Today, Ulster's very own caped crusader, the Black Santa, rolls out his barrel on the pavement outside St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast city centre for another marathon Christmas appeal.

Every day until Saturday, the current wearer of the black cape, Dean Dr Houston McKelvey, and his not-so-little helpers will be taking donations for good causes around the world.

It's a tradition that goes back 30 years, to the darkest days of the Troubles, a mark of the great generosity of Ulster people when times at home were at their toughest.

Around 250 charities benefit - last year, for example, £250,000 was raised for children, the homeless, community organisations and medical charities.

And after the 2004 tsunami, this unique appeal went on to raise a further £1.5m, on top of the nearly £250,000 already donated.

All this, just a few weeks after the BBC's annual Children in Need appeal, shows there's no compassion fatigue in Belfast, says Dr McKelvey.

"It's good PR for the church at Christmas time," he admits. " Sammy Crooks set up the Black Santa appeal in 1976 for all the right reasons, but there is definitely a nice spin-off. And the name? That was dreamed up by a journalist, and it stuck."

From 8.45am until five-ish every day, Dr McKelvey will be braving the elements.

"The wind's a menace. It blows straight at you across Writers' Square, then it goes behind, hits the front of the building and nearly knocks you off your feet," he says, adding that the effect is a bit like a car bomb in reverse.

Key planning

The preparations undergone by the 64-year-old Dean involve getting the wooden boards of his mini-platform in place ("they protect the soles of your feet from the cold"), and wrapping up warmly.

He makes sure he wears the right clothes - the trademark black knitted hat (" I've got a couple"), black cloak and cassock ("with a sweater underneath, sure") - and that there's some hot liquid refreshment available.

"I used to take a thermos with me, but don't bother anymore," he adds.

Mrs Santa, Dr McKelvey's wife Roberta, who is a key figure on the board of the Mothers' Union worldwide, is closely involved in the financial side of things.

"She's most likely to be dealing with the lodgement of money and the banking - but she does also ensure the tea is on hand for the team of helpers."

The real groundwork starts much earlier, in September, when a begging letter is sent to the Cathedral's large database of contacts and previous donors. About 60% of the money donated comes in via the mailshot before the Black Santa hits the streets.

Mrs McKelvey makes sure her husband sticks to the schedule, being involved, as he puts it, from "bang to bust".

"As soon as we've got back from our summer holidays, things get going," he explains. "The letter goes out to thousands of people. If you're not on my list, it's only because I don't yet know where you live.

"Roberta is very good at reminding me when it's time to write the letter ... I have a wife and a PA, and between the two of them I get there," he adds, wryly.

Children always respond positively to the Black Santa. Is there a risk, though, that God and Santa Claus may become confused in young minds? After all, both perform miracles of a kind, both are often depicted as men with beards, and both emphasise the importance of giving.

Dr McKelvey says: "I spent 20 years in education, as secretary of the Church of Ireland General Synod's education committee, and have read quite a bit about the religious development of children.

"The jury's still out on this one. One school of thought says children can't think in metaphors until a certain stage of development. Yet look at CS Lewis's books - clearly, children have the capability to deal with allegory."

He goes on, warming to his theme like someone who knows how to preach a good sermon: "While we adults present aspects of Santa as godlike, children can work their way through. I don't think, though, that parents should overload their children. A child has a right to be a child and to have the appropriate spirituality."

Asked when he stopped believing in the man in the red outfit doling out presents from a sack,he responds with humour: "Oh, I kept it going as long as possible ... till I was about 21."

Then the Dean pulls out an important Christmas message, for he is, after all, a Black Santa with a mission.

He says: "Christ came to the world as a vulnerable child, and the model of Christianity is based round this focus, with Christ saying, 'Unless you have the faith of a child, you're not a real believer'."

So, he believes it's fitting that children's charities such as Barnardo's, after-school clubs and Childline should feature prominently in the list of organisations benefiting from Black Santa's sit-out.

