THERE may not have been any room at the inn for Mary and Joseph, but there is more than enough room for them at St Mary’s Church Lydiard Tregoze where the nativity scene is playing out in more than 100 different ways.

Revd Captain Clive Deverell has lifted the lid on his own collection of more than 100 individual nativity scenes which he has carefully put on display in the church for all to enjoy. Even the church’s Christmas tree is bedecked in individual decorations featuring the scene of Jesus’s birth in the stable.

From scenes played out in Playmobil, to tiny displays hidden inside a hollowed-out gourd, his collection depicts the nativity from scenes collected from as far away as South America to those closer to home in Germany.

“I like collecting them and have done so since I was in my early 20s, said the Revd Deverell, as he looked around the church which is now home to baby Jesuses of all shapes and sizes. “I think it is important to tell the story of Jesus at Christmas,” he added.

“There are many from Peru, some are incredibly small and there is one that fits inside a matchbox. Then we have the more modern Playmobil one. They all vary.”

All manner of types of wood have been used to carve the figures, while there are also figures immortalised in plastic, another captured in glass, while the popular knitted set also makes an appearance. A flock of knitted sheep also festoon the pews.

Helping Rev Deverell set up the final nativity scene by the alter in the church were pupils from Oliver Tomkins Junior School. Head teacher Rhian Cockwell said pupils had been very excited to be coming up to the church in groups to help with the setting up, and had already picked their favourites.

She said: “It is important for us as a church school – especially at this time of year – for the children to come up to the church and really bring it back to them the tru meaning behind Christmas, I think sometimes you can get too caught up in the commercialisation of Christmas.”

Visitors to the church have the opportunity to vote for their favourite nativity set, with the winner announced at 4pm on Christmas Eve. The nativities will be on display until Tuesday, with the church open every day from 10am until 4pm.