Hundreds visit church for Christmas tree festival

Rochdale Parish Church Christmas Tree Festival

Over 200 people have visited Rochdale Parish Church, St Chad's, this weekend to be part of their first ever Christmas tree festival.

The festival, which was held from Friday 6 December to Sunday 8 December, displayed 35 Christmas trees decorated by local businesses, schools and community groups.

Organiser of the festival Susan Arkle said: “It has been lovely to see the response to the festival and to hear the lovely comments people have been making.”

Trees on display in the church included those from Norden Women’s Institute, Beech House Primary School – Nursery and Reception, REstore and Littleborough Lace Group.

Springhill Hospice also had a tree at the festival as part of their Lights of Love Service. The tree will stay on display at the church throughout Christmas.

The festival has been such a success for the first year that the church hopes to hold the event again next year. “We thought about doing it maybe every three years but I think if we left it that long, people might lose interest,” added Susan.

Norman Frisby from the church added: “I think it is safe to say that we will do this again.”

The festival was held as a fundraising event to raise money for work that needs to be undertaken within the church.

Norman added: “We have done well with the 35 trees and the response has been brilliant.”