MANCHESTER — Members of the First Parish Church say they just wanted to bring the Christmas story to life this holiday season.

The plan was to have a live Nativity scene — complete with a manger and people playing the parts of Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus — setup on the Town Common as part of the church's Christmas Eve family service. This was the first time the church, which sits on the Town Common has proposed such a display and a real donkey was even secured to add to the scene.

But town officials have essentially told the church there's no room at the inn — or, in this case, a place to have a religious display like a live nativity scene on town property.

Manchester selectmen have denied the request from the church, saying the proposal didn't provide enough details and could potentially pose legal issues for the town.

Selectmen Chairman Susan Thorne, along with Selectmen Lee Spence, Bryan Gubbins and Mary Hardwick voted against the request at the board's regular meeting last Monday, while Selectman Thomas Kehoe chose not to vote after the other four rejected the request. Kehoe did not give a reason for his abstention.

"There were some of us that thought it was inappropriate to allow a religious display on the Town Common," Selectmen's Chairman Sue Thorne said in an interview. "And there really wasn't enough information to make a fair decision."

Caroline Cheshire, a member of First Parish, came up with the idea to have this live Nativity displayed on the Town Common in front of the church as a "surprise" for the children and adults coming out of the church's 5 p.m. family Christmas Eve service. The idea, she said, was to bring alive the story of Christmas that they just heard about during the service. The display was planned for only about an hour, while families left the first service and people began arriving for the second service, slated for 7 p.m.

"It would have been a wonderful thing to see the childrens' faces walking out the service," said Cheshire, "and be able to see Christmas through childrens' eyes."

During the Selectmen's meeting last Monday, however, Spence mentioned some of the legal issues the town could potentially face.

"Some of these issues have become huge in some towns," said Spence. He also said if the town allowed the First Parish to use the Town Common for a religious display, there might be other requests from other religious groups.

During the debate, Kehoe said he believes there is a difference between having a display on town land and a town sponsored event.

Gubbins mentioned that the church shares the Town Common, and the town should be able to work with the church.

The First Parish church, which dates to 1809, was once owned by the town and used for many of the town's religious, political and social gatherings. The church purchased the building in 1844, but the church only owns 2 feet of the land around the church, said the Rev. John Hughes, the church's pastor.

Gubbins said he believed the proposal outlined by the church for the live Nativity scene lacked details. The proposal was a written request to selectmen; no representatives from the church were present.

"I would be more apt to vote for this if I had more information," he said.

Cheshire said she would have been at the meeting if she knew it would have been such a sticking point.

Cheshire pointed out that the Manchester Division of the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual Christmas-by-the-Sea event on Dec. 5 and 6. That event draws crowds for the arrival of Santa Claus by boat, and Santa later takes a ride on a town-owned fire truck. The event logo even features a drawing of the First Parish steeple wrapped around a wreath.

"I was saddened that these sorts of issues have gone so far," Cheshire said.

She noted that the live Nativity scene was simply meant to be a positive presentation for the congregation and visitors on Christmas Eve.

"It seems a shame (for) people who chose to go to church on Christmas Eve," said Cheshire. "It is hard to believe anyone would be offended."

Both Cheshire and Hughes, however, said they respect the board's decision. They added that, if the church wants to have a live Nativity scene next year, they will come up with a more detailed proposal to bring to the selectmen.

Jonathan Phelps can be reached at 978-283-7000, x3447, or via e-mail at gt_reporter@gloucestertimes.com.