A PARISH is preparing to celebrate the “turning point” in the church’s year following Advent, Christmas and Epiphany.

Wimborne Minster will be hosting its annual Candlemas Procession on Sunday, January 28.

The festival itself, which marks the presentation of baby Jesus Christ in the Temple, falls on February 2.

Blessings were made by Jesus’ parents, along with a sacrifice. For Mary and Joseph this would be a couple of pigeons, while richer people sacrificed larger animals.

However, Deidre Ashton, Wimborne Minster church warden, was keen to point out no such scenes are played out in the Minster’s procession.

“Candlemas is named after the idea some of the churches used to bless all their candles at this festival,” she said.

“The service is based around two godly people who blessed the baby Jesus and predicted a very special future for him – that he would save his people, he would be the Messiah.

“To commemorate that we have the choir processing around the Minster. They sing special music. We have four or five special anthems.

"It is quite a formal occasion and the congregation are given candles part way through the service. The candles are lit to represent light coming into the world with baby Jesus.

“Candlemas is considered to be the turning point of the church’s year, which starts at the beginning of advent around the end of November and start of December. Easter is the big festival and the year runs through.”

Lent follows just a couple of weeks after Candlemas, falling on February 14 this year.

As the name suggests, candles play a prominent part of the procession and further comparisons can be made to the start of the church’s calendar.

“We have our darkness to light service at the start of advent where we start the service in darkness and the congregation have candles which are lit part way through the service,” Mrs Ashton added.

“It has got similarities with that, so people who like that kind of quiet, thoughtful service with special music will like Candlemas.”

The Benefice of Wimborne Minister and the Northern Villages is continuing its search to fill the role of Rector.

The Rev Canon Vanessa Herrick presided and preached as Rector for the last time in the Minster on July 30 last year.

She has taken the role of Archdeacon of Harlow and started in the post in September.

Applications for the role close on February 22. Details of the post can be found on the Diocese of Salisbury’s website.