IT’S BEGINNING to look a lot like Christmas at a Rugby town centre church.
St Andrew’s Church has decked its halls with boughs of pine for its Christmas Tree Festival, which runs throughout December.
Charities, schools, community groups and care homes have decorated trees to the theme of ‘Natural Christmas’ – and lights, baubles and candles are casting a festive glow around the aisles.
This year’s festival is raising awareness of and money for the Our Jay Foundation – a charity which raises awareness of the importance of publicly accessible defibrillators, founded by Rugby woman Naomi Rees-Issitt following her son Jamie’s death from a cardiac arrest when he was just 18.
Ben Jennings, the church’s Community Engagement Lead, said: “This is the 21st year of holding our festival and, as always, the main purpose is to raise funds for charities that support the local community.
“This year we are supporting the Our Jay Foundation which aims to raise awareness of the importance of having 24/7 publicly accessible automated external defibrillators.
“In addition to supporting charities, the festival gives so much pleasure to its visitors, many of whom return year after year to see the church looking so beautiful.”
Trees were decorated by organisations including the 1st Dunchurch and Overslade Rainbows, Warwickshire Community And Voluntary Action, Hillmorton Trefoil Guild, Bizzy Tots Day Nursery, Slimming World Rugby, Rotary Club of Rugby, Hats Off, Inner Wheel of Rugby, Dogs For Good, Rugby Gardener’s Guild, Henry Hinde School, Compassionate Communities, Paddox and Deering Regent WI Joint Craft Group, Overslade House Care Home, Brooke School, Rugby Foodbank, Rugby Cafe Writers, The Mothers’ Union, Cawston Rainbows, Rugby Street Pastors, Rugby Artists and Makers, Soroptomists of Rugby, and St Andrew’s Bellringers.
Everyone is welcome to go along and enjoy the trees, make a donation, and vote for their favourites during December (10am-2pm weekdays, 10am-12pm Saturdays).
