PARISHIONERS unable to attend festive services this Christmas were able to follow a Clevedon vicar’s messages on Twitter.

Father Roger Jackson, the vicar of St John the Evangelist church in St Johns Road, spread the joy and meaning of Christmas to his followers on the social networking site during his sermons on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

This was part of a Church of England initiative which encouraged congregations and clergy in its 16,000 parishes to use their smart phones to tweet messages during Christmas services.

Father Jackson said: “This was a wonderful opportunity for me and my colleagues up and down the country to spread the message of Christmas to millions of people.

“It is an exciting campaign for the digital age and I relished the chance to say hello and spread the good news to the many social media enthusiasts in Clevedon and further afield.”

Anyone wishing to follow Father Jackson on Twitter can do so by using @StJohnsClevedon