St Luke's Church to host 14th Christmas Tree Festival

A church in Maidenhead is set to host its 14th annual Christmas Tree Festival next month, as it prepares for a hope-filled Christmas.

St Luke’s Church in Norfolk Road will once again be filled with real trees and twinkling lights, symbols of hope and peace, from Friday, December 5 to Sunday, December 7.

Local businesses, voluntary groups, churches, families and charities are sponsoring and decorating real Christmas trees, following a theme of their choice.

Refreshments will be available among the trees, with a seasonal raffle also taking place.

Members of the church are all contributing to a food hamper to present as the first prize.

Visitors viewing the displays will be invited to vote for their favourite tree by putting tokens, which will be available to purchase from the church, in a pot.

Last year, the tree voted the best dressed was sponsored by Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service for the second year running.

A total of £4,900 was also donated to Thames Valley Heartbeat.

This year, all funds raised from voting for the best decorated tree will be donated to Alzheimer’s Dementia Support (ADS).

ADS is an independent, local charity which supports people with dementia in Windsor, Maidenhead, Ascot, Langley, Slough and the surrounding villages.

The church will be open for visitors to view the trees for free between 10am and 7pm on Friday, December 5 and Saturday, December 6 and from midday to 6pm on Sunday, December 7.

There will be a closing service among the trees at 6pm.

Church warden Jacqueline Lewis said: “We look forward to welcoming people into our beautiful church, it’s a chance for the whole community to come together to raise spirits and raise money for charity and church funds.”