A DOUBLE celebration took place at Ben Rhydding Methodist church recently.

Its Harvest Festival was celebrated in a service conducted by the Rev Vicky Atkins and at the end of the service the congregation assembled outside the church for the dedication of new glass entrance doors. These have replaced the former solid but rather forbidding wooden doors and passers-by now have a view across the rear area of the church to one of the outstanding features of its interior, a fine stain-glassed window depicting the Parable of the Sower.

This was designed by the distinguished Arts and Crafts artist Harry Stammer whose work is to be found in cathedrals and churches across the country. A notable feature of the doors are its handles. These were first modelled and carved in wood by church member Peter Bastow before then being cast in bronze. Their design symbolises the flames of the Holy Spirit.

In the service the Rev Atkins based her address on the Parable of the Sower and money was appropriately donated to Christian Aid's current campaign to provide drought resistant seeds for farmers in Kenya.