St Mary's Church in Tadley gets festive with Christmas tree festival this weekend

The mornings may be getting darker and the evenings drawing in, but St Mary’s Church in Tadley is bringing some much-needed light to its community with a Christmas tree festival this weekend.

The festival will run from tomorrow (Friday) until Sunday, with a special Christmas Fair on Saturday from 2pm to 4pm and a closing Advent carol service on Sunday at 4pm.

Local organisations and charities will display illuminated trees in the church, while outside, the labyrinth – which recently featured on BBC Songs of Praise and Gardener’s World – will be lit.

The fair on the Saturday will raise awareness of St Mary’s building refurbishment project and will be attended by the mayor of Basingstoke, Onnalee Cubitt.

Stalls will display a range of crafts and cream teas will be served.

Entry will be free.

The Rev Steve McKay, the minister at St Mary’s Church, said: “We are so excited to bring some light to the community after what has been a dark two years.

“St Mary’s has a wonderful indoor community space, but it has not been updated since the church was opened in the early 1960s.

“We would love to provide kitchen and toilet facilities that the community can be proud of, as well as improving access for disabled people and increasing the church’s green credentials.

“We need the community to help us do this and everyone is welcome this weekend.

“I think we all need some light right now.”

Opening times are 2pm to 10pm on Friday, 10am to 10pm on Saturday and noon to 4pm on Sunday.