THE annual Exhibition with Flowers held at Crediton Parish Church, which ended yesterday, Thursday, June 6, featured eye-catching floral arrangements most focusing on the theme “Colours of the Wind”.

The wind theme for this year’s festival – invisible yet powerful, came from a song in a Disney animated film “Pocahontas”.

Wind has many meanings including air, breath and spirit and of course the flowers provided a mass of colour.

Those who visited the Flower Festival were invited to “fly high and fly fast” with the Red Arrows in diamond nine formation.

The Red Arrows appeared at the Torbay Airshow during the festival.

Visitors could also “Ride on Air” by trike and bike, consider the quality of our air with “Lungs of the World” and “Lungs of the City”, contemplate “Mindfulness” in the quiet of the Lady Chapel with a “Candle in the Wind”, practise their playing skills with “Air Guitar”, “Blow your Horn” to make music with brass bands, and consider the spiritual significance of the coming of the Holy Spirit through wind and fire.

Every year the festival attracts visitors from across the South West to view the floral displays, presented in an entertaining, colourful and creative exhibition, designed with familiar blooms as well as more exotic species.

The annual Crediton Parish Church Flower Festival is a major fundraising event for the ongoing maintenance and upkeep of the town’s fine 15th Century Grade 1 listed building.

Crediton Parish Church is rare, as the people of the town actually own this church, having bought it from King Henry VIII, and is thought by some to be one of the finest parish churches of its kind in Devon.

There was an opportunity to view the historic Governors Room and the Bell Tower.

Special events during the festival included a Concert by Tedburn Community Choir, a Songs of Praise led by the Rev Matthew Tregenza and a rousing finale concert with Crediton Town Band.

The Summer Breeze Café operated during the festival in the Boniface Centre, where the work of Newton St Cyres Art Group members was displayed.

If you would like to get involved with next year’s Exhibition with Flowers, which will run from May 30 to June 4, please contact Stella Stephens on 01363 775170.