Region’s churches feature on nativity stamps
THE ROYAL Mail is marking the build up to Christmas with the launch of nativity stamps, including two from Yorkshire churches.
It has created a set of six stained- glass nativity scenes featuring All Saints Parish Church, Otley, West Yorkshire, and St Columba’s Church, Topcliffe, North Yorkshire.
The stamps are said by the Royal Mail to “showcase the extraordinary detail and craftmanship of this highly specialised decorative art, covering a range of eras, styles and technique”.
Other windows from the following churches are included in the set include St Andrew’s, East Lexham, Norfolk; St Andrew’s, Coln Rogers, Gloucestershire; Church of St James, Hollowell, Northamptonshire; and Christ Church, Coalville, Leicestershire.
The stamps are on sale from today and will be available at www. royalmail. com/ christmas2020 and by phone on 03457 641 641.
Otley vicar, the Rev Graham Buttanshaw, said: “I’m delighted that our nativity window will be on Royal Mail’s Christmas stamps this year. We are seeing and hearing so many dark and troubling stories in the current crisis.”
Area Dean, the Reverend Fiona Mayer- Jones, said of St Columba’s window, said: “In our small North Yorkshire village church we’re blessed by having a glorious window by one of the country’s leading Pre- Raphaelite artists, Edward Byrne- Jones. The rich colours bathe us as we worship week by week; while the image reminds us that God meets us in our daily lives through the birth of Jesus Christ.”
She was delighted the window would feature on stamps.