Creativity, Community and Christmas Hope come together in a weekend-long Fen-Edge Christmas Tree Festival, Dec 2-3.
Trees, real or constructed, will joyfully throng this Grade 1 Listed parish church of All Saints, Landbeach– inviting support for its community projects.
Come and chuckle at themed trees like: ‘Watt the Dickens’ and ‘Pan-Tree’. Reflect on ‘Love’s Pure Light’ or ‘T(recycled), one of several Eco entries using repurposed materials. Vote for your favourite; enjoy seasonal refreshments and music, including hearty carol-singing at 6pm on Advent Sunday (Dec 3) itself.
All Saints' Parish Church, Landbeach, in partnership with the community group Friends of All Saints Church Landbeach (FOALS) who set up this community outreach event, encourage the use of historic church as a community resource, including its Community Larder and Warm Hub.
Angela Brown, volunteer PR lead for the festival, tells us "The event, a Christmas Tree Festival, builds also on community arts initiatives with textiles at our sister church of St John the Evangelist, Waterbeach. We have made ecumenical outreach to other churches across the Fen Edge, some of whom may contribute trees or join us for the Advent 'Songs of Praise' at 6pm on the Sunday."
The All Saints’ Bellringers meanwhile swallow their temporary disappointment: two new, Christmas bells are delayed in their arrival from the bell-hangers. The Bellringers, undaunted, transfer considerable muscle and expertise to hefting the arriving Christmas Trees into position. They know that on Saturday 27 April they will chime in with Cambridge’s St Augustine’s Choir in a specially-composed piece for choir and bells. Rt Revd Dr Dagmar Winter, acting Bishop of Ely, will formally dedicate the bells on Sunday 28 April at a special service.
Those displaying trees – or visiting - are asked to park at the nearby Village Hall because of the safety problems generated by ongoing roadworks.