A RECORD number of organisations will boost the Christmas spirit when St Decuman’s Church, Watchet, holds its annual Christmas Tree Festival from Thursday to Sunday, December 2-5, culminating with a Christingle service at 4pm.

Organiser Tony Knight said: “The festival was the brainchild of Sheila Clavey, and when it started in 2008 we had trees from 15 organisations and later the event was extended to include a Christmas fair.

“This year, we will have 46 organisations, making it, numerically, possibly the best supported event in Watchet.”

The main fair takes place on the Saturday, December 4, but stalls will also be open on Thursday and Friday - with the church open from 10am to 5pm each day. Tea and coffee will be served throughout, and soup and other food from noon on Saturday.

This year’s festival theme is ’A Christmas Card or Cards’ and new participants will include Watchet Hedgehogs, Watchet Boat Owners and Croft House, which will be joining local uniformed youth groups, churches, schools, Mothers’ Club, the WI, the Phoenix Centre, Watchet Museum Society, Under 9s Watchet Waves Football Club and Watchet Twinning Society, among others.

Local charities including the Butterfly Book Awards, Elliot’s Touch, Forget Me Not Cafe and Stand Against Speed 4 Bethany are also taking part - making it a truly community event.

The numerous stalls will include Christmas decorations, gifts, children’s clothes, knitwear, cakes and preserves, books and toys etc plus a £1 tombola - every ticket wins a prize - plus the annual hamper raffle and other prizes.

During the festival, John Whellams will be playing Christmas music on the organ and Eliza Pelling - guitar - will provide carols. The flute group will also play carols early on Saturday morning.

Tony Knight said: “The main church doors will be left open to circulate fresh air and masks can be worn. There will also be an outside campfire carol service at the church at 4pm on December 19 when the tower will be floodlit.

“Thanks to the generous support of many, the tower will be lit throughout Advent and the Christmas period until Epiphany - dedications will appear in the December Parish Community News and on the We Love Watchet Facebook page.”

The Christmas trees will remain in St Decuman’s until after the New Year and will be lit for all Christmas services.