Primary school children across Derbyshire are being invited to design a Christmas card for the Rt Rev’d Dr Alastair Redfern, Bishop of Derby, in an autumn term art competition.

The competition is being advertised to schools this week and will invite children to create a design under the title ‘What Christmas means to me’, encouraging them to think creatively about how to express their perception of Christmas through art.

The Bishop will consider designs that are traditional, modern, abstract, comical or serious and will then use the winning designs for his own personal Christmas cards to send to his family, friends and vast range of colleagues throughout Derbyshire, the UK and the World.

Bishop Alastair said: "Children’s art can be inspiring, surprising, pertinent and full of wonder - just like the Christmas story itself. I am looking forward to sharing their creativity with around 1200 of my contacts through Christmas cards."

The competition will have two entry categories for different age-groups, so the Bishop will choose two winning designs, both of which will be used. The winning children will be given a pack of their designs printed up as cards to send to their own family and friends and will also receive books and book tokens from the Bishop as part of the prize. There will also be one runner up from each entry category and they will receive book tokens. The Bishop will personally present the prizes at the winners’ schools.

The closing date for entries is the end of the autumn term - October 20th. A selection of some of the entries will be displayed in Derby Cathedral over two weeks from October 23rd to November 6th which includes the half term holiday week. Winners will be announced in late November or early December.

The competition is aimed primarily at the 110 Church of England primary schools across the county, but is open to all other primary schools in Derbyshire if they wish to enter. Details of how to enter can be accessed here.

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