'Living nativity' aims to draw children to abbey

A nativity trail where actors tell the story of Christmas around a cathedral's grounds hopes to inspire children to use and be comfortable inside the abbey.

Hundreds of people are expected at St Albans Cathedral in Hertfordshire, which will see visitors meet shepherds, wise people, angels, innkeepers and a tyrannical King Herod.

It is the first time the trail has centred entirely around the cathedral and starts at the top of the abbey's orchard, before the nativity scene is revealed in a barn at the west end.

Cathedral guide, Stephen de Silva, said it was "hugely important" that children felt the building was for everyone, regardless of their beliefs.

At the 14 December event, children can pick up a passport and get it stamped at every stop.

Along the way they can meet angels and shepherds vying for pole position, a Roman centurion guarding Herod's palace and the king himself.

They can question the innkeeper and test the knowledge of the three wise people, before entering the stable to meet baby Jesus.

Last year, a similar trail took place at locations around the city.

Mr de Silva said it was "really important" to "provide ways of telling a story in all kinds of interesting ways, so that all people can appreciate it".

"[The cathedral's] core purpose is to talk about the importance of the Christian faith, what that means to people and how it's guided them through the ages, so introducing children to the story of the nativity is great," he said.

"This is such a cool way of doing it - stopping off and meeting the characters."

He added that even if the children never became part of the congregation, it was "hugely important" they felt the building was for everyone.

"I think that if they feel that the cathedral is somewhere that they can just walk into without thinking twice, we've achieved something," he said.

Youth chaplain, Calum Zuckert, said: "We are currently seeing growth in all areas of our ministry to children and young people in the cathedral.

"Through school services and engagement, the work of our education team, our choirs and our outreach and pastoral care, we see many hundreds of children each week."

He added it was "a thrill to bring the story of Christmas alive for all ages, through Christingle and crib services, in our outreach to the community, and especially in our Living Nativity".

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