Spalding's Broad Street Methodist Church team knit more than 500 angels to spread festive joy

A team of knitters created an incredible 517 mini angels, spreading words of ‘good news and joy’, to distribute over the Christmas period.

Using a countless amount of yarn, the ‘Knit and Natter’ group members at Spalding’s Broad Street Methodist Church were joined by church members and friends in knitting the angels.

The angels each have a little message around their neck, with words of good news, and were given out free of charge to people during the church’s recent Christmas Tree Festival.

“We were enthusiastic about knitting angels as a means of showering God’s love around the community of Spalding, via our Christmas Tree Festival and carol services,” explained the Rev Frances Ballantyne, minister at Broad Street Methodist Church.

“Although the knitting pattern was the same, it was so obvious that angels were being knitted in a rainbow selection of colours.

“What a lovely gift, with words of good news for the recipient of the angel. It was a very successful endeavour, hoping that all 517 angels were given good homes at this season of hope, and would be a small token showing the love of God.”

The Knit and Natter group has been running for 19 years, originally set up at the St Thomas’s Road Methodist Church by founding member Gill Brooks.

Gill still knits with the group, which moved from St Thomas’s Road, when that church closed 18 months ago.

The group has had links with the Chappell Centre in Spalding, for adults with learning disabilities, and supports the charity Christian Hope, as well as knitting clothes and blankets for an Armenian charity.

Yvonne Achurch, for the group, said: “We started in the middle of September and have used quite a bit of wool! The idea for the angels came from one of the church members. She is originally from Sunderland and one of her relations gave her an angel. The angels were put around the church during the Christmas Tree Festival for people to find.”

The ‘Knit and Natter’ group meets 10am-noon on Fridays. Simply pop along or call Yvonne on 01775 723558.

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