Leeds first: Christmas trees to light up Wortley church

A church in Wortley is gearing up to host the first Christmas Tree Festival in Leeds, with 30 trees set to light up the 120-year-old building, writes the Rev Paul Walker.

Community groups, businesses and individuals are sponsoring trees for the Festival, which is being held at St John the Evangelist, Dixon Lane, Leeds 12 from December 13th to 17th. Each is being individually themed and decorated, with most raising money for local or national charities.

Alongside the Christmas Trees there will be a Christmas Crafts Fair, with a plethora of hand-made Christmas gifts, ornaments and decorations, together with delicious homemade jams, chutneys and sauces. Visitors will be able to relax in a Christmas Café where they can enjoy home-baked cakes and mince pies, as well as filter coffee and a selection of teas.

Younger visitors will be able to take part in Messy Christmas with their parents, whilst the Festival wraps up with a Carols by Candlelight that is expected to be ‘standing room only’.

As well as being a lot of fun, there is a serious side to the Festival with the future of the church being dependant on raising significant finances to repair and re-order the church.

Of course we want people to have a lot of fun and bring Christmas cheer to Wortley and Farnley. But every penny that we raise from the Festival, including the cafe and crafts and stalls, will go into the Building Fund to address the challenges we face at St John’s.

The Festival will be open from 11.00 am-7.00 pm on Thursday December 14th and Friday December 15th, from 11.00 am-3.00 pm on Saturday December 16th and from 12.00 -4.00 pm on Sunday December 17th.

Entry is via a full-colour souvenir programme, costing £1 (Children free).

For further details please contact the Reverend Paul Walker, 0113 2633551 or vicar@wortleyandfarnley.net. Or see this website.