Lighting up New Longton: Village turns itself into an advent calendar

Twenty four homes and businesses in the Chapel Lane and Station Road area have been selected to light up a window display each day of December, culminating in a Christmas Eve parade through the village.

Who came up with the idea?

It has been the idea of members of Hope Methodist Church and All Saints' C of E Church.

Carolyn Hothersall, a lay preacher at Hope Methodist Church, said: "Everyone in the village has been part and parcel of this, and it's working really well.

"On December 1 we began with Hope Methodist lighting up a window, then for the next few nights it was businesses in the village, because it was important they got lit up as soon as possible.

"Now we are on houses and it's mainly members of our congregation who have volunteered their homes."

The sequence of houses is listed on the churches social media pages, with each window taking a specific theme related to advent.

Each window will also contain a word, which, when put together, will form a Christmas message.

"It's the first time we've done it”, said Carolyn.

"It was the idea of a member of church who had seen it done elsewhere in the country.

"We've been working on it since September - getting the themes and volunteers - and we think it's going really, really well.

"A lot of people have been engaged by it and we're hoping that a lot of people from the village join in the Christmas Eve parade."

The times and route for Christmas Eve

A new window lights up each evening at 5pm, with sweets put out for the children and a collecting tin for Derian House.

It all culminates on Christmas Eve when a procession leaves “number 1” – Hope Methodist Church at 4pm and follows the trail around the area until guests reach and light up window “number 24” at All Saints’ Church.

People are expected at All Saints at 5.30pm, where they will be able to take part on a carols concert, drink mulled wine and eat mince pies.