St Aidan's celebrates 100-year anniversary

Grace Elcock, Erin Taylor, Evie Colclough, Albert Wheeldon, Annabelle Madden and Georgina Jones

St Aidan's Church, Sudden held a craft fair yesterday (Saturday 19 October) to raise money for the church whilst also celebrating 100 years since the church foundation stone was laid.

Joanne Elcock, who organised the fair, said: "It is a good way of showing things off and showing people what we can do."

The fair, which has been running for four years, included a chocolate stall, watercolour paintings, jewellery, hand made cards, massage treatments, cakesand crafts and games for children.

The fair also gave the church a chance to promote Fair Trade. "We started this event to promote fair trade so we hold a fair trade event every month,” added Joanne.

Celebrations for the anniversary of the foundation stone will take place today with a special service being held by Bishop Steven (former Bishop of Middletown and now bishop for the Armed Forces). The church will also take part in a procession to where the stone was originally laid.

The Foundation Stone was laid by Lady Rochdale on 18 October 1913 and during the service 4,000 pennies were placed on the stone. A month later in November 1913 a three-day St Aidan's Bazaar which was opened by Lord Rochdale was held in the Town Hall.

The church stalls at the Craft Fair included a "Penny Bazaar" with goods for sale for a few pence.

That stall was also replicated yesterday giving customers the chance to buy goods for a few pennies.

Joanne added: "We have had a steady flow of people in today and we get more people in every year.

"We are now looking forward to celebrating the Centenary in March 2015 of the Opening of St Aidan's Church and planning for the next 100 years."