Virtual Nativity - Introduction

Church of England in Saddleworth Nativity Scenes

As Christmas approaches, churches, homes, and town centres throughout the Christian world portray the birth of Christ with Nativity scenes.

Throughout history, Mary, Joseph, the Christ child, shepherds, the Magi, a donkey, sheep, and cows have been portrayed in mediums such as statutes, carved ivory, wood carvings, porcelain figurines, shaped clay, and paper cut-outs. Some works of art are elaborate, others simple.

Other ways of portraying the Nativity include paintings, stained-glass windows, Christmas cards, and puppets; while in 1223 St Francis of Assisi recreated the first live nativity scene with humans and animals cast in the Biblical roles.

The most detailed biblical account of the birth of Jesus is found in Luke’s Gospel, which records that Mary:

“… gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”
Luke 2.7

This Virtual Nativity focuses on using carvings, in stone or ivory, to depict scenes from the story of the Nativity. Paintings are also used to supplement the story.

It might seem an unusual statement but the story of the Nativity extends well over 700 years from prophecies in the Old Testament to the birth of Christ, the flight of the Holy Family to avoid Herod’s jealous wrath and their return home.

Stone and ivory carvings used to depict scenes stem from the 3rd Century through Medieval times to paintings, some old and some relatively new.

This Virtual Nativity relies on the phrase, ‘Every picture tells a thousand stories’ and aims to offer a pictorial re-telling of the great Christmas story.