A CHURCH whose main building is undergoing big changes has been forced to celebrate Christmas differently.
But the challenge has been so positive that it has led the group to rethink how they plan next year’s celebrations.
All Saints Church normally invites people into the church for a crib service, but with work currently under way to transform the building into a café and venue for arts, exhibitions and conferences, this was impossible during the festive season.
So, instead of a crib service in the church the organisers created a Christmas Experience at their nearby Cornerstone Building.
A cast of volunteers became characters from the Bible and led visitors on a journey through the nativity story.
Reverend Hannah Higginson, associate priest at All Saints Church, says: “ It really went very well.
“We had 150 visitors over two days to our Christmas Experience, and a host of volunteers who helped with the set up and refreshments.”
Many of the volunteers were dressed up as shepherds and angels.
Part of the experience, they engaged with the visitors as they made their way around the building.
“We’ve had some great feedback,” says Hannah.
“Not only from the visitors, but from our volunteers too.
“People have all said how much they enjoyed it.”
“And the following day, because the church is closed, on Christmas Eve we gathered to sing carols around the Wokingham town centre Christmas tree.
“More than a hundred people joined us.”
The success of the changes has led the team to think about how they celebrate Christmas in future.
“It has been great to be able to remind people of the true meaning of Christmas, and to let them live the story rather than just watching it,” says Hannah.
“Doing things differently has definitely made us think.
“And because things have all gone so well, we are already considering how to build on them next year.”
For information about All Saints Church and its SpaceForAll building project, visit: www.allsaintswokingham.org.uk
