Unwrapping Christmas: Sacred Symbols with Richard Taylor

Following our wonderful Knowledge Drop with Richard Taylor in September, he has agreed to host a special session exploring the symbology of Christmas in our churches, chapels and meeting houses.

Join us from 1-2pm on Tuesday 9 December 2025.

You'll be able to ask questions and recieve a link to watch back the recording.

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This event will raise funds for the work of the National Churches Trust, supporting churches, chapels and meeting houses across the UK.

Christmas is the richest season of the church year for imagery and symbolism.

In this special session, Richard Taylor explores how churches have depicted the Christmas story for centuries - from angels with trumpets to shepherds and kings, from cribs and mangers to the star of Bethlehem itself.

Discover the layers of meaning behind the Nativity scene, how artists conveyed the wonder of the Incarnation, and why Christmas symbols continue to inspire awe today.

You’ll discover how these familiar scenes are full of hidden meaning.

Step into Christmas, as revealed in our churches.

Whether you’re a curious visitor, heritage enthusiast or lifelong churchgoer, this one hour session will transform the way you see stained glass, carvings, wall paintings, and architectural details. Learn how to read the centuries-old visual language used to express theology, hope, power and mystery.

This is not a dry history lecture - it's a vivid journeys into meaning, symbolism and story, filled with insights from Richard’s decades of work as a writer and broadcaster (How to Read a Church, BBC’s Churches: How to Read Them, Songs of Praise).

Don’t miss the chance to see familiar things with completely new eyes.

What you’ll learn:

• A toolkit for decoding architectural and symbolic elements
• Understanding of how sacred spaces reflect shared beliefs, politics and local identity
• Insight into the stories conveyed through craftsmanship and iconography that most visitors overlook
• Practical tips for visiting churches