Advent Windows model making begins

For the third successive year, Bishop Auckland Town Team are bringing Advent Windows to the town.

Schools and other community groups, under the direction of local artist Laura Brenchley, have started to make 24 life-size models which will appear in 24 shops leading up to Christmas Eve.

On that day there will be a parade where all 24 models will be collected from the shops and taken to St Peter’s Chapel where they will all be assembled into a very unusual alterNATIVITY scene. They will be on view there for all to enjoy over the holiday period.

Advent Windows this year is also an opportunity to celebrate the return of the famous paintings of Jacob and his Twelve Sons by the Spanish artist Zurbaran which are on view again after the reopening of Auckland Castle on 2nd November.

Models are being made by schools of all 13 paintings and the ‘Zurbaran Boys’ will be cast as shepherds, wise men and other characters from the nativity story.

The first window will actually open at the Auckland Tower two days early to coincide with the Bishop Auckland Town Council Christmas Switch On event on Friday 29th November.

The first model to be revealed will be Joseph, appropriately made by St Joseph’s RCVA Primary School in Coundon.

The window will be opened by Dr Bob and Steffa McManners who have a close association both with the school and the Zurbaran paintings.

Pupils from Cockton Hill Infants’ School have also started work on their Advent window.

The children’s role was to use collage techniques of pasting paper cuts to decorate the character ‘Levi’ from one of the famous Zurbaran paintings which are in the Long Dining Room at Auckland Castle.

They worked with artist Laura Brenchley and our model will later become part of a life size nativity scene in St Peters Chapel.

The project is funded by Northern Heartlands and other generous donors and is also supported by The Auckland Project.

For more information contact David or Pam Pott on 01388 600063 or email badventwindows@gmail.com.