Churchgoers dressed as angels and gave away treats as an alternative to Halloween celebrations

Tobi Langdown with a pumpkin carved in the shape of an angel on the green at Rowlands Castle

Worshippers from St John the Baptist Church in Rowlands Castle, near Havant, donned white robes and tinsel halos, carved pumpkins in the shape of candles and stars, and stood on their village green distributing sweets. Then they knocked on people’s doors offering them only treats – and no tricks.

It was the idea of two 10-year-olds, Tobi Langdown and Niamh Ashcroft-Coe. They didn’t want go trick of treating, or dress up as witches or ghosts.

It was the latest in a series of events run by the church as an alternative to Halloween. In previous years they have run ‘light parties’ for families who would prefer not to focus on the more frightening aspects of the celebrations.

Churchwarden Pete Langdown, who is Tobi’s dad, said: “Our church has always wanted to offer a positive alternative to Halloween, and we thought Toby and Niamh’s idea was a good one. We carved pumpkins with Christian images, including the word  ‘Jesus’, angels, stars and candles and all dressed up as angels.

“We initially thought we shouldn’t knock on people’s doors, but be on the village green offering treats to people. We had some good chats with the people who were trick or treating, and people were happy to accept our treats.

“But when we did knock on people’s doors, they were actually delighted to see us. We told them ‘We don’t believe in celebrating Halloween, but here are some treats anyway’. And there was one lady who wanted us to pray with her.

“It’s not that we want to stop other people from having fun on Halloween – if they want to dress up and go trick or treating, that’s up to them. But we do think there should be some kind of positive alternative as well.”