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Andrew Matthews/PA Wire
UK News

I would accept Stonehenge solstice invite, says local priest

Father Christopher Whitehead says he would "glory in the beauty of the sunlight", even though the meaning of the occasion to him would probably differ from that of his pagan friends.

He has been speaking after around 12,000 people came to the neolithic monument to see the sunrise at 4.52am, an event Wiltshire Police says was "positive and peaceful."

Andrew Matthews/PA Wire

The summer solstice also holds significance for many Christians because it is linked with the Nativity of St John the Baptist on Friday June 24th; a festival which is six months before Christmas.

Father Christopher said: "There is that longing on this Summer Solstice, our reminder of John the Baptist, of a time when we look forward to Christ, who is the Light, who will increase His light in our own lives.

"It is great to think that somebody would welcome me to that environment.

Andrew Matthews/PA Wire

He went on to say: "If I was invited, I would accept that invitation just as much as I would hope that if I had a friend who was not a Christian that I had invited along to something important in church, that I would hope that they would feel comfortable enough to be able to accept that invitation, too.

"I would glory in the beauty of the sunlight; I would glory in its warmth, in its beauty, in the majesty of creation. That would speak to me probably differently to how it would speak to my pagan friends."

A 24-year-old man was arrested at Stonehenge on Tuesday morning on suspicion of sexual assault and a 33-year-old woman, from Burford, was held on suspicion of drink-driving.

Turnout to this year's summer solstice celebrations at Stonehenge was far lower then the 25,000 people who were expected.

23,000 attended last year.

You can listen to Father Christopher Whitehead speaking with Premier's Aaron James by clicking here:

Video Has not been found

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