TWO churches came together to celebrate Christmas with a nativity scene using real animals today.

In an event reminiscent of a scene in hit television sitcom The Vicar of Dibley, churchgoers at South Chingford Methodist Church were joined by members of St Edmunds Church, in Highams Park, and animals from Brook's Farm, in Leyton, in recreating the story of Jesus Christ's birth.

Churchgoers dressed as Mary, Joseph, shepherds and the Wise Men, and posed with a goat, a sheep, a chicken and a rabbit as other members of the congregations sang Christmas carols.

Pat Andrews, a member of the South Chingford Methodist Church, helped to organise the event.

She said: “Christmas is not just about shopping and we are trying to bring the Christian basis for the festive season back into the high street.”

Dave Wilson, who played Joseph during the three-hour scene, said: “The animals are wonderful and it has been great to see people interacting.”

Passers-by took a break from their Christmas shopping to take a closer look at the animals.

Teresa Glanville, of Harold Road, Chingford, stopped to watch the scene with her daughters Jessie, seven, and Sophie, six.

She said: “Jessie and Sophie saw the animals and we just had to stop.

“It is a really good idea, usually you just see Santa and the sleigh, but having a nativity scene with real animals is really nice.”

The live nativity will remind many of the scene in the Dawn French comedy The Vicar of Dibley, in which the character Alice, playing Mary, actually goes into labour.

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