Trees on church display

BRANCHING out . . . church warden Marlene Armitage with the RSPCA-sponsored tree

A DAZZLING display of Christmas trees will fill Oldham Parish Church this week during its very first Christmas Tree Festival.

Charities and organisations across the borough, including Age Concern and Oldham College, have each sponsored a real Christmas tree. All 42 trees have been individually decorated and will be on display inside the church.

The festival is officially launched tonight at 7pm by the Mayor of Oldham, Councillor Jim McArdle; Mayoress, Councillor Kay Knox; and Youth Mayor, Mohammed Adil. Visitors can view the trees on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 6pm, and from noon to 6pm on Sunday.

Sunday will also see the church reviving a medieval custom by installing Oldham’s new “boy bishop”, Ross Wolstenholme, who is a member of the church Sunday school.