Time for the Doctor to bring the Bible to life
The magic of Doctor Who may be over for millions of TV viewers this summer but it will live on for hundreds of local children.
The latest series of the cult BBC1 show ended on Saturday but it has inspired a vicar to use the exploits of the time-travelling Doctor to bring the Bible to life.
A variety of children's summer holiday clubs are being run by churches at the end of this month and throughout August, giving youngsters fun places to spend their long school break.
To help inspire the youngsters at the holiday club run by St James's Church in Emsworth, the Rev Tom Kennar will dress up as the Doctor.
Taking his cue from the Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant, incarnations of the famous Gallifreyan, the curate will spend the week-long event travelling in time to meet Biblical characters, including Moses, David, Jonah and John the Baptist.
He said: 'Any child who watches Doctor Who will be familiar with the idea of time travel, so they'll understand going back in time to meet biblical characters. I can't promise there'll be any Daleks or Cybermen but we will be meeting some of God's heroes of the Bible, and some genuine villains.
'I watched Doctor Who myself in the Tom Baker era and I watch it now with my daughter so it's great to be able to play the part myself.'
About 120 children will get to watch daily episodes of Doctor Who alongside water play, cooking and craft activities at the club, which runs from July 25 to 28 in St James's School in Emsworth.
The biggest holiday club in Portsmouth's Anglican diocese is the Denmead Activities and Bible Club (Dabs), which is in its 26th year and attracts about 300 children from the village.
Dabs is running this year from August 8 to 11, with several marquees set up outside Denmead Community Centre for children to enjoy drama, music, craft, art, water fights and games. The club is for five-to-11-year-olds. The older children will get the chance to go on trips. It ends with a family service at All Saints' Church on August 13.
sue.wade@thenews.co.uk
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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