St Michael's Church, Shap was looking at its best over last weekend for a flower festival with the theme 'A Hymn for All Seasons'. 

In the porch visitors were welcomed by 'All things Bright and Beautiful' a glorious array of flowers in vibrant colours with butterflies, birds and animals arranged by Sylvia Hodgson. Inside the church, the first arrangement marked the start of the Church's year with Advent, a display depicting 'Hills of the North Rejoice' by Mandy Parker, with a mountainside, a coral cave and oriental flowers. Next was a display by Sue Mallinson illustrating the Christmas hymn 'Once in Royal David's City' a backdrop of houses with lighted windows and a stable containing a baby were enhanced by an arrangement of white and blue flowers.   Epiphany and 'O Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness', by young arranger Rowan Newsome had camels and a star on the high windowsill with richly coloured flowers amongst gold drapery, gifts and figures from the nativity crib. The Christmas season ended with Jean Jackson's display for Candlemas and the hymn 'Like a Candle Flame', here pure white arum lilies were a perfect foil for the array of candles in varying sizes set against a lovely stained glass window.

The display depicting the hymn 'My Song is Love Unknown' for Lent and Holy Week was by Jean Scott-Smith; below the pulpit decorated with box for Lent, was a purple drape with ashes for Ash Wednesday, an arrangement of grass, dead wood, sand and stones for the wilderness, palms for Palm Sunday and Bread and Wine for the Maundy Thursday, finally a single white lily attached to a cross for Good Friday.

Opposite this was a display around the Bindloss font of a servant girl with a posy of flowers and a baby, depicting Mothering Sunday and the hymn 'For the Beauty of the Earth'.

 The main altar was a truly glorious celebration of Easter and the hymn 'Thine be the glory, Risen Conquering Son' with a blaze of white and gold arrangements by Jean Jackson. The Morning Chapel altar area had arrangements by Janet Wood depicting the Ascension hymn 'Crown Him with many Crowns', with a cloud at the top of the millennium window above white floral display. A fiery red arrangement for Pentecost  depicted 'Go Forth and tell! O Church of God Awake'; and Trinity with an arrangement in three colours, white, gold and green for the hymn 'Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty'.

Also in the Morning chapel, the Ruth and Boaz window had an arrangement by Doreen Lee depicting the hymn 'Fair Waved the Golden Corn'.  In the south aisle, a display by Elaine Allison showed all kinds of harvest, from land and sea, representing the hymn 'We plough the fields and scatter'.  A colourful display by the Revd Carole and Claire Marsden. had angels incorporated into it for All Saint's Day and the hymn 'Angel Voices ever singing'. A window dedicated to All Souls Remembrance by Elsie Davidson had the cross studded with flowers used at the annual Remembering Sunday, with poppies and a makeshift cross for Remembrance Sunday, the hymn being 'O love that wilt not let me go'.  The font was decorated by Phyllis Brown to depict baptism with a baby in a heirloom christening gown, and arrangements by Angela Milburn.  Arrangements around the pillars were by Maureen Hogg.

Some local businesses had provided sponsorship; N. Bellas, butcher, The Greyhound Hotel, Lakeland Plants. Nabside Fell Ponies and Bramley's Garden Centre.

Besides the floral displays there was an exhibition of artwork entitled 'Where is God? Through a child's eye' by the children from Shap School who had drawn their ideas of where God is.  There were also displays by some local artists, work from the Pen and wash course held in Shap during 2008 /9; Beautiful calligraphy by Eden Valley Scribes, and paintings by Kayleigh Richardson, Freda Cowin, Lara Allen, Jili Allen and Alex Allen-Wall, and there was pictures of an activity day held in the mission unit. 

On Friday evening a concert of Music for a Summer Evening was held in church. This consisted of music played by local organist Stephen Mott, and a Clarinet quartet from Eden Winds, with Linda Bainbridge, Norma Bagot, Timothy Bagot and Jackie Wright.

The programme opened with 'Dialogo per organo' by Adriano Banchieri, Lubeck's 'Prelude in F major', the Occasional overture, largo and 'I know that my Redeemer liveth' by Handel, and 'Jubilate Deo' by Gibbs.

Eden Winds then played some lively pieces beginning with 'Funeral March of a Marionette' by Gounod; 'Scherzetto, Pavan and Gopak' by Jacob; the familiar 'Flower Duet' by Delibes, and they ended with an arrangement of the popular song 'Yesterday'.

Following the interval when welcome cold drinks and snacks were served, the programme continued with 'Sonata in C minor' by Pescetti played by Mr Mott.

Eden Winds played some foot-tapping jazz pieces, 'Bach goes to town' by Alex Templeton, 'O Lady be good' by George Gershwin and 'Cinerama' by James Rae.

The programme closed with three organ pieces 'Pieds en l'air' from the Capriol Suite by Peter Warlock, the lovely 'All in the April Evening' by Robertson and 'Alla Marcia' by Thomas Adams.

The performers were thanked by Revd Beverley Lock who said the music had taken the audience form Venice to Liverpool, and she thanked all those who had worked hard putting the display up for the flower festival.

On Sunday morning a united village service was held in the Memorial hall. Members all local denominations were welcomed by Revd Beverley Lock, and the service with the theme 'Who is my Neighbour?' was conducted by Revd Martin Dew. Lessons from the Bible were read by Pauline Harron and Ron Taylor. Five children acted out a modern version of the parable of the Good Samaritan, those taking part were Caitlin Poulson, Abigail and Sam Westhorpe, Rachel Wood, Molly and Joe Woof.  The group also led the singing of a song.  Mrs Lock then gave a talk on the theme explaining that everyone is our neighbour and that we should show compassion for them.  Music for the hymns was provided by Janet Wood and Jackie Wright, and a collection in aid of the Great North Air Ambulance realised £57.

In the evening a service of Songs of Praise was held in church to close the festival, at this all the hymns depicted in the displays were sung to the accompaniment of Janet Wood.  Mrs Lock explained the symbolism behind the displays and at the close she thanked everyone for their hard work.