200 Christmas angels set to descend on Bishop’s Stortford town centre courtesy of Methodist Church’s knitting and craft groups
A choir of angels are set to descend on Bishop’s Stortford on Monday (December 9), thanks to the town’s Methodist Church.
Its Knit and Natter and Craft and Chatter groups, which meet in the church’s Oasis Lounge, have used their skills to create around 200 seraphim and cherubim, perfect for decorating Christmas trees.
Volunteers will be “knit-bombing” the town centre, leaving the celestial beings to be found and taken home by members of the public as a festive gift from the congregation.
Each angel has a label, which includes a QR code to find out the timings of the church’s Christmas services.
From Tuesday, the Methodists’ crib festival will be open, featuring dozens of Nativity scenes created by the many groups and clubs which use the Oasis Lounge.
Visitors will be welcome during the welcoming café space’s usual operating hours. As well as hosting activities throughout the week, the lounge operates on a donation-only basis and is open to all.
The minister, Rev Gill Hulme, said: “Pop in and see the cribs – there will also be a quiz trail for children.”
The church officially opened the Oasis Lounge in 2022, along with a host of other improvements as part of its mission to create a community hub and combat loneliness.
Gill said: “When we opened, we didn’t know how it would go, but we’ve been able to welcome people who are in temporary accommodation, which is pretty dire, and also people with learning difficulties.
“Some of those come with their carers, but some come on their own and have been able to become helpers.”
For the past seven months, Amy Farrer has been the church’s outreach worker, collaborating closely with David Perry, the manager of Holy Trinity Night Shelter and Community Outreach.
She said: “We want people to feel empowered while they are with us.”
Every Monday, between 10am and noon, the Oasis Lounge hosts a Memory Café for people with dementia.
Knit and Natter meets from 10am to noon on the first and third Tuesdays of the month with Craft and Chatter convening on the second and fourth Tuesdays. In the same time slot, Katie Callaghan’s Cards for Bravery meets when there is a fifth Tuesday.
A Bible study, prayer and fellowship group meets in the afternoons on the first and third Tuesdays of the month, with CAMEO (Come And Meet Each Other) from 2.30pm on the second Tuesday.
On Wednesdays, from 10am to noon, Isabel Hospice’s Compassionate Café welcomes visitors before A Special Cup offers games, newspapers and refreshments with a listening ear from noon to 4pm.
Every Thursday, the lounge is open for coffee and cakes from 10am to noon and Home Instead offers friendly support for unpaid carers at a Companionship Café from 2pm to 4pm.
Friday Froglets operates from 10am to 11.30am for pre-schoolers during term-time.
On Saturday, from 10am to noon, charities and groups run fundraising coffee mornings.
As well as these activities, the Oasis Lounge – an official Warm Space – welcomes all visitors from 10am to noon on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays and from 10am to 4pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
