Nativity Collection

Merry Christmas! Now is a great time to visit the Nativity Collection. You will find it in the lower level of the church and it is open whenever the church is open. Any group, large or small, can arrange a tour, or visitors can use a taped description of highlighted sets. There are also printed descriptions of some sets.

Algoma Boulevard United Methodist Church is home to a unique Nativity Collection. First, it is one of the largest collections in the entire world, 1,000 sets. Second, it is permanently displayed and is open year round. Third, all 1,000 sets were gathered by one person, a former church member, Mildred Turner. Miss Turner, a kindergarten teacher from Omro, passed away in 2007.

The collection began as a response to the death of her mother. She pledged not to allow depression to overcome her spirit, and thinking about Jesus birth and his saving grace lifted her spirits. “I feel God pushed me to begin this collection,” Miss Turner said. “Otherwise it would have been impossible to find so many sets in such a short time.”

The collection contains depictions of Christ’s birth that range in size from five feet tall to smaller than your thumb. They come from every corner of the world and reflect a myriad of cultures. Sets are made of every kind of material, including wood, porcelain, precious metal and marshmallows. The collection includes the unsophisticated work of children to masterpieces of artwork. It is breathtaking to see how many different expressions there are of the holy event.

Donations of nativities are not accepted from the public, because the unique collection is the work of one person.