their day.”

Two hundred of the angels contributed were gathered by Anne O’Connor, of Greater Manchester, who lost her daughter Annie, aged 41, to natural causes earlier this year.

Annie worked as an evangelist at Church Army and was involved in organising the Angels campaign last year.

After her daughter’s sudden death, Anne offered to help Church Army continue the campaign.

She said: “Annie made a lasting impression on so many people. I have received so many wonderful messages from people who remembered her.

“When somebody dies young, it has far more impact than in your 80s.”

With the help of the parish newsletter and Annie’s friends who asked their mother and grandmothers to knit, Anne was able to dedicate these angels to her late daughter.

Kinder Kalsi, a Church of England minister and fellow Church Army Evangelist at Church Army said: “Annie was their angel, she helped so many people.

“So there are going to be at least 200 to 300 angels in memory of Annie that are then going to be a blessing to somebody else.”

Along with the knitted angels, the Church will be creating an angel trail of large wooden angels, with uplifting messages, across Darnall and Attercliffe.

They are also encouraging people to decorate their windows with angels to honour the angels in their lives and tagging the images with #attercliffeangels #darnallangels and

#whoisyourangel2020.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.