Hitchin Nub News is renowned for the quality of its columnists as well as the quality of its reporting.

Whether they be on community, sport, nature or politics, our stable of must-read trusted contributors is growing by the day.

So, read on for first weekly column of 2022 from the churchwardens at St Mary's Church, in the heart of our town.

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Those of you who have just taken down your decorations on Twelfth Night (January 6) and put everything away in the attic, may be shocked to learn that they could rightly be left up for another month or so.

According to some, everything should stay in place until Candlemas Day, which is around February 2.

For avid readers of this column it will come as no surprise that Christmas is not over yet because, as we know, December 25 was just the beginning of everything.

The Advent crown, with a candle lit each week in December, and the stupendous Christmas tree are still in place at St Mary's, so you will have a chance for a last look over the weekend.

Near the East window is the Crib, and three figures have been placed next to it.

St Mary's is continuing to celebrate the birth of the Christ child, and Epiphany, linked to the first week in January, will be the theme of the services on Sunday.

The word comes from the Greek, meaning 'appearance' or 'manifestation', and refers to the visit of 'wise men from the East', or Magi, described in the Gospel of St Matthew.

They had travelled 'following a star' to discover the holy infant. It was assumed that there were three visitors, because this was the number of gifts which were brought; gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Later traditions described them as Kings, coming from different regions of the world to see the universal wonder. Caspar, from Europe, Melchior from Asia, and Balthazar from Africa.

The Church has two beautiful and historic pictorial versions of the story of Epiphany, as well as the modern wooden Crib made by a fellow Churchwarden.

One is in the 19th Century stained glass of the great East window, and another is a huge and magnificent oil painting of 'The Adoration of the Magi' which hangs high up over the North doors.

This painting was given to St Mary's by John Radcliffe of Hitchin Priory in 1774 to form an altar-piece (he was redecorating!)

It was later moved to its current position when the East window was installed a hundred years later, and it's a bit hard to see, but it was the only other space big enough, despite being in the largest Church in Hertfordshire!

Our very own masterpiece shows the three Kings, magnificently dressed, and with attendants following, presenting their gifts in the stable to Mary, Joseph and a baby Jesus (we can't see any wee donkeys but there are horses).

By tradition it is a Flemish 17th Century work, possibly from the studio of the artist Rubens in Antwerp, and it is

similar to more than a dozen versions of the scene he produced, sometimes helped by his students. Another 'Adoration' by Rubens can be seen in King's College Chapel, Cambridge, where it still stands near

the altar.

You can learn more about what the story of the Wise men's journey means for us at our monthly shorter service for everyone, especially younger folks, at 10 am on Sunday.

For a last magical, candlelit Christmas service for this year you can join our Carols later at 630pm.

Seasonal music from St Mary's Choir and bible readings in the beautiful surroundings of the Church are a wonderful antidote to winter.

If you can't be there, you can see it live or recorded on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/stmaryshitchin

Further details of our services and events on our public Facebook page @StMarysChurchHitchin