A VICAR has left primary school children in tears and ruined Christmas after telling them Santa isn’t real.
Rev Dr Paul Chamberlain made the remarks to Year 6 pupils from Lee-on-the-Solent Junior School in Hampshire during a RE lesson about the Nativity story.
The minister claimed that parents bought the presents and ate the cookies left out for Father Christmas.
He is also alleged to have told the kids: “You’re all Year 6, now let’s be real, Santa isn’t real.”
The Rev Dr Chamberlain has been the vicar at nearby St Faith’s Church since 2014.
His comments have led to a series of complaints by parents who have been left having to reassure their little ones that Santa is real.
One parent, who didn’t want to be named, said: “My daughter is in Year Three and is seven. Obviously news travels fast doesn’t it?
“She’s come home every day this week telling me that Santa isn’t real and absolutely ruined our Christmas.
“I went into the school and rang the day before yesterday. They didn’t get back to me.
“I went into the school yesterday and they said they’ve got things going on behind the scenes.
“I don’t know how they can bring the magic back. I don’t know how it can be undone but I think it’s absolutely disgusting.
“I don’t want him anywhere near my daughter. I hope he never comes into the school again.
“I think he should stop doing what he’s doing. It’s been difficult, really difficult because she’s a very bright little girl.
“So we’re just going to try and just push as much magic into this as we can.”
Another parent added: “Mine was upset but she still believes so I’m quite lucky she’s still not believing him and she thinks he’s lost the plot.
“I think it’s wrong but a lot of parents have had to confess to their child.”
SAINT Nicholas, the historical figure who inspired the modern-day Santa Claus, is a beloved saint in Christian tradition.
He was a 4th-century bishop of Myra (modern-day Demre in Turkey) and is known for his generosity, miracles and compassionate spirit.
Saint Nicholas was born around 270 AD in the Roman province of Lycia, in the town of Patara (present-day Turkey).
Raised in a wealthy Christian family, he lost his parents at a young age and inherited a substantial fortune.
Rather than keeping the wealth for himself, Nicholas dedicated his life to serving others, living out his faith through acts of charity.
A ten-year-old pupil said: “So he said, ‘You’re all Year 6, now let’s be real, Santa isn’t real’. Then he also was saying what Santa likes.
“Someone said he likes cookies. Then he said that, ‘Do your parents like cookies?’ And a lot of them said, ‘Yeah’.
“And then he said how the parents were the ones that were eating it.
“I heard a lot of gasps because they were shocked about it, so I don’t think everyone knew.
“We had this note that came in was saying about how he was sorry, and then we had these stickers and a customised bauble.”
The school contacted parents after the class in an email saying “all stories and legends around Christmas” are legitimate.
I don’t want him anywhere near my daughter.
They reassured pupils that “your own family beliefs are what are important and just as valid as Christian Christmas story”.
The vicar has since apologised to the children accepting his remarks were “an error of judgment” in a note.
A spokesman for the Diocese of Portsmouth said: “We understand that the vicar of St Faith’s, Lee-on-the-Solent, the Rev Paul Chamberlain, was leading an RE lesson for ten and eleven-year-olds at Lee-on-the-Solent Junior School.
“After talking about the Nativity story from the Bible, he made some comments about the existence of Father Christmas.
“Paul has accepted that this was an error of judgment and he should not have done so.
“He apologised unreservedly to the school, to the parents and to the children, and the headteacher immediately wrote to all parents to explain this.
“The school and diocese have worked together to address this issue, and the headteacher has now written to parents a second time, sending them Paul’s apology.”
