Bingley church-goers plan a live town centre nativity
Shoppers in Bingley will be invited to follow the nativity story around the town this Saturday 20 December,
Members of All Saints Church Bingley will be acting out the events of the first Christmas from midday at the, perhaps unlikely location of the 5-Rise Shopping Precinct (outside the Co-op) in Bingley.
Local people will be invited to follow the Holy Family as they journey from Nazareth, through Bingley’s Bethlehem - with Ben the donkey.
From the 5-Rise Shopping Precinct where angels interrupt the norm and break the news that Mary will bear God’s son, the story wends its way to local pubs as Mary and Joseph seek somewhere to shelter. Eventually they will find a place in a stable - at the Old Market Place- where Mary can have her baby. There will be shepherds on a hillside and sheep, washed and blow-dried for their debut appearance. The action will then move to Bingley Arts Centre, where ‘Horrid Herod’ tries to thwart God’s plans .
Vicar, the Revd Beverley Mason said, “Building upon last year’s hugely popular Bingley Nativity Live, this year promises to be even more special! We hope local people will come along and do some character spotting – and get Christmas off to the right start.”
Local church reopens in time for Christmas after two years
Meanwhile, a north Bradford church will have a special reason to celebrate this Christmas as it reopens this Sunday 21 December after bring shut for two years for urgent roof repairs.
A crumbling ceiling forced the closure of St John’s Church, Greengates , and services moved to the prefabricated church hall next door. Weddings and funerals moved to nearby churches.
The congregation have managed to raise £24000 to repair the ceiling while the church has been closed and there will be great celebrations at the reopening taking place this coming Sunday at 4pm at a special carol service.
Donations from the former Diocese of Bradford and local businesses including the local firm of funeral directors.
"We'll be having mince pies and mulled wine to celebrate in the church hall after the service, it's going to be quite a party," said local fund-raise, Nadia Dyson-Mebrouk.