When Bangor becomes Bethlehem

Where will you find a live donkey, a baby Messiah, some Disney princesses and a room full of reptiles? Only at Bangor Elim’s Wonder of Christmas!

Before he flung Bethlehem’s gates open, pastor Gary Beattie spoke to Direction:

If you’ve ever wondered what Bethlehem was like when Jesus was born you could find out at Bangor Elim this month.

That’s because the Northern Ireland church is holding its annual three-day extravaganza, ‘The Wonder of Christmas’, giving visitors a tour of the town.

“It started off quite small around ten years ago as a script to tell the Christmas story to church and community families,” says church pastor Gary Beattie. “But it’s grown into quite a beast since then!”

The large church building is transformed into Bethlehem, where the story of the first Christmas is brought alive for up to 2,500 people. From Thursday to Sunday in early December, visitors come face to face with real live donkeys, sheep and all the nativity characters.

And while you might struggle to spot them in the original Bethlehem, there is also a Disney meet-and-greet with kids’ favourite princesses and superheroes, a train that tours the building and takes kids to visit Santa, and food vendors. Oh yes, and a reptile zoo too!

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