ST Andrew’s Church in Stratton held its annual ‘Gift Day’, along with a craft fair, on Saturday, November 30, raising money for the church.

The craft day coincided with the church’s annual Gift Day, where they invite members of the church and local residents to make a donation to the church.

Organiser Val Barker said: “The day went very well indeed, it was very well attended. The craft fair coincided with our Gift Day, where the parish priest receives gifts from the parish.”

So far the church has raised £3,800 — a very welcome sum to ensure the church can continue to provide marvellous events and services for its community.

Val continued: “The people who come to the craft fair pay a rent for their stall, and then all the money they make they keep themselves.

“So we had stallholders and two or three of our own stalls, we did lunches from our new kitchen and two weeks before we sent out a letter from our new parish priest asking if people would like to give a gift to the church for St Andrew’s Gift Day.”

People could browse a wide range of goods on offer on the day, from books, cakes, Christmas items and jewellery to homemade crafts.

Val added: “We are extremely grateful for everything that everybody did on the day and to get such a wonderful result. It was a very happy and joyful occasion.

“It was an ideal opportunity for people of the parish to meet our new parish priest, Teresa Folland.”