Pastoral work

Dr McKelvey says he is also conscious that Christmas can be "a horrible time" for many people, especially if they are alone, and his stints on the pavement are an integral part of his pastoral work.

"It's not just a gimmick on the street in front of a building built at immense expense - we're doing something purposeful."

Most Black Santa sessions throw up at least one request for prayer to help a difficult situation, perhaps illness in the family or some other problem.

On a lighter note, the Dean remembers one man asking for Christian support for a son hospitalised with a drink-related illness - then handing Santa a bottle of the hard stuff.

As Dr McKelvey sees it, the meaning of giving is complex and vital to the true meaning of the Black Santa's work.

It's an opportunity for a range of benefactors, from individuals with trust funds to schools and businesses and places of employment, to be " constructively charitable". Christian Aid always gets 10% of the amount raised.

The link between giver and beneficiary is underlined at a special service which is one of the current Dean's innovations.

"I wanted to place the presentation of cheques to the charities within an evening service, against the magnificent backdrop of the Cathedral," he says.

Neatly enough, this happens at the high altar, behind which is a stained glass window (from the original St Anne's parish church, and predating the Cathedral) depicting the parable of the Good Samaritan.

"When you have the church nearly full of Good Samaritans, there's a powerful synergy. It makes a point, and I want the people receiving the cheques to leave the place affirmed by the fact their neighbours have given them financial support."

It's Houston McKelvey's sixth year as the black-caped crusader, and he enjoys the experience, in spite of the weather. The teamwork, with Cathedral workers getting involved, represents for him "Saint Paul's idea of the fellowship of the Gospel which comes about through work. If you just have a spiritual fellowship, that's a bit twee."

There's a message for the benefactors too: "It gives added value to donations. We're not only claiming gift-aid from the Chancellor, we're saying to donors, 'You're appreciated, keep going'."

But talking of gifts, what does the Black Santa ask Santa - or indeed his ultimate boss - for at Christmas?

"Nothing material," he says, "but I'd like to get the family together for a holiday, somewhere warm such as Cyprus. We're lucky in that we usually manage one holiday together in the year, and I enjoyed our stay in Cyprus three years ago - sunshine and no language problems."

The McKelveys' son John (31) has spent much of the year abroad and his father is looking forward to catching up on his news at Christmas.

Enjoying the craic

On Christmas day itself, there isn't much time to chat. This year, Dr McKelvey will be involved with four services on Christmas Eve, since it falls on Sunday, and two on Christmas Day, as well as just having finished the sit-out. "Christmas Day ends in a sort of peak of exhaustion," he explains. "I'm apparently not great company on Christmas afternoon until I've had a sleep."

The McKelveys, who have never spent a Christmas away from home, then have a traditional dinner with other relatives.

When he is not working, cricket is one of the Dean's passions, along with sailing. He relaxes once a year by taking a boat round western Scotland with two or three mates. He tried not to follow the recent Ashes action in Australia.

"If I started watching, I wouldn't stop," he says. "I think the English side was taught a lesson in humility half way through, but I'm not saying if I cheered or not."

Out on the streets, it's the craic and interaction that Dr McKelvey enjoys most of all. "There's the Belfast banter and quite a bit of homespun philosophy," he reveals. My friends drop by to see me and if I'm not there, they tend to take it personally.

"But we work a rota with 12 key helpers, including the canons and two Bishops, who get their chance to freeze for the cause. Historically, we're unusual in this diocese in having two: the Bishops of Downpatrick and Connor. "

After you've put your pennies or pounds in the box, the Dean would like you to maybe drop in to the Cathedral itself. The Christmas order of services has a new addition this year, scheduled for Christmas Eve.

It's a drop-in service targeted at shoppers and older people who may not want to go out late in the evening. It runs for an hour- and-a-half from 3pm in handy 25-minute chunks, so you can "come and have a prayer and sing a carol as a respite from shopping". The music will be provided by Conciento, the chamber choir of Queen's University.

Should we donors also present the Black Santa with a sherry and a mince pie or chocolate biscuit?

"Don't let's go there," he says, practising the Santa twinkle.