Nativity scene from Northamptonshire church's stained-glass window used for special Christmas stamp

Royal Mail will be using a Nativity scene from a Northamptonshire church's stained glass window for one of this year's six commemorative Christmas stamps.

An image of the Virgin Mary and Christ child within the stable from one of the windows at the Church of St James in Hollowell will be on the £1.45 stamp.

Vicar Allison Twigg said: “I am thrilled that the nativity window, from our little church here in Hollowell, has been selected to be a part of Royal Mail’s Christmas stamp collection.

"It is indeed an honour and will bring much-needed joy to our village community in 2020.”

The other designs come from churches in Leicestershire, Norfolk, Gloucestershire and two from Yorkshire.

The stained-glass windows showcase the extraordinary detail and craftsmanship of this highly-specialised decorative art, covering a range of eras, styles and technique, according to Royal Mail.

The Nativity is a common subject and from the 13th century onwards, scenes often focused on the relationship between the new-born infant Jesus and his mother, the Virgin Mary.

Traditionally, stained glass windows are assembled from pieces of coloured glass, held together with lead. The techniques of making stained glass have hardly changed since the Middle Ages.

Head of stamp strategy Philip Parker said: “Our beautiful Christmas stamps feature the Nativity as told through the artistry of different styles of stained-glass windows.”

The Church of St James was built in 1841 in the gothic style and is known for its beautiful stained-glass windows in the eastern apse of the chancel and the rose window above the west door.

The stamps are on sale from today (Tuesday, November 3) and will be available at royalmail.com/christmas2020, on 03457 641 641 and in 7,000 Post Offices across the UK.

In addition, around 1,000 retailers will stock Christmas stamp books this year.