THE recently-held 14th annual Crediton Parish Church Christmas Tree Festival, was as always, a huge success.

A Grand Opening, held for the first time this year, took place at the church on Wednesday, December 5 when all the tree lights were officially switched on and visitors enjoyed listening to carols sung by children from Hayward’s Primary School Choir.

The festival was open from Thursday, December 6 to Sunday, December 9 during which time almost 4,000 visitors were welcomed to the church.

During the festival 75 stunning Christmas trees illuminated the church, each one uniquely decorated and to a high standard by local businesses, charities, groups, individuals, organisations and schools.

Festival organiser, Stella Stephens said: "The Christmas Tree Festival Committee members would like to express their thanks to all the volunteers who helped - without the help of each individual person the festival couldn’t happen.

"Thank you so much to everyone from within the church community, church Governors, the two community champions from Morrisons and Tesco and those from Crediton and further afield (as far as London) who volunteered.

"There are some individuals and groups that need a mention, we were particularly delighted to have the Scouts, Guides and Brownies help us again this year.

"We thoroughly enjoyed their energy and enthusiasm and look forward to seeing them next year.

"It is always lovely to see all generations taking part in the festival.

"Our oldest volunteer is 99 years old and our youngest visitor (as far as we know) was three weeks old.

"Electrician, Jo Ward worked tirelessly to decorate the ’big tree’, having already installed trees up through Crediton High Street and then set out the electrics for the other 75 trees in the church."

The winning children’s tree was, again, the 4th Crediton Brownies. The vote for the adult tree was very close with Royal British Legion Crediton branch winning just ahead of Bow WI and Friends of Newcombes Surgery.

Some of the comments made by visitors include: "Trees lovely as ever", "fantastic children’s competition", "first visit and never realised how beautiful the church was inside," "what a beautiful community event," "so many fantastic designs and not one the same where do the ideas come from?"

Anne Jerman ran the bric-a-brac tables in the Boniface Centre and the Christmas Cracker Café was open for refreshments during the festival. A photography exhibition adorned the walls and featured the work of five local photographers, Richard Burston, Paul McLoughlin, John Sanders, Adrian Harris and Colin Yelland.

The North Creedy Choral Society attracted an audience of about 60 who enjoyed the traditional Hallelujah chorus along with other festive items on Saturday, December 8.

The "Crediton Courier" donated £55 to the church from the sale of "Those Were the

Days "books sold during the festival.

One of Britain’s best-loved sopranos, Dame Felicity Lott, performed in the Gala Concert at the church on the Sunday evening with Sebastian Wybrew on piano.

The guest speaker was Vice Admiral Duncan Potts CB.

The concert raised £2,500 for the Holy Cross Crediton Campaign Roof Appeal.

Comments included: "It was a marvellous occasion", "Congratulations on a fabulous?ly arranged and lovely concert last night and a wonderful setting", "The Christmas trees really added so much sparkle to the whole event - Dame Felicity was outstanding".

Anyone wishing to reserve a tree for the 2019 festival should contact Stella, as soon as possible, by email at: [email protected] .

Reservations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis and the organisers expect demand to exceed the number of trees it is possible to place safely around the church.