The newly restored St Peter’s Church in Ropley will be filled with flowers over the Coronation weekend, as part of the village celebrations for the crowning of King Charles III. 

The festival will open with a special preview reception with fizz and canapés on May 5 and continue over the rest of the weekend.

Vicar Rev Clare Welham said: “We look forward to welcoming visitors from near and far to St Peter’s for this Flower Festival. We are sure they will enjoy this opportunity to experience our fantastic new building decorated in a very special way.”

Each of the displays will be linked to the festival’s Coronation theme and feature the King’s interests, the countries of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth and the Coronation itself. As well as the flowers, visitors will be able to enjoy refreshments including cream teas. 

READ MORE: Romsey care home Durban House hosts Carousel Theatre

Christine Drewienkiewicz, one of the organisers, said: “It is a privilege and a pleasure to be able to decorate our new Church for the Coronation and we are grateful to our generous sponsors and to the many talented local arrangers who are contributing to this amazing celebration.”

Hampshire Chronicle: St Peter’s Church, Ropley

The festival will also include a Coronation celebration service at 4pm on Sunday May 7 which will feature the Ropley Coronation Choir singing the new Coronation anthem The mountains shall bring peace as part of the nationwide Sing for the King.

St Peter’s Ropley is a medieval church that was all but raised to the ground by a devastating fire in 2014. 

After eight years the rebuilt church reopened on August 26 last year.

Tickets for the preview cost £20 and tickets for the festival cost £5.

On May 20, the Winchester Camerata will be performing at the church. The concert includes Grieg’s Holberg Suite, as well as music by Mozart, Tchaikovsky, and Dvorak.

For tickets and more details, visit: stpetersropleyvenue.org.uk.