Festival of Stars

St Pancras Church’s Festival of Stars and showing of ‘The Infant King’

From 6th December…

As part of the  exciting programme of events planned for ‘Christmas in Arlington’, we are holding a Festival of Stars at St Pancras church. This is a way to celebrate Advent and Christmas in our wonderful ancient village church, and to help raise much-needed funds to keep it going for a few years more.

From 6th to 31st December, the church will be filled with home-made stars – single ones, big and small, star garlands, free-standing stars on shelves and windowsills, and even, we hope, some big enough to stand on the floor. And we’d love to have stars from across the Benefice and other surrounding parishes!

Stars can be lit (by battery-powered LED lights), sparkly, plain, made of tinsel, tissue paper, pipe cleaners, driftwood, knitted, sewn, whatever you like; and they can be in memory of a loved one, to celebrate a new arrival, or just because stars and Christmas go together! (If you prefer, your star(s) could be hung in the churchyard amongst the trees.) 

If you’re an internet user, for inspiration go to the Christmas in Arlington Facebook page (put “Facebook Christmas in Arlington” into your browser if you’re not a Facebook user), where all the details are and where ideas for stars can be found. 

You can attach a small label saying who made the stars and adding an appropriate message, and we’ll print a leaflet for visitors so they know who made what.

We also hope that local businesses might like to either contribute a star and a small donation, or sponsor the making of a star. The church, as always, will be open till evening every day, and on 12th  – 13th December and 19th – 20th December we will be serving yet more refreshments in the church. We hope to attract lots of visitors!

The Festival starts with the Christmas Creations Fair in the Village Hall, on 28th November, 1.30 to 5.00 pm, where there will be a chance to buy small gifts, decorations, cakes and sweets ready for Christmas. There will also be workshops for people to make stars to help decorate the church, so if you need inspiration, a gift for a friend, or a home-made Christmas cake, come along!

There will, of course, be delicious refreshments too, and a raffle (to be held over December) where the first prize is a star-patterned patchwork quilt. We are still looking for small gifts and decorations, so if you would like to contribute, please let Nicola Bloom know – contact details below.

Over the following week, the stars will be put in the church, and the Festival will be officially launched on 6th December, when we are delighted to be holding a showing of the DVD of The Infant King. Some may remember this wonderful act of worship, brought to Arlington by Bill and Jean Hardy, and performed for several years in the 70’s and 80’s, and we hope to bring back joyful memories and create new ones for those who have not yet had the pleasure of seeing it. Patsy Webb (Bill and Jean’s daughter) and others will talk about the play before the showing, and afterwards we will light up the stars, before going to the Village Hall to see an exhibition of photos and costumes, and consuming some warming mince pies! There will be no charge for the showing, but there will be a retiring collection, and since demand is likely to be high, entry will be by ticket only, available from Jackie Appleton on 01323 482489, or jackie@appleton.me.

Proceeds from the Festival will be divided between church funds and other charities. If you would like to contribute a star or stars, or know more about the stars or other events, please don’t hesitate to contact Nicola Bloom on 01273 487867 or at bloomnicola@yahoo.co.uk.

For details of all the Arlington Village events leading up to Christmas please download the ‘Arlington at Christmas’ flyer here.

Christmas in Arlington

For more information see the Facebook page