Biggest ever festival service raises �1,700 for ShelterBox

SIX hundred visitors and locals joined together in worship and song at Sunday’s Folk Festival Service at Sidmouth’s Connaught Gardens and raised nearly �1,700 for ShelterBox.

The Bishop of Crediton, the Right Reverend Robert (Bob) Evens, took part in the service, which was led by the Reverend Roger Trumper.

Organised by Churches Together in Sidmouth, its chairman, Mike Edgecumbe, said: “It was a tremendous event, the biggest ever. Every deckchair – and we had more this year - was taken and we put tarpaulin down for children to sit on.

“The whole service went smoothly, the singing was lovely, and it was a perfect day. We had hoped to raise �1,000 for ShelterBox and we got nearly �1,700, almost enough for four ShelterBox boxes.”

Bishop Bob talked on the theme God our Shelter and interviewed Sidmouth Rotarian Don Waterhouse who represented ShelterBox and the work of the charity.

The Reverend Dave Brown and Peter Cauchois entertained younger members of the congregation, and music and singing was led by a team of musicians and a choir of 25, directed by Dr Peter Fung.

Mike said: “God’s love extends to everyone and we felt that the work of ShelterBox, a non-religious, non-political organisation, deserves and needs our support.”