St Mary’s Church, RH20 4AE
(off A283, 1 mile East of Storrington)
10am – 6pm daily,
Friday, 24th June – Sunday, 26th June 2016
Finishing with 6.30pm Sunday Evensong
Enjoy this perfect rural festival which, according to one visitor, “never fails to delight and amaze and is always a real treat”.
Explore the craft stalls and enjoy homemade refreshments in the sixteenth century Sullington tithe barn – one of the finest ten bays barns in Sussex.
Experience the beauty of this little Downland church adorned with flowers on this year’s theme, ‘The Lord’s language of flowers.
All are welcome to St Mary’s church, Sullington in the hamlet of Sullington, near the town of Storrington, West Sussex, on the South Downs north scarp within the national park. You will find so much to enjoy at this really busy, happy, community event. So many hours of baking cakes, nurturing seeds, arranging displays, sweeping floors and pouring tea must be a sign of a treat in store! And there are plenty of interesting rural stalls in the tithe barn including plants, pottery, furniture, cakes and conservation, and – this is the only time in the entire year to find all the skills and crafts of the Chanctonbury Craftsmen on show (and their products on sale!) in one place.
This year St Mary’s church, Sullington are working in collaboration with Splash! to provide activities for children of all ages. There will be a ‘Play Zone’ for small children with cars, wendy house, Giant Jenga and other games and, Saturday 12 – 4pm, a Lego car race for the older ones. A huge Lego pit will provide all that is needed for children to build their own Lego racing car, cars can be timed as they hurtle down the race slope and times recorded in ‘Top Gear’ style. Naturally, cars can then be modified for improved times. Prize for the winning time of the weekend!
Children up to ten years old can get involved before the event with the Flower Festival Art Competition. Now in its third year the art competition is open to all and entries are invited to submit a painting of flowers. Prizes for each age group; 4 -6 years, 7-8 years and 9 – 10 years. If you want to have a go please contact info@st-marys-sullington.org
If all that sounds a little energetic then just come and celebrate National Cream Tea Day on Friday 24th June with tea in the beautiful 600 year old tithe barn, one of the largest timber framed barns in Sussex.
And tickets are now on sale for ‘Songs, Poems and Pints’ at 7.30pm on Saturday evening – folk singing involves the songs that people used to sing and we hope that everyone will really enjoy this informal evening when audience participation is encouraged! Tickets £10 to include drink and nibbles.
There will also be daily tours of the church and farmstead at 2pm and a chance to see the progress of repairs to the second barn and permanent exhibition on the history of Sullington. The exhibition space is designed to be flexible and the church will be able to use it for events and after service coffee and cakes.
Derek Spencer, Rector, says “‘Flowers are some of God’s most beautiful creations and the Bible tells us that “Through Him all things were made; not one thing in all creation was made without Him.” John 1 vs 3. Everyone is welcome to this beautiful Church, nestled under the South Downs, to experience for yourself the creative skills of a community and amazing colours of the ‘Lord’s language of flowers’. It’s a reminder of the colour, vibrancy and life we can all bring to the world through having been created in the image of God. The scope and lovely atmosphere of the event is a testament to the friendliness of the people of Sullington church and what can be achieved when united in a cause. The flower festival is the single most important fundraiser in the life of this church which has to give over £30,000 pa to the Diocese. All are very welcome to this happy weekend.”
The whole weekend will be rounded off with Evensong in the church at 6.30pm on Sunday.
For more information: www.st-marys-sullington.org
