Eastry Flower Festival

Eastry Parish Church has a very proud history when it comes to the organisation and preparation of flower festivals. The Eastry ‘Festival of Flowers’ goes back to 1962, the vision of the Revd Fred Cooper, and claims to be the first ever flower festival in the country. Whether that is completely true or not, I am not able to judge, but it is certainly a fact that Eastry was right in the vanguard of the establishment of the modern flower festival.

In an article to mark the 50^th anniversary of the Eastry Flower Festival, Donald Eldridge writes:

In the dark and dreary months of January and February of 1962 Frederick Cooper, the Vicar of the parish, suggested to a number of his congregation that he was thinking about holding a flower festival later in the year.  Those to whom he floated the idea had little conception of what was envisaged …. and so it was with some perplexity that Fred Cooper’s supporters accepted the proposal. But they had not reckoned with the enthusiasm, the energy and the imagination of Fred…..

Fred Cooper had no compunction in cajoling his friends …. to support him in his dream of creating within the grand architecture of the church a festival of flowers that would be a great canopy of glory to God for all who came to see it.

From this embryonic vision, a grand festival of flowers was prepared and much appreciated. In the Parish Magazine of August 1963, it was written:

This was an experiment which met with such success…. It is impossible to estimate the exact number of people who visited the Church…but at least 2,500 came. Many were inspired by the beauty of the flowers and the artistry of the arrangements. It was in no sense an ‘exhibition’ of flowers, but rather an offering to the glory of God…..

Ever since that first great endeavour, the Flower Festival has been a major feature in the life of Eastry Church, and people have travelled many miles to see the building beautified. 

Details about the next Fete will appear on the St. Mary's Special Events page

Any offers of support, financial or practical, will be very gratefully received. Please contact the   St. Mary's Events Team