Enhancing the beauty of Holy Trinity church with floral arrangements for over twenty years has been a great pleasure for Christine Harvey, former teacher and florist. 

"People really appreciate seeing fresh flowers arranged creatively each week when they come to church " says Christine; "It is however hard physical work, most of which goes unseen. There is so much more to it than putting flowers in a vase! " The process usually begins on a Thursday morning with a visit to the flower market on the Cours Saleya to select the best blooms in season and the best value on offer. Flowers are not cheap and it is essential to be selective in choosing flowers that will have a lasting impact. Christine adds "It is a joy to choose flowers when a donation has been made either in celebration of a happy event such as a birthday, engagement or wedding or in acknowledgement of an anniversary or in memory of the passing of a loved one. Care is taken to try and use favourite flowers or perhaps a preferred colour in order to personalise an arrangement."

Once selected, the material must be ‘conditioned’ prior to composition: a good drink of water is vital. Leaves are stripped and stems recut before leaving in buckets overnight to ensure they are at their best for arranging at the creative stage. Most arranging is done either on Fridays or Saturday mornings in readiness for Sunday worship. All this can take several hours, especially for big occasions such as Easter.

Christine’s passion for all things floral began many years ago when she attended flower arranging classes as a recreational activity from her demanding job in education. "I soon became hooked!" says Christine; "The teacher was a NAFAS trainer (National Association of Flower Arrangers) and she was very strict! She instilled the basics and the 'what not to do's' in her students from the outset and we learnt a lot from her ".

It was years later though that Christine used this knowledge to develop her own style and flair, becoming a teacher and demonstrator herself. "It is hugely satisfying despite the hard work involved " says Christine, who is keen to encourage anyone interested to join in the weekly enjoyment of flower arranging at Holy Trinity.

If anyone wishes to make a donation towards the general flower fund or to mark a special occasion then please see Christine who would be more than happy to chat further.

You can find more photos of Christine's wonderful displays at our Flowers at Holy Trinity page.