A church in Burton has had an extra special Christmas present this year after it swapped its mismatched and broken nativity scene held together with Blu-Tack with a set of brand new carvings flown all the way from Zimbabwe.
St Modwen’s Church, which is situated in Burton’s Market Place, has received a specially-commissioned nativity scene carved from wood by an artist in Zimbabwe and carefully carried back to the UK.
Artist Benedick Mukwandavaka lives at The Ameva Mission near Chegutu, which has close links with St Modwen’s Church, and for many years carved wooden souvenirs for tourists to make a living.
But as political strife destroyed the tourist trade in Zimbabwe, Ben struggled to make ends meet, and when the congregation at St Modwen’s Church decided to commission a new nativity scene, they decided to employ his skills.
Pictured from left are Peter Halliday, Robin Trotter, Elizabeth Harris, Stella and Geoff Brown
Elizabeth Harris, a member of the congregation who lives in Repton, explained that she had bought carvings from Ben on previous visits to the mission centre and so when the church was looking to purchase a new nativity scene she thought one from Zimbabwe would be extra special.
She said: “I have visited Zimbabwe a number of times and bought a lot of carvings from him, such as miniature mud huts. I thought a carved nativity scene would be unique to the church. When I opened them, I couldn’t wait to show everyone. It is just a magnificent gift to the church.”
Getting the carvings back to the UK posed a challenge as they were too heavy to post, so friends visiting the mission from the UK carried them back in their luggage to Liverpool, and they were safely delivered to Burton in September.
The new nativity scene will be on show until early February
The figures are carved from the wood of the jacaranda tree – a sub-tropical species with beautiful blue flowers.
Robin Trotter, one of the church wardens at St Modwen’s Church, said that their old nativity scene was in desperate need of replacing and they are delighted to have this new set.
He said: “We had a very small nativity scene that was ready for replacing and were held together with Blu-Tack. We’ve been looking for a new set for years but not found the right one. To find something by an individual artist is really quite wonderful.”
The nativity scene will be formally blessed this weekend during the St Modwen’s candle light service with nine lessons and carols, due to be attended by MP Andrew Griffiths. The service will begin at 6pm on Sunday, December 18.
This is the brand new nativity scene for St Modwen’s Church in Burton
Anyone who would like a sneak preview of the nativity scene before Christmas Day can do so by visiting during the church’s opening hours or during one of the services.
The Midnight Holy Communion by candlelight will be held at 11pm on Christmas Eve, and Holy Communion will be at 11am on Christmas Day.
The church will also be open for anyone who would like to see the carvings from 10am until noon, on Friday, December 16, Saturday, December 17, and Christmas Eve. The nativity scene will be on show at the church until February 2.-.burtonmail.co.uk
