St Michael

About Our United Benefice Crib service

The crib service was started around 26 years ago. It was introduced by the inspirational Ilonka Aldersley, Reader & wife of our then Vicar, The Rev Ian Aldersley. The Aldersleys’ had not long been in the parish and were doing a great job of introducing like-minded people to other like-minded people & equipping us with skills we didn’t know we had.

Many kind people donated material for costumes; more was bought & some clever seamstresses from throughout the Benefice made costumes. Every costume was made using the same template. Except the embroidered costumes of the Wise Men, which I believe actually came from, ‘The East’. People donated, beautiful curtains for cloaks, pretty scarves, jewellery & toy sheep. Animal faces were drawn & cut out of card and decorated. These ideally suited the younger ones. The very little ones generally like to be a sheep or a donkey & wear a mask. Still a favourite today. Children were & still are encouraged to come in their own costumes & over the years many costumes have been made/donated & added to our original collection. We still have the original crowns that were made all those years ago. These are carefully mended when necessary and stored very preciously.

Initially we met in church three times after school in the two weeks before school broke up, to give children opportunity for a ‘run through’ and the chance for us to get to know the children & for the children to choose a costume, prior to the event.

It all began with a small, dedicated group of young mothers & their children. We had two big bags full of costumes and after the event, Ilonka would take everything back to the Rectory where she would wash and iron where necessary and put it away at the bottom of her airing cupboard ready for next year.

The crib service (along with other events) soon grew in popularity as did its wardrobe, which now fills 5 Useful Boxes! Plus the smaller boxes for crowns, sheep, Wise Men’s gifts & service leaflets.

Before the pandemic we generally had around 200 bums on seats & once or twice with the amazing Fiona & Phil respectively, we have had nearly 250!. It is very satisfying to have a packed church with standing room only.

As the popularity of the Crib Service grew, so did its wardrobe and for many years it was stored at Osmaston church, but after lockdown costumes had got so damp because we had missed two years, (2020 & 2021) that they all needed washing & ironing ready for 2022. So, it was decided that they would be better stored in a centrally heated home again.

It is always an exciting time with the children arriving in church all at once & all needing to be costumed at the exact same time! & it is so lovely to see children grow & come back year after year with their parents and their grandparents.

Touching to see mothers who used to take part in the service themselves, bring their own children to take part.

We are well blessed by the wonderful but small band of dedicated helpers; mothers, fathers, grandmothers & aunts who join us year after year, after year. And even more wonderful to rejoice in our young helpers & young adults, some having played almost every part, now coming as helpers & even still taking part from time to time.

Last year grandma, mother & tiny tot were all in it together. This year is very special indeed a boy who has been part of our crib service is now our organist. Jonathan Baker, a wonderfully talented young man.

I thank you all, because of your enthusiasm & inspiration, Thanks to you the Crib Service is thriving. And I feel sure that the Rev Bex our amazing new Vicar will be a further inspiration.

On rare occasions we have had a precious real live baby taking the part of Baby Jesus. This always makes for an extra special service. In 2011 Baby Jesus was Evie Crouch at only 6 weeks old (grandma sitting just inches away taking part in the tableau) then in 2022 we had Robin Wilton at 6 months, whose father did the same. Mostly though baby Jesus is a doll belonging to whoever plays Mary. [we do have a reserve doll in a box for ‘just in case’ ]

We loan a knitted Nativity set, along with Christmas Story books to a different family every year. If your family would like to borrow it this year please get in touch.

For 10 years or so, a member of our congregation frequently visited Salalah in the Middle East. Bringing us fresh frankincense and myrrh. We placed a piece of each in little gold boxes, giving one to every child that took part. I wonder who still has theirs?

Lastly, I would like to thank the parents for the time they take to so carefully fold costumes after use & place them back in their box before giving them back. Thank you for bringing your children. And considering what you have to do over Christmas it splendid that the Crib Service is an important part of your Christmases.

We have been told so many times that it is ‘not’ Christmas without the Crib Service.

The Crib service in its simplicity is surviving the test of time.

There is a problem though, but one so easily solvable ‘Every girl eagerly awaits playing the part of Mary’ & of course she will one day, when she is the right age (10 or 11 years). But time passes so slowly when one is a child & on at least two occasions to save disappointment we have had two Mary’s because, well why not?. Love came down at Christmas

We appreciate knowing as early as possible who would like to take part in the service in any way at all.

Linda Mead

Linda.mead@outlook.com

St Michael

St Michael

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Holy Communion at St Michaels in Shirley

Holy Communion at St Michaels in Shirley

Crib Service

St Michael

St Michael

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Holy Communion at St Michaels in Shirley

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