MEMBERS of St Andrew's Church in Bere Ferrers recently celebrated the harvest festival with a service of hymns, readings and performances by two musical groups.

The church had been decorated, and dried and tinned food was donated to aid the Shekinah Mission, a Plymouth charity which St Andrew's supports.

The Rev Nick Law conducted the service, and the hymn 'Come Ye Thankful People Come' was sung. Sheila Gay shared several appropriate readings, including 'Autumn in the Garden' by Henry Van Dyke.

Two of the village's musical groups performed at the service — St Andrew's singers sang four hymns and the recently formed Bere Ferrers Ukes had the congregation joining in with their specially adapted Tamar Valley version of 'The Whole World in his Hands' and the chorus of 'Bread and Fishes'.

The theme of the sermon was faith and a thankful heart, with methods of food production and distribution, past and present.

Mr Law presented the verger Pam Watts and Marjorie Sherrell with 'Flower Power' rose bushes in recognition and appreciation of their service to St Andrew's for more than 45 years each.

The service closed with 'We Plough the Fields and Scatter', accompanied by Ann Parsons. A harvest supper was held the following day at the Olde Plough Inn along with an auction of donated fresh produce in aid of the Shekinah Mission.