Tree-mendous idea for festive festival

A SHAW church will be all lit up for Christmas when it boasts not one but 24 festive trees.

Holy Trinity, in Chamber Road, is hosting its first Christmas Tree Festival on November 28, 29 and 30.

The charity event is already proving popular, with three-quarters of the trees pledged to a local charity or business.

But organisers hope to fill the remaining six places soon.

Church member Heather Schofield said: “We will provide the trees and stands, then it is up to charities or businesses to decorate them.

“We already have organisations, such as the British Legion, RNLI, St John, guide dogs, Macmillan Nurses, Scope, and Christie’s, taking part. There will be money boxes at the base of each tree for donations.

“The tree festival is in church and there will also be a festive cafe in the church hall.

“The idea came from villages in Norfolk where it is very popular, although this is the first time we have done it.”

Money raised will be divided between the charities and the church restoration fund.

The festival will be opened by the Mayor of Oldham, Councillor Shoab Akhtar, at 10.30am on November 28, and closes with a Songs of Praise service on November 30 at 3pm.

Anyone interested in decorating one of the remaining trees should contact Noel Wright on 01706 845269.