Rich tapestry of local talent

Church’s celebration of everything artistic

PREPARATIONS are hotting up for the second Gravelhole Methodist Church Arts Festival.

The Royton church, on Castleton Road, hosted its first arts festival two years ago, and it was such a success, organisers decided to make it a regular event.

They opted to hold it every second year, and this year’s festival takes place at the weekend.

The event aims to celebrate the gift of creativity, and gives local artists the opportunity to display their work.

Exhibitors include local artists Helen Slater, Karen Markham, Bernard White, Yvonne Stubbs, Veronica Lee and Francis Ackers.

The festival will also offer an array of demonstrations, with John Ashworth of Royton showing off his woodturning skills, and Graham Hudson demonstrating how to paint with oils.

Graham is the artist in residence at Mustard Tree, a small Manchester charity which works to improve the lives of homeless and neglected people.

He uses his talents to help clients work through some of their problems through art, and also to raise money for the charity.

He has also appeared on television shows, and Gravelhole Methodist Church is a regular supporter of Mustard Tree.

The festival will not only concentrate on the visual arts, but also gives local musicians the opportunity to play in public.

They include organists Daniel Devall (16), who will play at 2.30pm on Saturday, and Chris Price, who will entertain at 6.45pm on Saturday and 12.15pm on Sunday.

Other musicians will play at various times throughout the weekend.

The church’s 10.45am Sunday service will also focus on creativity, and Andrew Pratt, a leading modern day hymn writer, has written a new hymn specially for the festival.

The festival runs on Saturday from 10.30am until 8pm and on Sunday from noon until 4pm.

Entry is free, some of the work will be on sale.