Article and images by Jonathan White
The inaugural ‘Tree of Light’ in Nantwich was illuminated on Sunday 4th November 2018.
Several hundred people gathered at 5pm outside the west doors to St Mary’s Church for a short service of prayer, hymns and poetry after which the Tree of Light (located outside St Mary’s Parish Rooms) was illuminated.
The service was led by the rector of St Mary’s Church, Rev Dr Mark Hart, with an address from the mayor of Nantwich Cllr David Marren.
There was a reading of the poem ‘Footprints in the Sand’ by deputy mayor of Nantwich Cllr Arthur Moran, singing from the St Mary’s choir and the singing of hymns by the gathered congregation.
The Tree of Light offers the chance to remember the loss of loved ones and to think about those less fortunate than ourselves and Christmas is a time for families and friends, for celebrating and for giving.
Prior to the event, people made a donation of £5 to dedicate a bauble to a loved one or a special cause.
Each bauble was then filled with a name, message or items of choice.
They will hang on the Tree of Light until after the twelfth night of Christmas, after which the lights will be turned off and baubles removed.
Baubles can then be collected from Nantwich Civic Hall after Monday 14th January 2019.
Nantwich Town Council dedicated the first bauble to the late town councillor Norma Simpson who sadly passed away earlier this year.
Names will be also be listed on Nantwich Town Council ‘Webpage of Remembrance’.
The full cost of the tree is covered by Nantwich Town Council and all donations will be divided between the mayor’s good causes: Hope House, Nantwich Fire Cadets, Nantwich First Responders and St Mary’s Church.
