St James’ Church Prepares for Tenth Annual Christmas Tree Festival in Thornton
November 6, 2025St James’ Church in Thornton will host its 10th annual Christmas Tree Festival from Saturday the 22nd to Saturday the 29th of November 2025, with organisers expecting this year’s event to be the largest to date.
The festival, which has grown significantly over the past decade, will feature over 50 decorated Christmas trees, each representing a different charity. Participating organisations this year include Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice, PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide, and Candlelighters, a charity supporting families affected by childhood cancer.
In 2024, the event attracted more than 4,500 visitors, with attendees coming from across the Bradford district to view the displays and support the causes involved. Since its inception, the festival has raised more than £50,000 for a variety of charitable organisations.
Speaking ahead of this year’s event, Rev. Harry Gwinnett, Vicar and Church Leader at St James’ had this to say:
“2025 will be the 10th year of our annual Christmas Tree Festival, and it’s been brilliant to watch it go from strength to strength. During the week of the festival, the whole church is transformed into a winter wonderland, and we welcome people from all walks of life to come and enjoy it. We’re proud to have raised over £50,000 for charitable causes since the start, and we hope that number will keep rising.”
In addition to the tree displays, the festival will include performances from local choirs and schools, and a Santa’s grotto for children.
The event is supported by several local businesses, including Howden’s Tong Street, Drake and Sons Builders, HF Martial Arts, Blakeley Solicitors, Kev Marshal Electrical, The Happiest Magician, Da Rocchio Ristorante, and Victoria G.
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