IT can feel that everything is "suspended" in August as people go away for their summer holidays but that’s certainly not the case at Crediton's Holy Cross Church this year.

There is something for everyone in a packed calendar with all of the following coming up, so put the dates in your diary!

Going for Sing – Friday, August 4, from 10.30am to 12 noon in the Boniface Centre. Go along and join this fun, informal singing group with refreshments served afterwards. No charge but donations towards expenses welcome. The group will be singing songs with names in the title at this session. Telephone Anne on 01363 772865 for more information.

Strawberry Cream Tea – Saturday, August 5, from 3pm to 5pm in the Rectory Garden, Church Street with the proceeds going to NDADA (North Devon Against Domestic Abuse), which runs a women's shelter in Barnstaple.

Tickets available on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from the Parish Office in the Boniface Centre (but not during week commencing July 17), priced at £5 (or £7.50 to include a glass of prosecco). Parking in the Church Car Park.  For further information, please contact: [email protected] .

Meat Bingo – Saturday, August 12, in the Boniface Centre. Doors open at 6.30pm with eyes down at 7.30pm. Raffle with tea/coffee available at the beginning of the evening. 

Pop-Up Bric-a-Brac Shop – daily from Monday, August 21 to Saturday, August 26 inclusive from 10am to 4pm in Holy Cross Church by kind permission of the Rector.

Kitchenalia, pictures, ornaments, textiles, greetings cards and much more – all at bargain prices as Anne Jerman clears out her shed of goodies. Do drop in and see what’s available.     

Heritage Open Day – Saturday, August 26, in Holy Cross Church from 10am to 4pm. Tours of the church and churchyard, displays, archive material, choir singing and organ playing, guide to the church’s stained glass windows, information on those remembered in the World War Two memorial book. DVDs to view for those with mobility difficulties.

Refreshments available. Go along and learn more about this historic church "peculiar", owned by the 12 members of the Church Corporation on behalf of the townspeople since the 15th Century. 

Mission Community (Church) Health Check –The Health Check will take place at the Heritage Open Day. The aim of the health check is to work intensively at a local level via an online survey (available on paper for those that need it), which aims to highlight where a church is flourishing, and where some support or thought might be beneficial.

It uses two separate surveys - 1) for the church and 2) for the local community, aiming to hold a mirror up to the work that it does, and the community that it has.

The process is intended to be a wholly positive and helpful experience. But Holy Cross needs to be open to the opinions, ideas and challenges that the Health Check might present. The plan is that details of how to take part in the survey online – and paper copies – will be available at the Heritage Open Day.   

This is my Story – The church expects this photo portrait exhibition about faith, which is touring churches and schools across Devon, to be at Holy Cross Church during mid to late August.

The exhibition features a series of portraits by photographer Huw Ryden. Alongside each portrait is the subject’s faith story in their own words. The aim is to share the living faith stories of Christians from all walks of life from across Devon.

It prompts people to think more about their own faith and how beliefs, whatever they are, have shaped people's lives.

On Saturday, September 2, there will be a Craft Fair (10am to 2pm) and a Quiz and Supper evening in the Boniface Centre. More details of both these events will follow.

Crediton Parish Church hopes to see you at one or more of its August events.

For more information about any of them, telephone Anne Jerman on 01363 772865 or email: [email protected] .