Date: 22 December 2022
A live nativity scene featuring a real baby and goats was one of the winners of the Haslemere Christmas window completion, sponsored by the local parish church.
Now in its third year (The Rt Revd Jo Bailey Wells, Bishop of Dorking) Bishop Jo led this year’s judging panel. Despite pouring rain the panel diligently scrutinised over 100 town centre windows.
The Revd Justin Manley-Cooper is the Town’s Chaplain and organiser of the project. “It's the church’s Christmas present to the town,” says Justin. “It’s about bringing everybody closer together, walking side-by-side and the retailers and the church coming together,” he says.
Dylan's Milk Barn took the ‘Most Festive’ award. The children of the staff created a real-life Nativity scene in its window for the judging. The scene included two goats penned in their own manger outside the shop. “It was absolutely fabulous,” says Justin.
The “Community Favourite” category, voted for on the church’s website, went to Oliver’s coffee shop. The cafe, in a small alleyway, take over the space in the run up to Christmas, lighting and decorating it with among other features, illuminated reindeer.
For the first time local schools got involved. For those few retailers didn’t or couldn’t add some festive sparkle to their displays, the primary schools offered to provide the decorations. Bishop Jo and the panel highlighted their work and that of the the Church youth group, who between them dressed eight windows. “The judges loved the concept involved in all of these windows. Most of the children had something to do with the business they helped dress. It was really fun,” says Justin.
The ‘Most Stylish’ award went to Allen Avery and Venturi Vision took the prize for the ‘Most complementary’ to its underlying business.
“Once again the community spirit of Haslemere is plain for all to see,” says Justin. “Everyone, from our very youngest has pulled together to make Haslemere a festive centre. The competition’s created new conversations, which are the strands that pull communities together. There can be no greater mission for the Church than to draw people together as part of our wider community.”