News / Festive lights
Massive angel descends on cafe in time for tea
Hundreds of people flocked to Sea Mills Square to see the switch on of the latest addition to the area’s Christmas celebrations.
“Where have all these people come from?” someone in the crowd asks. “It’s Sea Mills, this is what happens, people just come,” replies another.
There’s a babbling of excited voices, anticipation and a long queue for hot drinks, cake and hot dogs in the run up to the main event.
In the hours before, a huge Archangel Gabriel has arrived seemingly from nowhere and found a seat on on top of the Cafe on the Square. He’s obvious from the main road and passengers on the top deck of passing buses can almost look him in the eye.
Gabriel is the brainchild of cafe manager Heidi Simpson who has wanted to light up Sea Mills Square over Christmas for some time. It’s been paid for with a crowdfunded campaign supported by local residents and businesses who wanted it to happen.
Heidi and Charli Simpson and Bob Guscott are part of the team at Café on the Square, atop which the archangel now sits – photo: Mary Milton
The actual figure is made by Cornish blacksmith Tris Kessell, a childhood friend of Heidi’s. It’s constructed from 4mm mild steel, galvanised to keep him shiny for many Christmases to come.
After an enthusiastic countdown, cafe customer Gabriel Lodge flicks the switch that lights up her Archangel namesake. Much applause is followed by trumpeted carols, including of course, Hark the Herald Angels Sing.
Sea Mills’ own Archangel seems almost to float in the night’s sky above the cafe. Appropriately it’s situated in the path between two churches, the Methodist Church which is used as a community space, and St Edyth’s an active Anglican church which has its own traditional illuminated star of Bethlehem on the tower for Christmas.
Across the road from the cafe the local mini-museum in a phone box is also lit up and displaying decorations made by local children.
The Sea Mills mini-museum has also been lit up for Christmas – photo: Bob Guscott
Mary Milton is reporting on Sea Mills as part of Bristol24/7’s Community Reporters programme, aiming to amplify marginalised voices and communities often overlooked by mainstream media.
This initiative is funded by our public, Better Business members and a grant from the Nisbets Trust.
Main photo: Mary Milton
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