On the afternoon of Saturday 27 May, fourteen church flower arrangers from across the Diocese met at Manchester Cathedral for our first joint meeting. We began with tea and homemade cake; made new friends; and shared our love for, and experiences of, flower arranging in our different churches.
Information about the Church of England Flower Arrangers’ Association was presented to the group. The Association was founded in 1981 “to help and encourage all those who tend flowers in churches and to link them in fellowship and friendship”. The aims are “to expand interest in church flower arranging, to use talent to enrich places of worship, and to use flowers as part of worship”. At the present time our nearest branch is in Liverpool, but if there were enough members in the Manchester Diocese it may be possible to form a Manchester branch in the future.
A short demonstration of a simple but effective idea used in church at Christmas and then adapted for Easter was then given. The afternoon concluded with a guided tour of Manchester Cathedral.
There was enthusiastic backing for another meeting, and it was agreed that early October would be welcome.
The meeting has now been arranged for Saturday 7 October, 2pm – 4pm, at Manchester Cathedral. Church flower arrangers from the Diocese are warmly invited. For more information, please contact Helen Bamping 0161 789 8073.