Christmas Decorations
We decked our halls, dining rooms, living rooms, apartments and the outdoors for the Christmas season! Each year residents, volunteers and staff take special care decorating Westminster Canterbury Richmond for the holidays and enjoy welcoming guests to our home. Many elves are very busy decorating our entire campus in early December so that everyone can enjoy holiday activities in a warm, inviting place.
We have over thirty Christmas trees! In our Tower lobby, we have a beautiful tree by the fireplace that has two themes. In the beginning of December, resident knitters decorate the tree with beautiful handmade caps, scarves and mittens that they donate to the Salvation Army through the Christmas Mother program. This year our Westminster Canterbury Christmas mother Ardieth Pierce and her elves knitted 450 caps, scarves and mittens for adults and children-in-need. On December 7, Ann Parker Gottwald, Richmond Christmas Mother, joined us for a special ceremony in front of the tree and received these beautiful gifts from residents. After the event, ornaments donated by residents over the past forty years decorate the tree. Each year we invite new residents to place an ornament on the tree to add to our permanent collection.
In the hallway of the Tower, the Chrismon Tree is decorated with ornaments representing monograms of Christ. Residents created the Chrismons on the tree.
We also have special crèches. A beautiful Boehm Nativity donated by The Rev. Ray Inscoe is located across from the Montague Chapel in the Tower. A French-designed manager scene is in The Marketplace, and a Goebel manger scene is in the Rice Assembly.
More than five dozen wreaths and ten bolts of garland decorate the entrances and exterior lights throughout the property and light poles in the Courtyard Apartments. Decorated banisters at the Cochrane Pond, Avalon balcony and the fifth floor Courtyard Apartments’ balconies create a festive outdoor welcome.
On the Tower Rooftop, the Traditional Star has served as a north Richmond landmark during the Christmas season since 1976. Our seasonal gift to the community, this beacon welcomes travelers on I-95 as they head into Richmond.
There are more decorations to see on and around campus. Our residents, children, volunteer and staff ensure that the spirit of the season abounds at Westminster Canterbury!