Christ Church, Little Drayton, has raised thousands of pounds towards its new community area after a summer fete last Saturday.
Families enjoyed a day of events at Little Drayton Play Area, Buntingsdale Road, including children’s fancy dress and cutest pet competitions, country dancing, a vintage vehicle display and a variety of stalls.
The fete was organised by the church’s outreach and fundraising committee, with more than £1,500 raised from the day so far.
Derek and Barbara Hill of Shrewsbury Road, Market Drayton, said: “The fete was a brilliant idea, even better without the rain, and we met friends who we hadn’t seen for quite a while.
“We read about it in the Advertiser and thought we would come and support the church.”
Lily Lamb, from Widnes, Cheshire, said: “I grew up in Market Drayton and found out about the fete from my mum who’s a member of Christ Church.
“I remember church fetes on the village green from my childhood and it was really good to see the church getting involved in the community and giving a welcome to families.”
A large crowd welcomed Christ Church vicar Father Hywel Snook after completing a 274-mile bike ride from Cambridge to Market Drayton which has so far raised more than £2,000 for the church from sponsors.
Father Hywel said: “The whole thing with the bike ride and fete was really about stepping out in faith and believing they were going to happen.
“It was really great at the end of the ride when we had about 15 people of all ages who came with me from Loggerheads.
“The fete was absolutely fantastic, we had more people volunteering than ever before and they all did extremely well.
“I was very proud of them because they’ve never done anything like it before and the best thing about it was that all the different stalls showed the talent of people from the area.”
The fete also included a release of around 200 memorial balloons by the Bishop of Shrewsbury, the Rt Revd Mark Ryland.
He said: “I was very glad to be at Christ Church on a wonderful day of celebration and in particular to welcome Father Hywel back from his 274-mile marathon.
“He’s a man of great energy and it’s good to see the church thriving under his leadership.”
By Winston Brown
