Bidford Village Nativity 21st December 2024
At 3pm on 21st December we gathered at St Joseph the Worker church to be met by three donkeys and two Highland calves, children dressed as characters from the Nativity story and a large crowd. After reading and a carol we walked to the Methodist church in Chapel Close where Mary got onto the lead donkey and Joseph walked by her side followed by the cows and a large crowd who were increasing as we moved around the village.
Mary and Joseph called at the Frog pub looking for somewhere to stay but there wasn’t any room at the inn. We sang another carol and went onto the Bull’s head pub where the landlord came out and told Mary and Joeph there was no room there either. After a couple of readings and carols we moved to St Laurence churchyard where angels appeared to the shepherds by a pen containing a couple of real sheep.
We then moved into St Laurence church singing a carol. Unfortunately, the donkeys refused to go through the church door even for a carrot. Everyone else including cows made their way into church where we had a short service led by Revd Shelia Bridge.
After a photo opportunity and refreshments, the event was over. Around 250 people joined for the procession with 200 taking part in the church.
The event was planned by all the Bidford churches and supported by local businesses and organisations including
Bidford Golf Club and Hotel
The Village Café
Bidford Coop
ERS printing
Alcester Rotary Club
Bidford Area Community Choir
Bidford Storage
Viv Scholes.