Published: Thursday, 25th June, 2009 9:00am

Arts festival at landmark church

by Adam Hewitt

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EARLEY ST PETER"S Church is celebrating its 165th birthday in style with a two-week extravaganza of music, arts and worship.

The Rev Derek Spears could even lose his decades-old beard in a charity shave-a-thon if parishioners raise £1,000 - and that is just one of nearly 40 events to mark the occasion.

Parish administrator Elaine Watts, a worshipper at the church since 1980, said: 'We"re not just that grey building in Church Road, we reach out into the community. This festival is all about celebrating 165 years serving that community, and looking at the talents that people have - music, arts, model trams, photography, drawing, pottery, lace-making, singing, everything!'

The Bishops of Oxford and Reading will both lead services during the two-week celebration, including at St Peter"s own Patronal Festival Eucharist on Monday at 7.30pm.

Parishioner Anne Richardson is putting the finishing touches on a cookery book containing 165 of her favourite recipes which will soon be on sale, as will pens, pencils, tea towels and shopping bags printed with an image of the church.

It was founded in 1844 as part of Sonning parish, when the large estates of Maiden Erlegh, Erlegh Court, Bulmershe Court and Whiteknights owned virtually all of the nearby land. The church, which was enlarged in the early 1880s and again around 1912, remains a very recognisable Earley landmark. The festival kicks off tomorrow (Friday) with a barbecue and youth night from 6.30pm.

Other highlights include the Aldworth Philharmonic Orchestra on Saturday night from 7.30pm, a Caribbean evening and supper the following Saturday at 7.30pm, and the Pangbourne Silver Band performing Songs of Praise with food and games from 11am on the Sunday.

For details on all aspects of the festival, call 0118 966 8575 or visit www.earley-stpeter.org.uk

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