Christmas cribs are a huge success

The free entry event at St Mary’s Church, Church Place, raised more than £700 for the maintenance of the churchyard.

Money was collected from the sale of local produce, Christmas cards and 2012 calendars with historic pictures of the village.

The Rector of Pulborough parish church, Father Paul Welch, said the event was ‘amazing’.

He added: “I am really grateful for people’s generosity in supporting our efforts to keep the churchyard as a lovely place to visit and for anyone who lives or dies in Pulborough to be buried.”

Event organiser Ann Kaiser said: “We could not believe the variety of treasured cribs that people had and were prepared to allow us to display. Although entry was entirely free and there were free teas for all we made money through people’s generosity and the things we sold.”

Over 60 cribs were on display including one from Africa carved by local tribespeople, one from Jerusalem carved in olive wood, a crib from the 1600s and modern plastic ones made in China.