Nativity with a difference at Meon Vale Church

This was entitled Neightivity and used the animals from the Good Day Farm for a nativity story, with an introduction from the new Rector of the Benefice Rev Jay Niblett.

The late afternoon event started off with hot chocolate and ginger bread men and mince pies on offer for adults and children, to the over 150 people, was given out by Jane Spooner (churchwarden St. Swithin’s, Quinton with Admington) and Carol Watts (churchwarden St. James the Great, Long Marston).

For those adults who wanted tea and coffee Pavilion Café manager Steph Hillier, and her team of volunteers, had stayed open late to cater for the demand.

Then carols were sung, accompanied on keyboards and vocals by Kieran Wheatcroft along with Rev. Jay and choir members from St. Swithin’s church. These included favourites ‘Good King Wencelas’, ‘Silent Night’ and ‘Hark the Herald Angel Sing’.

While the carols were being sung the massed ranks of children present gathered around the animals (who were lit by floodlight) to see and stroke them.

The animals included Gilly the pig, Mike and Greta the goats, Jean Pierre and Croissant the sheep, Mac the Pony, Polly, Grace, Ada the Ducks, Skipper the Cockerell and Sid the Rabbit.

Then Laura Niblett narrated the nativity story using the animals above, with three wise ducks etc..

The children had a competition to enter finding out all the animal names listed above.

At the end of the event Rev. Jay thanks people for taking time to come to this new and novel event and invited them to the Christmas services being held in the Benefice, at St. Swithin’s Quinton, St. James Long Marston, All Saints Weston and St. Peter’s Welford.

Rev. Jay promised that there would be more of these child friendly events put on by the benefice during 2024.

Laura Niblett and Emily Withers, directors of Good Day Farm, were thanked by Rev. Jay for bringing the animals and creating the quiz for the children.