A COLOURFUL and dramatic image depicting Jesus’ family as refugees is the winner of the Bishop of St Asaph’s Christmas Card Competition.

The winning design, by Elan Jones, 10, from Ysgol Ysbyty Ifan in Betws-y-Coed, has been turned into hundreds of Christmas Cards which Bishop Gregory Cameron is sending to family, friends and colleagues around the world.

This year’s competition attracted more than 1,300 entries from 51 church schools across the Diocese of St Asaph. The theme was the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt.

The Bishop of St Asaph, the Rt Revd Gregory Cameron, said: “I think it’s splendid that all our 51 church schools will work with me in a competition to design a Christmas Card every year. It gives me a distinctive and beautiful card and showcases the excellent work that our church schools do in providing education for young people. This year’s winner Elan Jones has produced a very colourful and dramatic picture of the Holy Family’s journey into exile in Egypt. It’s a reminder that God shares in human suffering and is particularly close to refugees and those on the edge of society.”

Elan has received a prize of a book token, and a certificate along with copies of the card to send to her family and friends.

Prizes and certificates are also awarded to second and third place who this year are:

Second prize: Maisey Edwards (11 years of age), St Mary’s VA School, Overton

Third prize: Oliver Edwards (4 years of age), Ysgol Llansantffraid

Certificates are also awarded to designs achieving 'Very Highly Commended' or 'Highly Commended' status.

In previous years, Bishop Gregory has awarded prizes himself, attending special assemblies for the occasion. For the second year running, due to Coronavirus, this was not possible. Instead, the Bishop sent a video message of congratulations to the winner.

In the footage, Bishop Gerogory said: "[The winning design] is a lovely picture showing the Holy Family escaping into Egypt after learning about the threat from King Herod to their safety. The judges of the competition particularly loved the colourfulness of it and the colourfulness of the rising sun behind the Holy Family as they make their journey towards Egypt.

"I’m very happy to say that this card is now being sent to many different places around the world to my friends and colleagues in the church, also to members of my family and contacts I’ve built up I my ministry.

"It’s really good to be able to send a unique design.

"Thank you very much Elan for your design; thank you very much everyone for supporting the competition.”