Chipping Sodbury Crib Festival to take over St John's Church again this December

The four-day display of Nativity scenes of every kind will take place in St John’s Church from Wednesday, December 2 until Saturday, December 6.

Hundreds of visitors are expected to visit the church to view the array of Nativities and cribs on display which include scenes made from wool, glass, paper and wood and have been donated locally and sent in from countries around the world.

This year’s festival is expected to include 150 cribs which have been lent to the church from overseas and borrowed or made by local school and toddler groups.

Organiser Liz Gregson said the festival was still looking for more scenes to include in the display.

“If you have a Nativity crib or know someone who does, please may we borrow it,” she said.

“We welcome new cribs each year but also welcome ones we have seen before and we promise to take great care of it." Last year more than 5,000 visited the church to see the crib festival.

Rev Jane Kenchington said: “When we started the festival four years ago there were two rationale for what was wanted from it.

“We wanted to have an event to find a different way to tell the Christmas story for people to see, and we wanted to build a greater link with the community. The Crib Festival has done both.”

The festival coincides with Chipping Sodbury’s popular Victorian evening on Friday, December 5. The church will offer tea, coffee and soft drinks, homemade cakes and biscuits and at lunchtime tasty homemade soups will be served for the duration of the festival.

For more information visit the church’s web site at svbcofe.org.uk