Andy Munns
Christmas is a special time, and St Thomas’s Church in Salisbury is once again holding its annual Tree Festival.
It’s one of the biggest and best-attended events of its type in the UK; the Festival opens on Tuesday 5th, December and runs through to Sunday, December 10th. Entry is free.
Up to 100 decorated trees and nativity scenes will be displayed, all submitted from local organisations and individuals, and all provided to raise money for our nominated charities.
This year, the collected donations are for two worthy local charities, Salisbury Alzheimer’s Support and Salisbury Trust for The Homeless. Last year, 12,000 visitors visited the Festival, and they gifted over £15,000 to worthy causes.
Every year, visitors are amazed and inspired by the heart-warming creativity and ingenuity on view and how this evokes a true reflection on the real meaning of Christmas.
This atmosphere and the visual feast are enhanced by a banquet of festive music by leading local groups, choirs, soloists, and bands.
To tickle the taste buds, seasonal treats and snacks will be available from St Thomas’s festive catering team.
A spokesperson for St Thomas’s said, “Year after year, many people, whether residents, local visitors or tourists from further afield, make a special point of visiting the Festival. For them, this occasion has become an unmissable date in their Christmas season diary.
“The Festival is a notable start to a wonderful season of Christmas celebrations at St Thomas’s.“
On Saturday, 16th of December, there are two festive celebrations, firstly a Christmas Music entertainment, ‘Christmas Delights’ at 12.15 pm followed at 4 pm on the same day by the Children’s Christingle Service.
On Sunday, 17th of December at 6 pm, the traditional ‘St Thomas’s Carols by Candlelight’ early evening service is scheduled and the extremely popular “Carols for busy people”, with mulled wine and mince pies, will be held on 19th December at 1.10 pm.
This festive period culminates with Midnight Mass on the 24th of December and the family service at 10.15 am on Christmas Day.
Details of these events are available on www.stthomassalisbury.co.uk
