Two winning designs by Wrexham pupils selected for the Bishop of St Asaph’s Christmas Card

Two festive designs created by pupils from a Wrexham church school is to feature on the front and back of the Bishop of St Asaph’s Christmas Card.

The winning designs, both from St Joseph’s Catholic and Anglican High School, were selected from more than 1,400 entries into Bishop Gregory’s annual Christmas Card competition.

This year the theme was Angels, based on their appearance in the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ birth. All the entries have been shown in a gallery in St Asaph Cathedral, and will feature in a special Christmas service filmed for distribution online to every church school.

First prize has been awarded to St Joseph’s pupil Chloe Juarana for her design of a glamorous angel overlooking a colourful Bethlehem, which will be on the front of the card. For the first time, a second design, a festive border, will feature on the back of the card.

The border’s creator is fellow St Joseph pupil, Aleksander Korizynski.

Bishop Gregory said: “Each year I’m overwhelmed not only by the amount of entries, but by the variety of techniques, the attention to detail and the wonderful use of colour used to bring the biblical Nativity story to life.

“It is a real joy and pleasure for the judges to go through all the artwork sent to me.

“The designs give a real sense of Advent and show the artists understanding of this year’s theme of Angels.”

In previous years, Bishop Gregory has awarded prizes himself, attending special assemblies for the occasion.

Due to Coronavirus this is not possible this year. Instead, the Bishop has sent a video message of congratulations to the winners.

The front of the Christmas card, designed by St Joseph’s pupil Chloe Juarana

In it he says: “In Esgobty we have 550 copies of your Christmas card design and I’m busy writing them to send out across the globe.

“We’ve got a prize for both winners, which will be given by your class teachers in a moment, and we’ve also given you some of the card themselves in case you want to send them to your family and friends.

“Well done and thank you for supporting me in the Christmas card competition.

“As we approach Christmas we remember the birth of Jesus Christ and I pray that as you gather with your family this Christmas you may know the gift of the peace and love of God to brighten your day and to lead you safely into 2021. Very good wishes to everyone.”

This year, another special prize has been awarded to Millie Stokes from Ysgol Llandysilio.

Her angel design caught the judges’ eyes and has been used on the front cover of the diocesan magazine, Teulu Asaph. Several entries also feature in the magazine to illustrate angel-related articles.

In the main competition, second prize was awarded to Rhiannon McInnes, a year six pupil at St Mary’s School, Ruabon.

Joint third prize was awarded to Daniel Warburton, aged ten of Ysgol Nannerch and Jessica Blackford, a year three pupil at Ysgol y Plas, Llanelian.

All the prize winners receive a certificate and book token. Certificates are also awarded to designs achieving Very Highly Commended or Highly Commended status.

The Diocese of St Asaph is part of the Church in Wales, an autonomous Province within the worldwide Anglican Communion of Churches.

The diocese is a community of more than 200 churches and 51 church schools, covering the counties of Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Wrexham and parts of Gwynedd and Powys.