Real babies help add to Nativity joy in Trory and Killadeas

Often, the key role of the baby Jesus is played by a doll – but not this year in the Grouped Parishes of St. Michael's Trory, and Priory Church Killadeas, where the role was played by the youngest member of each congregation.

In St. Michael's, Trory, baby Isla Johnston – daughter of Stuart and Lauren Johnston – played the role of baby Jesus on December 17, surrounded by other parishioners in the traditional Nativity.

Stuart, Isla and Lauren Johnston following the Nativity play in St. Michael's Trory

The traditional Nativity taking place in Priory Church on Christmas Eve saw baby Lex Regan – son of Robbie Regan and Vicky Clarke – play the role, around ten minutes after he was baptised in the church during the same service.

Baby Lex Regan, pictured with his big brother Logan, mum Vicky Clarke, and dad Robbie Regan.

Rector for the joint parishes, Rev. Mark Gallagher, explained how the idea came about.

He said: "I picked up the idea from my boss whenever I was a deacon in Ballinamallard (Magheracross Parish Church), Archdeacon Brian Harper.

“They had a large youth [element in the congregation] and they would have had a lot of baptisms, and the most recently born child within the parish would have been used for the baby Jesus in their Nativity play.

"There have been a lot of baptisms at the moment, which is a brilliant thing even within small parishes, and we had two children of baptism age to play the baby this year.

"Within small parishes it would be unusual. This is the first year since I've been ordained six and a half years ago that I have done more baptisms than funerals. It is not the norm," he added.

The grouped parishes have now gained a reputation for quirky Christmas events ever since they adapted to the circumstances surrounding the Coronavirus pandemic.

In 2020, they held a live Nativity outside when buildings were unable to facilitate their plans, and held a family farmyard Nativity across a ten-acre site.

In the same year, a twist on the classic ‘carols by candlelight’ service occurred when a ‘carols by runway light' service was held.

And in 2021, the Nativity was an 'all-age Nativity' where both children and adults dressed up, some in full-blown costumes, others with a nod to the traditional roles.

In 2022, a Nativity treasure hunt took place in both churches, the diocesan Advent Carol Service in Killadeas, and Priory Church hosted a Christingle Service of the Light.

Imagination plays a key role in this, says Rev. Gallagher. "I've always had a fascination with creativity, imagination, and an 'I can do that' mentality. It's just part of me.

"Having come from a decade working in science labs, my Masters in Theology dissertation was even on how science and faith are often very similar, and imagination was one of the main links."

It can only be left to the imagination to see what will be in store for 2024.