Christmas Tree Festival: December 4th - 15th 2019
 We will again hold our annual Christmas Tree Festival at Bridport United Church (www.BUC.cool) hosting over 55 dedicated trees representing mainly local charities plus some national and international NGOs from the 4th of December until the 15th of December 2019 at Bridport United Church (BUC), East Street, Bridport, Dorset DT6 3LJ.Our principal charity this year is: Julia's House Childrens Hospice https://www.juliashouse.org
This is in memory of the late Kath Chant and at the request of the family of Bryan Chant, her husband. They created this project of 21 years, and since then over 75,000 visitors have passed through our doors and around £60,000 has been raised for charities: RNLI, D&S Air Ambulance, Red Cross, ShelterBox, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Barnardos, etc, etc.
Of great encouragement to the local church community is the regular use of the two small 'prayer trees' by children and adults alike on which the little prayer flags are affixed with elastic bands by those writing their brief requests.
A few perhaps should be re-directed to Father Christmas or the Manager of the relevant football team, but most are touching beyond words.The number of 'prayer flags' each year exceeds 600 per annum.... Who said faith is dead ?
Each day at 12 noon, some of these anonymous prayers were read out for others to share.
Support for our project will be seen across social media and local broadcasters like Wessex FM https://www.wessexfm.com and Christmas Tree Feastivals UK https://www.christmastreefestivals.org
We have also received excellent support from the local community for which our very sincere thanks and in 2018 raised in excess of £4,000 for charity and were priviledged to welcome around 7,000 visitors in the 12 days of the event.
Joy to the World, the Lord is come, the Saviour promised long
 The Festival will conclude with the annual Church Carol Service at 4.30 pm on Sunday 15th December 2019. T    Our Toy Service will again be held on the 8th of December 2019 to provide additional toys and other gifts for local children and families.
Monday 16th should see another 'church invasion' by a small of of cleaners, clearer-uppers, handy-persons, onlookers, etc, so as to return the Sanctuary to a degree of normality before the actual Christmas hoidays.
Our thanks to Grove Nurseries and their cheerful staff who arrived at mid-day to take away the remaining weary and overworked Christmas trees that had been a joy to so many visitors.
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