Local businesses and organisations have been invited to provide a tree for the Christmas Tree Festival being held over the first weekend in December at the Alderley Edge Methodist Church.
From Friday 4th December to Sunday December 6th the church will be open from 10am-4pm when visitors will be able to view 42 decorated Christmas trees contributed by such organisations as the local British Legion, Guides, Brownies, Family History Society of Cheshire and The Ryleys School to name but a few.
Seasonal refreshments will be available during the three day festival which will include musical contributions from Alderley Edge School for Girls, The Ryleys choir and both the Carlton and Norbury Handbell Ringers.
On the Friday evening you can be transported back in time to Victorian London when Graham Tyson gives a Recitation of Charles Dickens’ story “A Christmas Carol”. Graham will be assisted by talented soprano Sarah Mallon.
On Saturday afternoon Val Seed (NAFAS Demonstrator) will be demonstrating a couple of floral arrangements and how to decorate your Christmas gifts with unusual bows and ribbons. Then in the evening Power Engineering Consultants have sponsored a Brass Band Concert by the renowned and highly acclaimed Foden’s Band, tickets for which have almost sold out.
The festival will culminate with Carols round the Christmas tree at 4.15pm on Sunday and a short service of celebration and meditation led by Rev. Ben Clowes.
Judy Povey, Church Secretary, told me “This is a brand new village event which has been organised not only because it is a lovely thing to do for the village but also to generate funds for the Church Spire Appeal and the national charity Crisis Christmas 2009.”
As a result of the last Quinquennial Inspection, it was discovered that the Methodist Church spire and clock had become victims of serious corrosion. Professionals were consulted who advised that the top 30’ of the spire needs to be dismantled, the metal rod replaced with stainless steel and the spire rebuilt. At the same time, the clock which was made in 1850 and is one of only three ever to be made entirely of cast iron, is to be removed, restored and each of the clock faces replaced.
English Heritage has recognised the importance of the Alderley Edge Methodist Church as a community resource, having awarded grant of £323,000 towards the work, leaving the Church itself to find the remainder of the cost through major fundraising initiatives such as the Christmas Tree Festival.
Further information about the various events included within the festival, and how to obtain tickets is available in our events section and on the Alderley Edge Methodist Church website.
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