Wedding show celebrates 900 years of church

3 hours ago

Organiser Carol Atkinson said she got the idea after her grandmother and mother got married at the church

Carol Atkinson An embroidered wedding dress stands on a mannequin with several others in the background. The dress is a centrepiece in the middle of St Andrew's Church with other wedding-themed items on display in an exhibition. — Organiser Carol Atkinson said she got the idea after her grandmother and mother got married at the church

A church has been "buzzing with laughter and memories" with the arrival of a wedding show to commemorate its 900th year, its organisers have said.

St Andrew's Church in Haughton-le-Skerne, Darlington, had its first recorded marriage in 1569 and is one of the oldest churches in Darlington.

Organiser Carol Atkinson said she got the idea for the show, which runs until Sunday lunchtime, "many years ago" after both her grandmother and mother got married at the church.

Sarah Beavis, who was among those to share her wedding attire, said she also had "strong ties" to the church, as she got married there in 2010 and her parents did in 1979.

The exhibition includes more than 30 wedding garments, photos and snippets of memories of marriages at St Andrew's.

Mrs Atkinson said the show had been a "wonderful success" at "our beautiful church".

She said St Andrew's had been "buzzing with laughter and memories, with many visitors bumping into friends they haven't seen for decades".

Sarah Beavis said she chose a "Disney princess dress" on her wedding day in 2010

Carol Atkinson A navy uniform, a grey three-piece suit and a white wedding dress with an extravagant veil are worn on mannequins. The items are displayed in a church pew as part of an exhibition. — Sarah Beavis said she chose a "Disney princess dress" on her wedding day in 2010

Mrs Beavis, from Darlington, said the church was "the centre" of Haughton-le-Skerne.

"I chose the church because my parents got married there on 11 August 1979."

The 40-year-old said she "couldn't have asked for better" of her special day on 29 May 2010.

Sarah Beavis said she "couldn't have asked for better" of her special day on 29 May 2010

Sarah Beavis Sarah Beavis and her husband Michael on their wedding day. Sarah is wearing a white wedding dress and a large veil, while Michael is in military uniform. Her bridesmaids are dressed in blue and they are holding her trail of the dress. — Sarah Beavis said she "couldn't have asked for better" of her special day on 29 May 2010

"My husband, Michael, is in the navy and it was a semi-military wedding with a mix of lads from the SAS and royal marines," she continued.

"It's meant be good luck to have a sailor at your wedding...not sure what it means to marry one though."

She added everyone was "quite shocked" by her dress, because she had "always been a bit of a tomboy but I chose a 'Disney princess' dress...it was the polar opposite to my personality".

Sarah Beavis said the church was "the centre" of Haughton-le-Skerne

Carol Atkinson People read snippets of memories held at an exhibition inside St Andrew's Church. There are photographs laid out and weddings clothes held up on mannequins. — Sarah Beavis said the church was "the centre" of Haughton-le-Skerne

Parking bollards were decorated in the 900-year church celebrations

Carol Clayton A knitted pair of characters, who are wearing wedding garments, sign a register. The knitted item is placed on top of a parking bollard as a decoration. — Parking bollards were decorated in the 900-year church celebrations

Meanwhile, a group of knitters picked up their needles once again to add to the celebrations.

The Haughton Ladies Who Knit group stitched a range of wedding-themed characters for the exhibition and decorated parking bollards in the village green.