Lancaster in bloom for refugees

ACN founder, Fr Werenfried-inspired floral display at 'The Work of your Hands' event

Florists from north-west England came together last week to produce floral displays to raise money to support displaced and refugee families in Iraq, Syria and elsewhere in the Middle East. The event, entitled The Work of Your Hands, took place from 25th - 27th June 2016 at Lancaster Cathedral and was organised by Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need.

Nearly 1,000 people visited from all over north-west England and Wales to see numerous floral arrangements which focused on the history of the charity and its work around the world.

The flower festival raised more than £6,000 which ACN will use to support three families of five in Syria and Iraq for one year each. Much of the fundraising came from the sponsorship of the paper flowers in the ACN Prayer Garden set up inside the cathedral, by benefactors who donated to 'plant' a bloom in memory of family or friends.

Messages of support and inscriptions in memory of a loved one or a private intention were also added to paper leaves in the garden.

The three-day event was attended by students of the Cathedral Catholic Primary School in Lancaster. Year Six pupils created six window boxes inspired by the charity's Child's Bible - God Speaks to His Children, which were on display and raised over £500 through the initiative 'Prayers from Our Hearts', available to primary schools wishing to support ACN's work with refugees and displaced people in the Middle East.

Dr Caroline Hull, ACN's North-West Manager, described the success of the event. She said: "'The Work of Your Hands' has been a wonderful experience from start to finish. We've had so much support from the flower clubs and florists who worked to create the stunning displays and from the clergy and parishioners at Lancaster Cathedral who made us feel so welcome and provided such warm hospitality.

"When we contacted florists and flower clubs throughout the region and sent each group a theme and a bit of background information about our charity, we never dreamed that displays of such beauty and insight would be the result.

"From the two floral pigs rooting at the feet of the Bacon Priest to the stark simplicity of the red arrangements in the display about persecuted clergy around the world, 'The Work of Your Hands' drove home the powerful message of ACN: Persecuted Christians need our help and together, through prayer, information and action, ACN and its many benefactors can ease the plight of the suffering Church."

Source: ACN