BEAUTIFUL blooms are blossoming in every corner of 700-year-old St Paul's Church in Nelson as a flower festival marks the historic anniversary.

The first definitive date for St Paul's then Little Marsden Chapel is 1296 and parishioners planned a feast of events to mark the occasion.

A dinner and dance at the Silverman Hall, Nelson, started celebrations and women at the church made a new banner.

Ken Collin, churchwarden, said: "Last week, we were visited by the Bishop of Bloemfontein in South Africa, the Rt Rev Tom Stannage, and a special service was held. "We presented him with £700 raised through coffee mornings and a donation from the men's society.

"We also raised £8,500 this year to have the organ restored and received a new lectern in memory of the head teacher of St Paul's, Harold Throup, who died last year. The Bishop blessed both at the service."

Members of the church flower guild and the Forest of Pendle Flower Club have decorated the stairways, pew ends, altar, windows and archways to depict every aspect of the life of the church and the organisations who meet there.

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