Christmas bells, the modern version. Kettleshulme children entertain with their handbells

Whaley Bridge turned out in big numbers on Friday (6 Dec) for the opening of a sparkling new event in the seasonal calendar, the Christmas Tree Festival in Holy Trinity church.  The festival continues on Saturday (7 Dec) from 10am-4om and Sunday (12 noon-4pm).

Children from Taxal and Fernilee primary school and Kettleshulme St James entertained with Christmas music at the opening, surrounded by dozens of sparkling trees.  They had been assembled by local organisations and businesses the day before.

Class 4 of Taxal and Fernilee sang carols and other Christmas music and the Kettleshulme children played handball pieces.

Vicar the Rev Margaret Jones thanked the children for ‘a lovely start to the festival’.

Holy Trinity has three more family dates in the run-up to Christmas. On Saturday 14 Dec and Saturday 21 Dec there will be Countdown to Christmas for families 9am-12noon, including crafts for the children and refreshments, and on Christmas Eve at 4pm Christingle – usually the most packed event of the year.

Wonder of Christmas: Mae Hine, six, from Stockport, staying with her Whaley
Bridge grandparents, visited the Christmas Tree Festival. She admired the
tree decorated by the town’s Twinning Association (Whaley is linked to
Tymbark in Poland.) Decorations were in the Polish colours, red and white,
with the Polish flag joining the Union Jack instead of a fairy on the top of
the tree. An entry in the visitors’ book described the trees as ‘works of art’.

See slideshow below of trees and general view in Holy Trinity: