DSC03979There was a full house on Sunday evening at All Saints Church in Falmouth as the Rt Revd Chris Goldsmith, Bishop of St Germans officially opened the Festival of Christmas Trees.

This is the tenth year the church has hosted the festival and it will also be the last as the church have decided to take a break after a decade of organising the popular festival.

Father Steve Drakeley, said: “It is time for a break and to think about what else we could do. Never say never and it might be back in the future but that will depend on us finding more, younger people to help run it. We’ve had the same faithful team organising it for the last ten years and none of us are getting any younger.”DSC03952

This year’s festival was opened at a service which saw some of those who had decorated trees giving readings outlining the history of origins of the Christmas tree. The church’s choir lead the hymns and anthems and Father Steve then took the opportunity to thank all those who had played a part in organising the festival over the last decade before Bishop Chris stepped up to give a blessing.

Following a countdown undertaken in darkness, Bishop Chris threw the switch and the church was illuminated by the light from the trees.DSC03968

Following the service those present were then able to get a first look at the full glory trees on display. Among them was Rose Webber and Jo Kennedy, who along with other members of Penryn Methodist Church, have decorated a tree at the festival for the last ten years. Rose said: “This year we chose to decorate the tree as we had in the first year and we even used the same decorations of angels and choir boys.”

The festival will run until December 31. For more information on opening times go to http://www.allsaintschurchfalmouth.co.uk/church-diary-and-events/