Advent windows heading for grande finale

Bishop Auckland’s colourful Advent Windows are into their last week of openings in the lead up to a Stories & Carols Walk on Christmas Eve.

Participants will be able to view all 24 windows and also hear some of the stories and sing carols associated with the stories.

The walk will begin at HairHaus Hair & Beauty, 9 Cockton Hill Rd at 10am and will finish with the opening of the final window at 11:30 at Forces Support Bishop Auckland, Unit 10 in the Newgate Centre.

The last week of openings featured stories from The Czech Republic, Mexico, Denmark, Turkey and Spain.

“It’s wonderful” said Clive Auld of Bishop Auckland Town Team, “we are all hearing Christmas stories we have never heard before!”

Czech headteacher Tomas Kostecka, who drove all the way from Leeds to open the St Wenceslas window created by Bishop Auckland College at Saks Hair & Beauty, commented: “We are a small country which is not often in the news and it is very pleasing that we are honoured in this way.”

Majken Medlicott from Denmark opened Cockfield Primary School’s depiction of Hans Christian Anderson’s Christmas tale The Little Match Girl at Trimmers Hair Design and was delighted that it “just so happened” that this took place on December 13th which is St Lucia’s Day in Denmark.

English people did open two windows, with the Mayor of Bishop Auckland, Councillor David Fleming opening The Grumpy Shepherd window by Aclet Close Nursery at Nip ’n Tuck in Fore Bondgate.

Kynren shepherd Shelly Gilson (below) appropriately opening the Shepherd’s and Angels window at Fifteas Vintage Tearoom who’s advent window was created by Bishop Auckland Methodist Church.

Coming up before the grand finale on Christmas Eve we have the following:

Wednesday 19th December, 11am @ Hair Haus (9 Cockton Hill Road) – the Austrian story The Cobblers Sons by Cockton Hill Junior School.

Thursday 20th December, 11am @ Image (136 Newgate Street) – The Flight to Egypt by St Chad’s Primary School will be opened by a Syrian refugee.

Friday 21st December, 11am @ Mutley’s Dog Grooming (141 Newgate Street) – The Grinch Who Stole Christmas by King James 1 Academy.

Saturday 22nd December, 11am @ The Post Office (Victoria Ave) – Papa Panov from France and Russia by ROAD Programme, Jack Drum Arts Crook.

Sunday 23rd December, 2:30pm @ Emilys (142 Newgate Street) – the Italian story Befana by Bishop Auckland Division Girl Guiding.

Missed one of the window unveilings?  Visit the Advent Windows page to see photographs of each of the Window Displays.

Read more on the Bishop Auckland Advent Windows 2018.