Mrs Greathead is producing four colourful metre-high embroidered wall hangings for the festival, inspired by the trees in Dickleburgh Churchyard. She will also be visiting the event on a regular basis to run stitching workshops exploring the concept of stitching and memory.

A former textiles teacher, Christina Greathead embarked on her career as an artist when she moved to Starston from Kent three years. She has been involved in the Harleston & Waveney Art Trail for the last two years and exhibits at Harleston Gallery. Christina has also just embarked on a Masters in Textiles at Norwich School of Art and Design.

“I have always been very interested in nature and used to do botanical paintings for fun. But working with fabric gives you more freedom. I went to Dickleburgh Church and was inspired by the magnificent trees in the churchyard. The wall hangings are dedicated to the redwood, holly, yew and lime trees. My sketches of the trees will be placed next to their respective embroidery.”

“It will be a great privilege to show my work in such a magnificent medieval building and complement the visual splendour of the Christmas trees. I hope that many of the visitors take time to do some stitching with me. I am very interested in the connection between stitching and memory. Items that we produce through knitting or sewing often have a great association with key moments in our past,” said Christina Greathead.

Now in its fourth year, 50 Christmas Trees in a Church will feature up to 60 trees. The event has a competitive edge, as each organisation that enters a tree has the chance to win £500 prize money for being voted best Christmas Tree by visitors, with 20 smaller cash prizes for runners up, along with four prizes for the best children’s trees.

The event will be open 10am to 7pm daily from Sunday, December 2 to Sunday, December 9 (close 5pm on December 9). Admission is adult £3.50, senior citizens and concessions £3, pre-booked groups £2.75, children free.

All money raised will be shared between Christian Aid and the parish churches of Dickleburgh, Pulham Market, Pulham St Mary, Rushall, Starston, Thelveton, Shimpling and Frenze.

Morning coffee, light lunches and teas will be served all day in Dickleburgh Church Rooms (next to the church). Christmas Crafts on sale.