By Brenda Brockbank

“Why don’t we have a flower festival.... or a celebration weekend?” Shirley Oldroyd made a brilliant suggestion at a Fundraising Committee in March 2009. Members of the committee built the idea around celebrating what we do here at St Chad’s – celebrating faith in prayer, in our lives’ milestones; baptism, marriage and death.

Local schools were invited to contribute. We enjoyed the St Chad’s DVD and the beautiful display about angels created by Class 6 at Over Hall School. The Mother’s Union display celebrated marriage as well as local and worldwide work. St Chad’s Scouts had scrapbooks and examples of work.

Prayer was represented by a quiet area and an opportunity to pray among the visitors. J Club put on a display about Thazin, our new sponsored child in Myanmar and Vicky Edwards and Sandra Burrows provided a children’s craft workshop for the whole of Saturday morning. William played requests on the organ as well as a short recital. Ann and Stuart Lamb conducted tower trips all Saturday. Isobel ran a Traidcraft stall that raised a total of £100.55 over the weekend and at the MU Strawberry Tea.

At the heart of the displays were beautiful bridal dresses loaned by Zyra Bridal Wear of Delamere Street and displays of the weddings and christenings at St Chad of the Burgess and Noden families. Precious albums, and dresses from 1960s – 2001 and decades in between were loaned with generosity, and once on show created much attention and prompted memories for so many visitors. I would like to thank both families, for loaning their photos and dresses along with several other St Chad’s members who sent photos in for the display.

When we planned the weekend over a year in advance, we didn’t realise that the World Cup would begin on that Saturday evening. However, NOT everyone watched the match; instead we had a great concert from the Crewe Male Voice Choir, with a range of classic songs, Christian anthems and modern music, all sung in close harmony. Their oboe soloist played haunting melodies. – a rare treat.

Sunday’s worship featured a celebration of marriage, with some couples renewing their marriage vows, with a Songs of Praise evening service which celebrated great hymns and prayerful worship.

Oh – and I left the best till last- Shirley’s refreshments, which were on sale throughout the weekend. The best teas and lunches anywhere in Winsford that weekend!

The weekend aimed to show all that was best in St Chad’s life. To all those who helped in stewarding, making refreshments, in creating displays and reaching out to the community, II would like to say a huge thank you. Most of all, to Stuart Lamb, our Chairman, you kept us all on track and ensured the weekend was a success. Over the whole weekend, we raised £483.00.

Stuart Lamb also adds his thanks......As part of the C @ C weekend, the fundraising group wished that the event would be something different for our church family and the local community of Over.

Those of you who visited the church on that weekend, I hope would you agree, felt that the church looked good with all the displays, stands, photographs and time that the congregation gave. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank those who kindly lent their items for the use of display. Many thanks, to all, for an enjoyable and hard working weekend.