A Posada for Newport

Whilst living and working in Hurst Cross, Ashton u Lyne, before we moved to Sourh Wales, I designed and developed an exhibition space in the South Transept of St John the Evangelist. The exhibition space started life for the Anniversary of the Magna Carta,then of the Battle of the Somme; 'Somme:Get involved'. Its aim was to encourage local people to take some ownership of the historical events, creating trenches and battalions of soldiers which formed a major part of the exhibition.

Once the respective exhibitions were finished, it left a void in the transept. I came up with the idea of creating a Posada, routed, not in 1st century Palestine, but in 21st Century Britain. The idea developed rapidly as the centre piece for a Christmas Tree Festival.

Why not Newport Cathedral in South Wales?

After negotiating where exactly the installation was to be cited, the young people in the choir became involved. They each decorated a house, gave it a number and these were added to the display. A number of adults contributed, laying the train track for the little train which was to stop at a local landmark on each Sunday in Advent. Thanks particularly to Carol Brown, who sculpted the cathedral and the replica of the bull and to Sallyanne Lightbown for taking charge of track laying and engineering the model train on which the Holy Family travelled around the city.

Many people have seen the installation and it has clearly spoken to them, adding another dimension to their understanding of the preparations before and the celebrations of Christmas. My thanks to the Dean and the staff at the cathedral for embracing this project. The Posada made the Church Times in the week before Christmas; a full account can be read on line at churchtimes.co.uk.

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