Churches Together in Birstall in association with Bishop St Methodist Church are making a series of giant nativity puppets to tell the story of Jesus’ birth at Christmas Lights switch-ons and other events this year.  This is the story of their creation.  Rachel Parkinson, Minister at Birstall Methodist, writes:

For the last four years, Birstall Youth Cafe on the School Lane playing fields has been opening its doors to local youngsters every Wednesday and Friday.  Last night Anne Crosby, the Curate at St James, and I took along some puppet-themed activities to set alongside the table-tennis, pool and general good-natured hanging about.  We took fabric pens to decorate a robe for the third King / Wise Man and had another go at making papier mache beads.

Here’s the first glimpse of Joseph with the team from St James, Birstall, who brought him to life

Sylvia and Eileen having some fun whilst making the costumes for the Mary and Angel Gabriel puppets

Our Mary puppet was the first head to be made.  She was the work of Birstall Girls’ Brigade, who originally made her as “Gladys the Land Girl” for the Big Lunch they prepared for the church in the Summer.  It had a 1940’s theme.

Since then Gladys / Mary has had her lipstick toned down (too many people couldn’t cope with the idea of Jesus’ Mum with bright red lips!)   But she’d also lost her multi-coloured hair and become rather startlingly bald.  However, she is now very demurely veiled, save for her dark fringe, care of work by Daphne and Sabina from St Theresa’s Roman Catholic Church in Birstall.