Black Santa Sit–Out begins
The 2021 Black Santa Sit–out for charities is underway on the steps of St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast.
Dean Forde was joined this morning by Bishop David, Canon Kevin Graham, Canon Stephen Lowry and Revd Mark Niblock. Councillor Kate Nicholl, Lord Mayor of Belfast, dropped by to show her support and make a donation.
This year marks Deane Forde’s fourth sit–out and the 45th Black Santa Appeal. It was a tradition started in December 1976 by Dean Sammy Crooks and maintained by his successors, Deans Jack Shearer, Houston McKelvey and John Mann.
Dean Crooks was dubbed Black Santa by the media because he wore a black Anglican clerical cloak to protect him from the elements, and the name has stuck for more than four decades.
Every year, the people of Belfast and beyond dig deep to support the Black Santa Appeal. In 2020, well over £200,000 was collected and distributed to more than 230 charities at the Cathedral’s Good Samaritans Service held in February.
Many of the charities supported by the Black Santa Sit–out serve local communities across Northern Ireland. In addition to registered charities working across the whole range of needs, including mental health issues, the homeless, medical research, and those caring for children, youth and the elderly, this year the Dean has a particular focus on charities that work directly with refugee communities in Northern Ireland and on groups supporting people with disability. As happens each year, a proportion of the money raised is also given to Christian Aid.
For 2021, the Black Santa Appeal is once again being supported practically by the firm PwC, who have assisted in setting up a dedicated website www.belfastblacksanta.org.
In line with Covid guidelines, Black Santa will be encouraging the use of contactless donations with the tap of a card. However, donations in cash placed in the traditional barrel will also be most welcome, from bags of coins to bank notes in all denominations.
Donations can also be made online at www.belfastblacksanta.org.
Black Santa, supported by the Canons of the Belfast Cathedral, will be on the steps of St Anne’s Cathedral in Donegall Street every day from December 13 until Christmas Eve (with the exception of Sunday December 19).
Pictured above: With Bishop David (left) and Dean Forde, a passerby makes a donation.
