St Thomas in Werneth has been filled with awe and wonder as children from local schools attended church for a memorable ‘Experience Christmas' event. Members of the church, alongside clergy from Mission Community 3 in Oldham & Ashton Deanery, worked together to bring this incredible event to life over the past week.
The children were taken on a journey through the church, where they learned about the birth of Jesus through engaging storytelling. The experience featured costumes, lifelike props, and beautifully painted scenes, all designed to share the messages of peace, hope, and love central to Advent and Christmas.
Revd Richard McEwan, Curate at St Thomas’s Werneth & St Paul’s Oldham, played a key role in overseeing the event, leading a team to set up each immersive scene for the children. Pupils from The Blue Coat School, with their Chaplain Richard Ford, also kindly volunteered to guide younger children through each station. Their warmth, enthusiasm, and inquisitive spirit made the experience even more special, and the younger children thoroughly enjoyed discovering the nativity story in such an interactive way.
The ‘Experience Christmas’ event has been a great success, demonstrating the power of collaborative and missional efforts within the mission community. Laura Tebay, Man Dio Growing Faith Deanery Enabler, said, “I would highly recommend attending the next experience day, which will be held at Easter. God has truly brought out the gifts of all the leaders and supporters, blessing the hearts of everyone who had the opportunity to attend. A special thanks to Rev Nick Andrewes for his leadership and for equipping everyone involved in this meaningful event!”