St Margaret’s Ilkley Christmas Tree Festival and appeal raises £4k+ for Martin House

Monday, 10 March 2025 09:17

Fr Alex Crawford, vicar of St Margaret’s, Ann Lewis, Kath Broscombe, Bernie Baldwin’ Mary Weir (Martin House Children’s Hospice volunteers), Rebecca Taylor, Regional Fundraiser at Martin House Children’s Hospice

St Margaret’s Church in Ilkley has announced £4,442.25 has been raised through its annual Christmas Appeal and the Ilkley Christmas Tree Festival.

Held on 6 and 7 December 2024, the funds will go directly to support the invaluable work of Martin House Children's Hospice.

The Christmas Tree Festival, a highlight of the festive season in Ilkley, featured a spectacular array of stunning Christmas trees beautifully decorated by 30 community organisations and local primary schools. Almost 2,000 visitors supported the event at St Margaret’s alongside local choirs and performers. The festival was free to attend with funds raised from donations and proceeds from the fabulous cakes and treats baked by St Margaret’s volunteers.

Fundraising for Martin House Children’s Hospice continued over Christmas at the wonderful Christmas services attended by visitors and the congregation of St Margaret’s who gave generously to the Christmas Appeal.

Fr Alex Crawford, Vicar of St Margaret’s, expressed his gratitude for the community’s generosity:

“We’re so pleased to be able to make this donation to Martin House Children’s Hospice, and we give thanks for the crucial support they provide for families, as some members of our congregation know first-hand. I would like to thank all our visitors and members of the church community for their generosity in giving to our appeal in December. May God bless all staff and supporters of the Hospice, and all whom they serve.”

[Martin House Children's Hospice Christmas Tree at Ilkley Christmas Tree Festival 2024]

Rebecca Taylor, Regional Fundraiser at Martin House Children's Hospice, shared her thanks for the support from visitors to Ilkley Christmas Tree Festival and to St Margaret’s:

“We’d like to say a big thank you to everyone involved in organising, creating the stunning display of Christmas trees and, of course, the visitors to Ilkley Christmas Tree Festival – and to the congregation of St Margaret’s Church for raising such a wonderful amount for Martin House through their fabulous festive fundraising activities.

“Ilkley Friends of Martin House volunteers enjoyed supporting the festival – a highlight was helping children write wishes and hopes to hang on to their beautifully decorated Christmas tree.

“We are so grateful to the community of Ilkley for their generosity. Our specialist care gives children with life-limiting conditions and their families’ vital support and time to make precious memories together, which is only possible due to supporters like the local folk of Ilkley and St Margaret’s Church.”

The success of the Christmas Tree Festival and St Margaret’s Christmas Appeal is a testament to the spirit of community and the generous hearts of the people of Ilkley, whose donations will help ensure that Martin House Children’s Hospice can continue providing vital care to children and their families during some of their most challenging times.

The next Ilkley Christmas Tree Festival will take place on Friday 5 and Saturday 6 December 2025 at St Margaret’s Church.