'Community Spirit' Flower Festival

'Community Spirit' Flower Festival at St Andrew's, Dearnley and Smithy Bridge

Fire, police, ambulance . . . all will be involved in the Flower Festival at St Andrew's Church, Dearnley this coming weekend, September 26 and 27, to mark the church's 120th anniversary.

All three public services are donating relevant floral displays as part of a festival involving the wider community and built around a theme of 'Community Spirit'.

A fire engine from the Littleborough station on Whitelees Road will be parked outside the church on Saturday and the opening ceremony at 11am will be performed jointly by Councillor Ashley Dearnley and a representative of GM Police, Chief Inspector Chris Hill.

Ada Pratt, of the church's social committee, has worked tirelessly over many months to put the two-day anniversary celebrations together.

Floral displays from St Andrews's and Smithy Bridge primary schools, Lakeside Nursing Home, several shops, public houses and hairdressing salons, child-minding groups and local scouts will also decorate the church.

Other organisations from within the church, such as the Friendship Group, the Mothers' Union, choir, Sunday school and Guides will also be 'saying it with flowers'.

Rev Canon Sharon Jones said: "It's going to be a fabulous weekend for St Andrew's and it's all about history, community and 'belonging'.

"We're celebrating 120 years and the service of people who have gone before us, but we are also calling out to the community we serve here and now in 2015.

"People who may come only occasionally 'belong' to this church for many reasons. They may have been baptised or married at St Andrew's, or have some other reason for 'belonging'.

"We have a varied programme of events and services over the weekend and we would love to see the whole community involved."

A display of church memorabilia, prepared by Alastair Fitton and Janice Halstead, will help to tell the story of St Andrew's since 1895 and over the weekend daffodil bulbs will be on sale in memory of loved ones and these will be planted on Sunday morning in the shape of a cross on a plot just outside church.

Tea and coffee will be served all weekend and specific events are as follows:

Saturday:

• 11.00am, official opening by Councillor Ashley Dearnley and Chief Inspector Chris Hill, supported by St Andrew's school choir and band. Tea and toast available.
• 3.00pm, Wardle Junior Blast brass band. Afternoon tea.
• 7.00pm, Wardle Anderson Band in concert to celebrate the church anniversary and also the reign of Queen Elizabeth, our longest reigning Monarch. Admission £2 on the door. Bar and nibbles.

Sunday:

• 9.30am, Sung Eucharist with breakfast, followed by planting of the anniversary daffodil bulbs.
• 3.00pm, Holy Trinity School choir and afternoon tea.
• 5.00pm, Evensong with Archdeacon Cherry Vann and the Rev Canon Sharon Jones to celebrate a weekend of community spirit and worship.