Norton’s festive season began with the launch of this year’s Love Norton Advent Trail on 29 November, with a live switch-on at St Mary’s Church. The event, led by Stockton Council Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture and local Councillor Steve Nelson, was accompanied by a performance from a 40-strong choir of pupils from Crooksbarn Primary School.
Running alongside the trail, the St Mary’s Christmas Tree Festival opened on the same day, welcoming more than 1,700 visitors over its 10-day run until 8 December. The festival featured trees beautifully decorated to reflect the character of local businesses and community groups. Notable displays included Blackwells Butchers’ 70th anniversary tree, adorned with festive pork pies and sausages, and a unique ‘Christmas dinner tree’ created with vegetables grown in the St Michael’s Norton community allotment.
These community projects have their roots in St Mary’s ongoing commitment to the Partnership for Missional Church initiative, launched in 2016. In response to community feedback highlighting a perceived distance between residents and their parish church, worshippers at St Mary’s prayerfully explored ways to build stronger relationships within the village.
Inspired by the message of Luke 10 and its call to connect with "people of peace," the church opened its doors and hearts to engage meaningfully with local residents. Through conversations grounded in Gospel hope, St Mary’s has forged lasting partnerships with schools, businesses, Stockton Council and various voluntary organisations, to breathe life and joy to the heart of Norton.
Months of preparation go into both the Advent Trail and Christmas Tree Festival. Planning begins as early as January, with over 2,000 volunteer hours dedicated to creative workshops, liaising with local businesses, teachers and uniformed organisations.
Visitors are invited to join follow-up events and Christmas services at St Mary’s, and each year, new worshippers are welcomed into the church community.
