CREDITON Parish Church Christmas Tree Festival, held from Thursday, December 2 to Sunday, December 5, has been hailed as a resounding success.

Almost 3,000 people went along to view the impressive displays of 50 real trees decorated by local schools, charities, clubs, societies and businesses in the magnificent interior of Crediton Parish Church.

The amazingly decorated trees, every one different, were a delight to see and brought a real sense of Christmas celebration.

Covid secure arrangements to view the trees was conducted with efficiency by a fantastic team.

The Festival Co-Ordinator Stella Stephens worked very hard to make the event happen and was thrilled with the result.

She explained: “We had a total of 2,957 visitors attend and most comments were about the trees which featured sunflowers and pom-poms.

“We held two wonderful concerts with Decibelles and Etchechuria, wonderfully candlelit with Christmas songs and carols, which raised £147 for Hospiscare. 

“On the Saturday the North Creedy Choral Society performed Schubert Mass in G (first half). We were entertained in the second half with carols and also some hilarious short stories.

“On the Sunday the festival closed with a Family Carol Service, which was BSL signed. We learned about the story of Babushka and finished with ‘O Come all ye Faithful’.”

Refreshments were served in the Boniface Centre and there were also stalls selling Christmas cards and gifts.

An art exhibition was admired in the Boniface Centre and trees, made from milk bottle tops, on the end of the pews in the church were made by the church group, Sister Act.

She added: “I am delighted that the majority of the trees, when finished with here, are heading off to Holsworthy Church for their Christmas tree festival starting on Wednesday, December 15.”

Stella added that there had been some great comments made about the Tree Festival by people who went along, including: “It’s not Christmas until I have been to the Christmas Tree Festival” and also, “Why isn’t it on longer?”.

Mel Stride, the MP for Central Devon, was one of those who attended the Festival.