TWO charities are sharing the £316 raised at St Lawrence Fair in Crediton on Saturday, August 12.

Organised by the Friends of St Lawrence Chapel which is off Threshers, funds were for the chapel as well as Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders).

Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999, MSF is a leading independent humanitarian organisation for emergency medical aid, providing relief to the victims of war, natural disasters and epidemics in more than 75 countries around the world.

A Grade II listed building, the chapel was built in around 1200 and had a variety of uses since, including as three cottages in relatively recent times.

For some time it was the chapel for Queen Elizabeth’s School with an entrance through a private garden.

The chapel and its well cared for little garden, are both open to the public with services being held regularly. These are especially worth seeking at Christmas.

The Friends of St Lawrence is looking towards having heating throughout the winter in the chapel. Services will continue in September and October with communion at 12 noon on the first Wednesday of each month and evensong at 6pm on the second Sunday of each month.

The garden is open all the time, offering a delightfully peaceful retreat from the bustle of the street or office.

An art exhibition is being held in the Chapel on Saturday, September 9, with funds raised going to Devon Historic Churches Day raised. The following day funds raised will be for the chapel. The exhibition will be open from 10am to 4pm each day, teas and coffees on offer.

The fair included a well-stocked cake stall, bric-a-brac and a most excellent book stall as well as the teas, several people making the most of the fine afternoon and taking their tea into the garden.

You will find the chapel down a short pathway opposite Early Birds Nursery.

Sue Read