Two young siblings from Malpas in Cheshire have made one of the largest Christingles in existence for their local church service to raise money for The Children’s Society.
Idris Lumb, aged five, and Arianwen Lumb, aged three, made the Christingle with a little assistance from Mummy, after the new curate of St Oswald’s Church in Malpas, the Revd Helen Molesworth, challenged the local family to make a large Christingle for their service on Sunday 8 December.
Idris Lumb, aged 5, with the Christingle creation
The family, who have previously put on other craft events, rose to the challenge and created not just a large Christingle, but an enormous one – made out of recycled paper mache and cardboard tubes along with LED lights.
A local farmer helped to transport the festive creation to the Christingle service at Holy Trinity Church in Bickerton on Sunday 15 December.
Christingle is a celebration named after the Christingles given out at the event – these are oranges decorated with red ribbon, sweets or dried fruits on cocktail sticks and a candle, to highlight different parts of the Christian story.
For over 50 years, the collections at Christingle events have helped The Children’s Society to work with more than a million children and young people with serious problems in their lives and continue to help children affected by issues such as abuse and neglect.
Idris and Arianwen’s mum, Marie Lumb, said: “When the Vicar asked us to create a large Christingle for the service on Sunday, I think she envisioned something more pumpkin size.
“We hadn’t intended on making such a giant Christingle but once we started we got a bit carried away! When it came to taking it to the church I thought ‘how are we going to get it through the front door!’ - in the end we managed to carry it to the church on a tablecloth.
“Idris and Arianwen had lots of fun making it and we are glad it is now going on tour! We are really thankful to our local farmer who has said they can transport it in their trailer to Bickerton next week.”
The Revd Helen Molesworth, added: "St Oswald's Church family were totally amazed when they arrived to worship on Sunday to discover this enormous, vibrant Christingle in church! It is tremendous and tells the greatest story ever told. The Lumb family have done a brilliant job and their hard work and inspiration brought great joy to us all on Sunday. By taking the Christingle "on tour" we will shine the light of Christ across our community whilst raising awareness of the valuable work of The Children's Society."
Revd Helen Molesworth, Idris Lumb, and the Revd Canon Ian Davenport, Vicar of Malpas
Gill Dean, Community Relationship Manager from The Children’s Society said: “We want to say a huge thank you to Idris, Arianwen and their mum for making such an amazing Christingle. You can see a great deal of talent, creativity and hard work has gone into making this wonderful centrepiece for the service.
“Christingle events are a fun way to help our charity support children and young people at Christmas and throughout the year, and I hope many more people will get to see this impressive creation at services near them.”
To find out more about Christingle and where your nearest service is head to Christingle.org.