As the festive season draws near, The Churches Trust invited communities across the Northwest to unite in celebration, remembrance, and hope – honouring the life and legacy of celebrated hymnist Cecil Frances Alexander.
The Community Relations Council supports the organisation through its Core Funding Scheme.
At this time of year, “Once in Royal David’s City,” one of her most famous hymns will once again be sung and heard across the globe, reminding us of the gentle innocence of each child and the power of redeeming love.
Cecil Frances Alexander Celebrated is a project supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and Derry City and Strabane District Council.
This year, the Trust’s festive programme places a spotlight on the enduring significance of this historical female figure whose work continues to inspire. Cecil Frances Alexander was not only a literary talent but a uniting figure whose charitable and humanitarian spirit transcended divisions. Celebrating her legacy reminds communities of the role women have played in shaping cultural and social life, and of the importance of inclusivity, care, and compassion in building shared understanding.
The programme began with Each Bird Sings creative writing workshops in Strabane, followed by family-friendly lantern-making workshops across Strabane, Killeter and Castlederg. Children, parents, and grandparents were welcomed by Project Coordinator Sinead Smyth and encouraged to create willow lanterns decorated with motifs drawn from Alexander’s hymns (birds, flowers, and the natural world) before bringing them to life in an All Souls Lantern Walk through Strabane. Along the route, stories, songs, and poems reflected Alexander’s themes of light, compassion and remembrance, visiting many buildings of faith around the town’s centre.
On Saturday 15 November 2025, at The Old Rectory, Fahan (Cecil Frances Alexander’s former home) the Trust created an immersive evening of music, craft, spoken word, historical reflection and a garden light-sculpture trail. Panel discussions, parlour music, and creative workshops invited attendees to gather by the Christmas Tree and log-burning fires, hung with Holly and Ivy for the occasion.
Both events are part of the Churches Trust’s wider cultural heritage and reconciliation work, using shared history and creativity to connect communities across divides.
In a season defined by light, unity and hope, these celebrations honour a remarkable woman whose life continues to inspire collective compassion, while reminding us that the brightest light is one we share together.
The Churches Trust is an interdenominational charity, committed to supporting those impacted by deprivation and social injustice while building bridges towards peace, understanding and reconciliation.