A CHURCH is stepping outside the boundaries of the traditional Christmas advent calendar with a digital display of images from around the world.

St Mary’s Church in Church End, Walthamstow, will launch its exhibition, ‘Adventus: Another World is Possible’, to end the year on a note of optimism.

The project curated by St Mary’s Arts Collective will see a different digital image projected onto the south-facing wall at St Mary’s every evening until Christmas.

One of the curators of the exhibition, Mr Cameron Conant, said: “Lots of big events happened around the world this year like the refugee crisis, the UK leaving the EU, and Donald Trump being elected.

“Then there were the events in France and the Brussel bombings.

“Advent is the season which leads to Christmas and it means something is coming and the display is a reflection of these events to the community.

“It features images such refugee children and a Kenyan man getting cataract surgery.

“It is eclectic and very diverse.”

Schools and community group in the are also contributed to the project, which was designed by artist Gary Stewart.

Rev Vanessa Conant, Rector of St Mary’s Church, said: “Advent is a time of anticipation, not only in terms of anticipating the birth of the Christ child, as the ancient story is re-told and remembered, but also of anticipating a future time when wrong is made right and love wins out.”

The first image of the project will go on display at 6pm on Thursday, December 1.

The opening evening will feature music by Johnny Hoyle and candlelit history tours of the church.