The UK’s largest Christmas ad has been unveiled. The ad, which is taller than the Great Wall of China (40 feet high) and the length of three buses (106 feet long), is part of the church backed ‘Christmas Starts with Christ’ campaign which runs until Christmas.

The ad shows three contemporary images of the nativity. Members the public are being asked to say which of the three images they like best by voting at www.chritmasnearyou.com

• The first image is an atmospheric oil painting of the nativity set at a bus stop painted by, internationally acclaimed artist, Andrew Gadd. It has the simple tag line ‘Christmas Starts with Christ.’
• The second image shows an ultrasound scan of the baby Jesus - while still in the womb - complete with halo and the tag line: ‘He is coming.’
• The final image shows Jesus as a 40 feet high plastic doll called Godbaby – with the tag line: ‘He cries. He wees. He saves the world.’

Millions of people are expected to see the ad which will be fixed to scaffolding on the side of St Ann’s church, Manchester. The church forms part of St Ann’s Square at the heart of the City’s shopping and commercial centre. 

Francis Goodwin, from Churchads.net, said: “We asked some of the top advertising people in the business to help us break through all the commercialism to challenge people, inspire them and communicate the true message of Christmas to millions. Each of these striking images will speak to different people in different ways. Each one is engaging in its own right but we would love people to vote for the one that speaks to them most at www.christmasnearyou.com.”

More than 200 roadside ads, bus ads and hundreds of radio ads will appear across the UK in the ten days before Christmas. The UK’s biggest ad has been sponsored by the Diocese of Manchester in partnership with The Church of England Communications Unit, churchads.net, St Ann’s Church Manchester and Churches Together in Greater Manchester.