With so many restrictions on what we can and cannot do this Christmas, the residents of Winchelsea have pulled together to light up the town this month like never before.
Fundraising amongst residents and local business has meant we can light up the beautiful strained-glass windows in the church using a professional lighting company and the positioning of St Thomas’ in the centre of the town will allow people to walk round (socially distanced) and see all the illuminated windows without entering the church or churchyard itself.
Although the church windows are the centrepiece, there is a lot more to see with over sixty households creating a Christmas window display, and to encourage as many residents as possible to participate there is no particular theme except “Christmas”.
The church windows were lit from last Sunday, December 6, and from now onwards residents’ windows will be gradually lit, until the whole trail will be complete on Sunday, December 20 and continue through to new year’s eve – and the lights should be shining brightly from 5pm to around 10pm every evening.
There was no switching on ceremony to avoid any crowds and we encourage people to stagger their visits between now and new year’s eve.
Trail maps are available from Winchelsea Farm Kitchen, The New Inn and from the church porch. Houses are numbered and each window named, so you can either follow the numbers or walk around Winchelsea at your leisure, but don’t forget to bring a torch!. Please stop and enjoy everyone’s handiwork as a lot of effort has gone into this event to make it special and to lift your spirits.
To comply with Government guidelines, we do ask you to make sure that you walk in family groups and ensure that social distancing is followed at all times. Do not enter into people’s gardens unless instructed to do so, make sure you stay safe by looking out for uneven pathways and roads, and make sure that all children are accompanied at all times.
Our charity this year is St Thomas’, so if you enjoyed this year’s trail please make a donation, using our Just Giving page, and any monies raised go directly to the church. You will find a QR code around town.
Don’t forget to support the New Inn, perhaps by starting or finishing with a meal, but please make sure you book ahead to avoid disappointment. While in the farm shop you will also find a range of Christmas gifts and cards created by our talented team of crafters to raise further funds towards the event
Source: Winchelsea Christmas Windows group
Image Credits: John Minter .