The first of this year’s Advent Windows was revealed this morning at Birchill & Watson on the High Street.
The pharmacy’s carol was Silent Night and their window – as well as marking Christmas – also commemorates the centenary of the First World War Christmas truce in 1914. All of the windows this year will include at least a poppy to remember this.
Helen Bowes from Christ Church said: “Christmas is the time when God sent his son into the world as a promise of peace and hope for us all. It’s also the centenary of the Christmas truce of 1914 when peace came, if only for 24 hours, among the confusion, havoc and devastation of the Great War.”
People who gathered at Birchill & Watson were treated to mince pies and stollen, as well as a rendition of the carol.
For the fifth year, Christ Church is co-ordinating the project and 23 shops and businesses have signed up to host the windows, all based on Christmas carols, to tell the Christmas story. An extra aspect this year will also remember the 100th anniversary of the Great War, so all windows will feature a poppy somewhere. Each day in December a window will be revealed at 11am and the window’s carol will be sung.
On Christmas Eve, there will be a Christmas carol tour of the town centre, ending at Christ Church for the final window at 11am and refreshments.
Make sure you follow Christ Church on Facebook for lots of photos and videos throughout December from all the Advent Window openings – https://www.facebook.com/ChristChurchStone
