St. Anne's 'Black Santa' Begins Sit-Out

The 'Black Santa' is due to begin his annual Christmas sit-out at St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast today.

The Dean of Belfast John Mann will begin his third Black Santa Christmas sit-out for charity, with cathedral clergy, the Bishops of Connor and Down and Dromore and members of the Cathedral Chapter joining him during the days leading up to Christmas Eve.

Most of the money collected will be distributed to local charities, with a portion going towards overseas work. This year there will be a separate collection to be donated to the Philippines Appeal.

Dean Mann said: "As we begin the Black Santa sit-out again this year we are very conscious of needing to support local charities as we always do, but we are also very aware of the situation in the Philippines and elsewhere in the world.

"Money donated during the Christmas sit-out will be divided in the way it usually is, with most going to small local charities and some going towards overseas development, but we will keep a separate collection for anyone who wishes to give specifically to the Philippines Appeal."

Dean Mann's sit-out marks the 37th Black Santa appeal, a tradition started in 1976 by Dean Sammy Crooks.

The sit-out takes place from 09:00 - 17:30 every day from December 16 until Christmas Eve, with the exception of Sunday December 22.

Dean Mann said: "I have not risked checking the weather forecast, I just hope it doesn’t rain. But whatever the weather, I look forward to meeting lots of people on the steps of the cathedral in the coming days."

(IT/MH)