Methodist Church says it with flowers
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One of the unfailing delights of the Spring Bank Holiday is the certainty that the Christchurch Ladies’ Supper Club will pull off a minor miracle with their flower festival.
The theme of this year’s event was “In appreciation.” Each of the twenty skillfully designed and executed groups of floral arrangements in the Methodist church in Springfield Road commemorated a gift which has enriched the church.
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Hide AdThe Easter Cross was picked out in green, yellow and mauve against a background of foliage.
The church porch, in memory of Beatrice and Wilfrid Carey, held a vertical arrangement in red and green.
The glass vestibule screen, etched in 1983 by the late Cedric Gillham, and the vestibule table acquired when a church at Hastings closed and with its candlesticks crafted by John Cackett had arrangements with Harvest Festival cornucopias.
The main window was the gift of Marshall Jay when the church opened in 1907 while the church banners beneath were a family effort, created by Joan Turnwell, Norah Dadswell and Sue Parkinson. The complementary floral arrangements featured lisianthus, carnations and roses in rich profusion.
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Hide AdThe St John the Baptist window, in memory of Marshall Jay, blended blue sea holly with red roses.
The sanctuary chairs were crafted by the late Douglas Noble. Eucalyptus leaves set off pink and white lisianthus and pink roses and carnations.
The church’s memorials to members who gave their lives in the two world wars were graced with roses.
Stars topped white displays topping the tall candle-holders which were the product of a bequest by Kathleen French.
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Hide AdBeneath the pendulum clock commemorating the Offen family and brought from the old Belle Hill Chapel when the congregations merged in 1938 were eucalyptus with pink lisianthus, roses and carnations.
The “Father Willis” organ, which came from a large country house, was adorned in orange, green and red arrangements.
The lectern, given in memory of Flight Lieutenant Ernest Marchant had an arrangement at its base while a host of individual arrangements set off a variety of gifts at the back of the church.
Other gifts including the Glastonbury Chair once owned by hymn-writer Dr G. Matheson, the hymn boards, the Advent stand, the Powerpoint system given by Alan Malpass and the church logo designed by David Cox were given the floral treatment.
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Hide AdThe crowning glory of the festival was, as usual, the communion area with furnishings crafted by the late Douglas Noble and a host of gifts by church members set off by two vertical arrangements of white and mauve offset by a central pillar of white roses.
Throughout the Bank Holiday weekend, visitors’ enjoyment of the flower festival was enhanced by music on keyboard and harp. Even the piano was decorated with flowers and sheet music. Refreshments, plant and other stalls in the church hall complemented the floral displays
The proceeds of this year’s event will go to Canine Partners Assistance Dogs and the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance in addition to assisting with church projects.
Pictures by Margaret Garcia.
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