A WEDDING exhibition in the 15th century St James the Great Church, in Fitzhead, raised more than £1,000 in support of the village’s medieval Tithe Barn next door in the corner of the churchyard.

Nearly 200 visitors attended over the weekend to view 30 bridal dresses plus accessories and photographs spanning six decades from the war years to modern times.

All the items were loaned by local people and the event was organised by villager Sue Webber, who used to design and make wedding dresses professionally.

Homemade cakes and teas were served in the 14th century Tithe Barn, where wedding receptions can be held for up to 80 diners, and where volunteers worked non-stop throughout the two days of the exhibition catering for the visitors.

Seven-year-old Beatrice Jennings brought her own outfit to the Fitzhead wedding exhibition.
Seven-year-old Beatrice Jennings brought her own outfit to the Fitzhead wedding exhibition. PHOTO: Sue Mitchinson. ( )

Ms Webber said: “It has been so interesting seeing a snapshot of wedding dresses for every decade, with different ones from 1940 to the early 2000s.

“Visitors of all ages have enjoyed it, from young girls for whom it was like a visual history lesson, to older people who got so much joy remembering their weddings and getting out the photograph albums.”

St James was also decked in flowers for the exhibition, with bridal bouquets and buttonholes given by another village resident, Sue Sturman, who is a wedding florist.

One of the more unusual bridal creations on show was a long, conical skirt inspired by designer Alexander McQueen, which Juliet Middleton, who is a singer in the Fitzhead choir, put together in 1999 entirely out of paper doilies.

Another was a bouquet of paper flowers made from a prayer book for a display belonging to three generations of the family of local vicar the Rev Helene Stainer, whose benefice also includes St Michael’s Church, Milverton, St James the Less, Halse, and Holy Trinity, Ash Priors.

Materials on show ranged from silk to satin, velvet to lace, and most of the dresses up to the Sixties were made by family members or the brides themselves.

Ms Webber said: “I love all the detail people include to make their wedding outfits and accessories of such sentimental value.”