Nativities great and small

As the wonderfully reflective Festival of Nativities 2024 came to a close, you might be wondering if there is still a Nativity scene to visit at the Priory.

Well, the answer’s firmly ‘Yes’!

In addition to the Priory Nativity, with its glittering stars and glowing stable lantern, which this year is in St Giles’ Chapel, there’s the Porch Nativity, in front of the Christmas tree in the North Porch.

Then the Friends’ Priory Shop has a wide selection of Nativities available for sale, from olive wood Nativities from the Holy Land, to Nativities in a nutshell, made in Malvern. The tiny acorn-cap Nativities, created inside an acorn cap from the Holm Oak in the Priory grounds, and mounted on 250-year-old oak from the old Priory Nave floor have been a great fundraiser.

In the Children’s area there’s a Nativity diorama for youngsters and carers to colour in and stick together. At the Welcome table, there’s a Nativity Trail for the young at heart to follow, spotting the characters from the Nativity story and finding out a bit more about them, with QR codes for carers to scan, for more Nativity crafts and songs.

And Church Street has some new residents, too. Beneath the overhanging branches of the Holm Oak, a new near-lifesize Priory Nativity stands, amidst the bustle of daily life, facing Church Walk. Created this year and installed by three members of the congregation, it reminds passers-by of the true meaning of Christmas.

Everyone’s welcome to services and to visit the Priory - well-behaved dogs on leads, too! - just check What’s On for opening times and Christmas 2024 for current info.

Hope to see you soon!