A DARWEN church has announced it’s going to hold it’s first Christmas tree festival and is is inviting businesses, charities, schools and the community to get involved.

St Peter’s Church is to hold the festival in December and is inviting Darreners to come and decorate a tree to go on display in the church.

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The festival will also raise funds for the East Lancashire Hospice and Derian House Children’s Hospice as well as the church itself.

Rev David Stephenson said this event will be one of the ways in which the church tries to engage more strongly with a wider community as part of the Blackburn Diocese Vision 2026.

He said: “In this post-Christian age a large number of people no longer know what church is all about.

“There are a number of Christians that come here for services but this is also a public building and we want to show that we are inclusive and non-judgemental so that people feel they can use the building more.

“This is part of Vision 2026, which is a mission by the Blackburn Diocese to increase church attendances and attract young people.

“We want people to get involved in this festival and come and make some really imaginative Christmas trees that are personal.

“We wanted to support the East Lancashire Hospice and Derian House because of all the charities we could have chosen, we know that these change people’s lives locally at critical times, as I like to think we also do.

“We have so much going on over these four days and I hope it will received a fantastic response.”

It is hoped that around 60 trees will line the church with other activities and entertainment going on such as music, craft demonstrations and food.

At the front of the church will be trees dedicated to those who have had their christenings and weddings at the venue.

There will also be a third tree where the congregation will be invited to hang up tributes to loved ones who have passed away.

In August the church announced it was to launch a fundraising appeal to raise cash to repair its crumbling roof.

Rev Stephenson said: “We think it’s going to look like a winter wonderland.”