WHEN members of Holy Trinity Church in Amberley started assessing how much money needed to be spent on repairing the church, they didn’t expect the bill to exceed £50,000.

But there again – they didn’t expect their recent festival to raise more than £16,500 towards those repairs.

"It’s just wonderful," said churchwarden Jane Foreman. "That amount will enable us to start on urgent roof work as well as meaning we’ve a sound basis for applying for further grants."

The special fundraising weekend included a flower festival, open gardens, a treasure hunt, a photography exhibition and a hog roast, as well as a concert by the renowned organist and composer David Briggs, and a curry night hosted by Sharyn O’Flynn, landlady of the Black Horse, Amberley.

"People came from far and wide to enjoy the events and the visitors’ book is a sight to behold," Jane said. "One couple was visiting from Pakistan! Others came back because this was the church they’d been married in. Of course, many came from Amberley itself, meaning it was a fantastic community weekend."

One of the highlights was the flower festival, organised by Rosemary Lea and other Amberley church flower ladies, with help from the Flower Guild of Minchinhampton Church. All sorts of local groups contributed arrangements, including the village school, the playgroup, the scouts and Amberley Amblers.

"Everyone had thought their contribution out so carefully. The Royal British Legion had even taken up the carpet and laid turf; it really did epitomise a corner of a foreign field very movingly," Jane Foreman said. "I would estimate that more than 200 man-hours went into the flower festival as a whole.

"I can’t thank enough everyone who contributed, from Di Rowe, who organised the popular open gardens, to Lucy Offord of Tobacconist Farm in Minchinhampton, who donated the pig for the pig roast – we sold out within the hour! There are countless others, too, whose help has been very much appreciated.

"People enjoyed the festival so much that they’re already asking if we’re going to do the same next year!"

- If anyone would like to donate to the roof repairs, please contact Jane Foreman on 01453 833028.