People at a bus stop outside a Bradford church are enjoying a special nativity just for them.
Members of St James' Community Church on Bolton Road in the Bradford area have used old pop bottles and milk cartons to create the festive scene, to remind people of Jesus as they travel into the city centre.
The Revd Marianne Clough, curate at the church, said: “It’s a really busy bus shelter right outside our church and so last year, we tried doing a little display using pop bottles dressed as the characters to tell the story, all with googly eyes, obviously!
“It had a great response and really seemed to bring people together.
“We had people waiting for buses talking to us, and we had nice chats with local dog walkers, as we were out changing the scenes each week.
“The scouts kindly built us a manger and it became something that people really got behind.
“The 640, 641 and A2 flyer all stop there and some church members use these buses so it gave them an added reason to talk to other passengers.
“We did have a few issues with the milk carton angels when they got a bit over excited in a high wind and took off down Bolton Road but we’ll be fastening them down a bit tighter this year!”
This Advent, the church enlisted the help of their Wednesday drop-in Place of Welcome, who have helped remake the characters and all are now enjoying the Bus Stop Nativity’s first scene featuring Mary and Gabriel.
It’s only one part of the Christmas creativity going on in the parish, with schoolchildren and community groups being asked to make angels to decorate the inside of the church too.
Revd Marianne said: “It’s my hope that they will want to come in and see if they can spot their angels, as they enjoy all the services we have on offer at our welcoming and inclusive church.”
Keep up with the Bus Stop Nativity here.