Send real Christmas cards not e-card, says Bishop of Ludlow
The Bishop of Ludlow is backing a campaign calling on people to start sending traditional Christmas cards again.
The Right Reverend Alistair Magowan is backing a campaign by charity card sellers Traidcraft that challenges the "e-card" culture which has seen increasing numbers of people sending Christmas greetings through social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
It follows a survey by Royal Mail that revealed one in four people agreed e-cards were "empty" and "impersonal".
Mr Magowan said: "Technology is necessary, but it can be impersonal and I think Christmas is a time to be personal.
"We always send real cards and ones that support charities, an easy and enjoyable way of keeping in touch with family and friends and contributing to one of a wide range of charities that rely on a boost to funds at Christmas.
"We have friends from our past whose only connection is the Christmas card we've been sending for years. We still love getting a card from people we used to know from our first parish in Sheffield. They also add to the decorations in your living room," he said.
The survey by Royal Mail found 80 per cent of people would rather receive a card than a festive message via social media and 85 per cent displayed the cards they received.
It is estimated that £50 million is raised for good causes through the sales of charity Christmas cards each year.
Traidcraft charity cards have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for Christian Aid and other causes as well as helping to fight poverty through trade.
Mags Vaughan, Traidcraft chief executive, said: "When it comes to Christmas, the pleasure in choosing the right card and the delight when it arrives is better than any email or post to a Facebook wall could ever be.
"Putting up a single card at the back of church or in the office which everyone signs, or sending greetings to friends on your Facebook wall sometimes works well.
"But if everyone did this, then some people would have an empty mantelpiece at Christmas."
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