THE annual Exhibition with Flowers at Crediton Parish Church has again been voted a success despite visitor numbers being a little down on last year.

Visitors were welcomed from all over Devon and further afield.

The Festival was opened on the Saturday morning with a short peal on the church bells and an opening prayer by Crediton Rector Nigel Guthrie.

Many of the floral displays and exhibits attracted much comment with possible highlights being the displays depicting the fresh air and fun of Blackpool and the exotic plant life to be found at Tresco Abbey Gardens in the Isles of Scilly.

Comments from visitors this year included: "Wonderful display and excellent food", "It is a wonderful display, the best I have ever seen", "A lovely, lovely display, in a beautiful church. We shall look forward to 2010!

"We greatly enjoyed the tour of the Governors Room – a real bonus after the beautiful flowers".

The twice daily visits to see the Governors Room on the top floor of the chapter house proved consistently popular, as did the early evening nightly series of concerts with the finale being the Crediton Town Band on the Wednesday evening.

Throughout the six days of the Exhibition the Sea Shore Café in the Boniface Centre did a brisk trade in salads, cream teas, sandwiches and teas with visitors also able to browse an Exhibition of pictures around the walls by Newton St Cyres Art Group.

The Governors of Holy Cross and the organisers of the Exhibition would like to thank everyone who helped in any way this year, all the sponsors and advertisers and all those who went along and contributed to the funds raised.

"Every penny raised will be spent on the general upkeep and ongoing restoration of Holy Cross," said church spokesman, Bill Jerman.

He added: "We were very encouraged by the generosity shown by many of the visitors and think the final financial outcome this year, although it will not be known for some time, is likely to be very similar to last year."

Neither the theme nor dates for 2010 have yet been confirmed.

The next major fund raising event for the upkeep of the fabric at the church will be the 7th Crediton Christmas Tree Festival which will held from Thursday, December 3, until Saturday, December 5.

Festival Sponsors this year included: Ashgrove Kitchens, Bernaville Nurseries, Cairney's Bistro, Charlesworth Nicholl and Co, Chefs Choice, Church View Car Sales/Courtneys Garage, Ivor Coram Limited, A J Cox Butchers, Crediton Garden Centre, Crediton Gun Club, Crediton Town Council, Chris Dentith, Downes Crediton Golf Club, Andrew and P Elston, Four Seasons, Fox and Hounds Hotel, Gilmax Vintage and Classic Cars, James C Gordon Plumbing, Graphic PLC, Greentrees Arboricultural Services, Hedgerow Print, Diane E Heggadon The Crediton Inn, Joyfull Catering, Roger Janes, Keystroke Computing, Kezias, A E Lee Outfitters, Lewis's, Douglas Lomax, H W Martin and Co, MCA Windows, Mole Avon Town and Country Stores, Morgan Property Maintenance, Olivers Bakery, J G Quicke and Partners, R J Salter and Son Ltd, F J Stevens and Son, Shell Petrol Station Crediton, Dave Totterdell (Electrical), The Green House, Triple C Café, Edwin Tucker and Sons Ltd, Veitch Penny Solicitors, Waie Inn, Thomas Westcott, Andrew and David White, Jonathan Wood Ltd, Zenith Financial Planning and anonymous donors.

Alan Quick