The Christmas Grotto was first launched in 2001 at the then Spreydon Baptist Church (now Southwest Baptist Church), thanks to the creative minds of Edward Warrington and Linda Hills. The concept was birthed from a nostalgic trip down memory lane, recalling cherished aspects of their childhoods.

I still remember the inaugural grotto, set up in the auditorium. We were on a tight schedule, with the launch slated for Sunday and a wedding being held at the church on Saturday. We didn’t gain access to set up until after 3pm. The mad rush to get everything ready and running before church commenced at 9am the following morning was a daunting task. Some people were there almost all night, but we did it. Now, even though setup takes a week, the thrill (and stress) of watching it come together remains unchanged.

In 2016, the grotto went on hiatus for a year to give the team a well-deserved rest. Sadly, that marked the end of the grotto – at least until now. After years of planning and toiling behind the scenes to resurrect the grotto, we are thrilled to announce its comeback.

This endeavour is no small feat, and we’re constantly seeking enthusiastic people to join us on this adventure. If you’re interested, we’d love to hear from you! Please complete our volunteer form, or simply stay tuned for updates!

Nathanael Hills – CEO