It took some time for Henry Cole's Christmas card idea to take root with the wider public. In fact, until 1878, more Valentine’s cards were sent in the post each year than Christmas cards. However, just three years later in 1881, the Post Office issued its first public instruction to 'Post early for Christmas', to help manage the volume of festive mail. The growth of the postal service, and introduction of a flat rate for sending cards allowed this custom to spread, especially when steam trains speeded up the delivery of mail.

richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.