It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Dalton as St Mary's Church launched its stunning display of trees.

Every year, the church has members of local organisations, clubs and groups decorate a tree for the display. Visitors are then invited to look around and donate money to their favourites, which is donated to a charity picked by the decorator.

The tradition has been going for over 20 years and has grown from a few trees to dozens since it was first started by Reverend Allan Mitchell.

The display sees a new theme every year. For 2023, the trees are all inspired by ‘Happy times and Nursery Rhymes’.

In preparation, a meeting is called to decide which rhyme or song each group should be inspired by, this ensures that every single tree is different.

A week before opening to the public, boards are fitted over the pews and electrics are worked out. Once the trees arrive from Goadsbarrow Farm they can be decorated with handmade ornaments.

As treasurer of St Mary’s Church committee, Sylvia Stoker organises the annual display. This year, St Mary’s is hosting 43 trees inside and five trees outside.

Each tree represents where it’s come from and who it’s raising money for – if you look at some of the details you can see groups have decorated in their own colours or have included a club symbol.

“Every single one is unique,” Sylvia said, “The display is amazing, everyone has put their whole heart and soul into their tree, it’s wonderful to see.”

Last year raised about £7,500 and saw between 4,500 and 5,000 visitors. In its heyday, the church displayed 67 trees, Sylvia estimates that over the years since starting the display, more than £120,000 has been raised for charities.

Money from the display will go to The Samaritans, Alzheimer’s UK, The Blood Bikers and to support the treatment of conditions like Polio, cancer, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson's Disease.

Local charities such as Great North Air Ambulance, Furness Homeless Support Group, Barrow Food Bank, St Mary’s Hospice, FGH Youth Oncology Unit and MIND in Furness are also represented.

“We even have a few memorial trees”, Sylvia said, “It’s a nice way for parents who’ve lost a young person to be able to involve them at Christmas time.

“In a way, the Christmas tree display is a very simple idea but the amount of thought, time, effort and work that goes into it makes me very proud to be a part of it.

“We will hopefully get lots of visitors, people are very generous, I’ve seen children bring in a big bag of pennies they’ve been collecting all year!”

Dalton Church Christmas Tree Display is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through December between 2pm and 5pm, plus the 26th and 27th. Entrance is £1, with children five and under going free.