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News
Cathedral Flower Festival 'huge success'
The floral arrangement at the baptismal font in St. Macartin's Cathedral Enniskillen.
The Flower Festival held in St Macartin’s Cathedral in Enniskillen, over four days last weekend, attracted a large number of visitors from a very wide area in the very fine summer weather.
The theme of the Festival was the ‘Signs and Sayings in John’s Gospel’. Responsibility for arranging the 20 outstanding arrangements rested with members of the Erne Flower Arranging Society, assisted by two specialists in floral art, Messrs Alan Beatty and James Burnside. Volunteer stewards from the parish were available in the cathedral to give whatever assistance or information was required by visitors.
A very impressive display at the west porch of the cathedral welcomed visitors with the theme ‘‘I am the door’’.
Window displays interpreted a number of important biblical sayings such as: ‘’I am the good shepherd’’ and the act of ‘’Changing water into wine’’.
At the lectern, a very impressive floral display was associated with Jesus’ washing of the disciples’ feet.
The Crucifixion was depicted in the chancel with an elaborate floral display surrounding a large wooden cross surmounted by a crown of thorns.
The central pews had a number of displays ranging from ‘’Healing the blind man’’ to ‘’Feeding the 5000.’’
Displays in the Regimental Chapel included ‘’I am the bread of life’’.
The Book of Remembrance had a very poignant display featuring Jesus’ saying: This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends’’.
The alter in the Regimental Chapel featured “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty’’.
The final display (St Macartin, St Patrick and St Brigid) in the north porch featured silver birch and mountain ash and other elaborate floral displays appropriate to the saying ‘’Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe’’.
Visitors regarded the exhibition as outstanding. It was a great tribute to the flower arrangers in the skill they displayed in translating the biblical sayings into the most attractive and appropriate floral displays.
Visitors had the opportunity of having morning coffee, lunch or an evening meal, provided by volunteer ladies from the parish, in the well decorated Cathedral Hall.
The Dean, The Very Revd Kenneth Hall, said he was absolutely delighted with the number of visitors from many different countries who were visiting the town over the weekend, and the local community response.
The Dean said; “The Festival provided pleasure and enjoyment to a large number of people who were extremely generous in their financial support realising in excess of £32,500. This will enable the Cathedral to carry on and enhance its work at the Heart of the Community in strengthening commitment, outreach and Christian Love.”