DAILY NEWS

Festival celebrates the church mouse

Visitors to one of Wales’ largest parish churches are being invited to join in a mouse hunt among the aisles and organ pipes.

From a bishop to bellringers, there are 400 knitted mice taking part in a full range of activities at St Giles Parish Church in Wrexham, this summer, including rocketing down a zip wire from the church tower this weekend (August 17).

The unique installation is the creation of talented volunteers from the church community, inspired by the success of their dramatic Armistice Centenary poppy display at the church last year.

Following the success of the knitted poppy installation for Armistice centenary last year, volunteers and community groups from the Church have created a series of quirky new installations featuring over 400 colourful mice depicting various scenes from life within the Parish Church.

‘Busy as church mice’

The Vicar of St Giles, the Revd Dr Jason Bray, said the mice were a fun way to show the variety of activities at the church. He said, “St Giles’ must be one of Wales’s busiest churches: in fact we often say we’re as busy as church mice, so we thought we would create a festival which brings people of all ages together, and celebrates what we do and what we are. “

Each of the groups in the church designed their own display – including the Babes in the Pew, the parent and toddler group, and the Memory Cafe for people with dementia.

Dr Bray added, “Our mission is to be a visible and active Christian presence in the heart of Wrexham and the mouse festival showcases the different groups and activities in the church. I think we were spurred on with the momentum and energy created from last year’s poppy display. This festival though, is designed to be fun for all ages, and is not just for children! We have already had lots of visitors and the response has been really positive.”

Visitors can go mouse hunting at St Giles everyday between 10am-4pm. The festival family fun day takes place on Saturday (August 17) when there will be a chance to set the mice free by launching them in rockets on a zipwire from the top of the church tower (11am-3pm).

The installation ends with a pet service on September 1 to which all pets are welcome, even cats!


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