A Co. Armagh church has been hard at work decorating their building top-to-bottom in advance of their long-awaited flower festival this weekend.
St John’s Church of Ireland, Newtownhamilton, will be holding the event over the Bank Holiday weekend, hosting a range of flower arrangements sponsored by local businesses, churches and church families.
Commencing at 2pm on Friday (May 24) and running right through to Monday afternoon (May 27), visitors can enjoy 28 arrangements themed around the Parables and Miracles of Jesus, with the church building tastefully decorated for the occasion.
Donations can be made across each of the days, with monies collected being donated to the Church Hall Building Fund and the Southern Area Hospice.
As part of the weekend, a number of special events have been organised.
An opening service will be held on Friday at 8pm with guest speaker Bishop Andrew Forster, the Bishop of Derry & Raphoe and formerly Rector of St Anne’s, Dungannon and Archdeacon of Ardboe.
Also taking part in the service will be the talented Tullyallen and Mountnorris Men’s Choir.
On Saturday at 7.30pm there is a Gospel Concert with gifted singer Joy Boyd and the group ‘Testify’ leading the music.
Sunday at 7.30pm will be a praise service with guest speaker Archdeacon Roderic West, who recently retired as Rector of Holy Trinity, Banbridge.
There will be special singing items by well-known local group Lisnadill Harmony.
There’ll also be light refreshments served in the marquee next to the church at various times across the weekend, including; 2pm to 5pm on Friday and Sunday, 10am to 5pm on Saturday and 10am to 3pm on Sunday.
Parking is available at the Commons Car Park and on the Markethill Road opposite the church. A limited number of accessible parking spaces will be available next to the church gates.
