MEMBERS of churches in Warminster and Trowbridge are supporting Christian Aid’s Be a Peacemaker appeal this Christmas, some signing a giant Christmas card to Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt urging him to suspend UK arms sales.

While many people are singing for peace this Christmas, members of the United Church in George Street, Warminster are also calling on the Government to act for peace.

The card, with a dove made out of weaponry and ammunition, along with others from around the country, aims to build pressure on the UK Government to stop fuelling the arms trade and instead spend more on peacebuilding.

Karen Woollard, from the United Church in George Street, said: “

We can’t simply sing about peace at Christmas and expect it to happen, as Christians we believe we are given a task by Jesus to work towards a world where peace prevails alongside hope, dignity and respect.

“That is why we are supporting Christian Aid’s appeal this Christmas. They are not only supporting the work of everyday peacemakers in countries such as Colombia, South Sudan and Lebanon, but are also tackling the source of conflict by putting pressure on the UK Government to consider what it can do to build peace more effectively.

“Closer to home we will be pledging to act for peace whether it is through building trust, showing friendship, saying sorry or forgiving and we will of course be praying and singing for peace too.”

Members of Southwick Baptist Church in Trowbridge are also supporting the appeal by raising funds for Christian Aid.

Jacky Newman, of Southwick Baptist Church, Trowbridge, said: “We are supporting the Christian Aid Christmas Appeal throughout December because we want to be peacemakers this Christmas and people will be asked to consider sending Christmas cards to the Foreign office as part of this support.

“This is in addition to our success at harvest when we raised £226 in a collection for Christian Aid which was match funded by the EU to become £1160 for their work on sustainable livelihoods and renewable energy in Burkina Faso, Honduras, Malawi and Ethiopia.

“We’re delighted and proud of what we’ve achieved and raised as a single church.”