At the end of a year celebrating 50 years of Partnership between 4 Old Town churches and following last year’s highly successful “Live Nativity” event, The Journey, we are pleased to announce the Partnership Christmas Tree Festival.

The idea is that each church uses its imagination to offer a different atmosphere and layout depending on building and site considerations.  In this way the churches are linked through a single event.  Any donations or money raised will go to the Mayors Charities; CALM (Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Movement) and DCS (Deaf Children’s Society) which are both locally administered children’s charities.

The Festival will be launched with a free guided walk between the churches on the 1st December.  The guided walk will leave St Mary’s Church, Commonweal Road at 4.10 pm, and finishes at Immanual church.  The route is 1 1/4 miles in total and is easy going along pavements and will allow participants to experience the Christmas Tree festival in each church. It will be repeated on Sunday 8th December.


Our Mayor will officially open the Christmas Tree Festival at the Advent service at Immanuel Church at 6.30 pm on 1st December.The festival, which is free to attend, is a family friendly introduction to Christmas involving the 4 churches offering hospitality and a magical Christmas tree experience. St Mary’s church in Commonweal Road, Bath Road Methodist Church and Immanuel Church in Upham road will offer a display of sponsored, decorated trees inside their churches as well as refreshments and a festive welcome. At Christ Church, the ground around the church will be transformed by the installation of more than 20 decorated Christmas trees, each sponsored by a local business or charity. Refreshments will be offered, as well as craft activities and a fun treasure trail for the children inside and outside the church. A full programme of events and opening times is available on the Partnership Website, from the button below or by visiting any of the churches and picking up a Christmas Tree Festival Brochure.