A CELEBRATION of flowers, music and art is being held to boost funds for a £2million campaign to restore and improve St Thomas’s Church in Salisbury.

The Spring into Summer Festival runs from May 30 to June 3 and is in aid of The Quest 2020 appeal.

The appeal, which was launched in January, is raising money for repair works to the church building, flooring and the Doom painting, as well as restoration work and the purchase of movable seating.

Reverend Kelvin Inglis said: “Huge numbers come to our Christmas Tree Festival each year and local people know that we always put on a great show. Spring into Summer is no different and we look forward to welcoming very many people for a great day out.”

He added: “St Thomas’s is much-loved and valued and we hope our friends will rally around to support us and enable all we do to continue.”

The Quest 2020 appeal is being led by The Guild of St Thomas and St Edmund with the aim of raising the money over the next two years.

The festival next week will be centred around St Thomas’s Church and House and the organisers have sought to provide something for everybody with flower displays, paintings and sculpture, music and creative workshops including Chinese brush painting, pottery and novel writing.

Festival organiser John Bruce-Ball added: “It really will be a joyful five days of celebrating flowers, art and music.”

There will be floral arrangement prepared by 86 flower arrangers, 10 artists exhibiting paintings, ceramics and sculptures and two concerts from internationally-acclaimed pianist Nicholas Walker on May 31 followed by the St John Singers and Salisbury Cathedral Youth Choir on June 2.

A number of events are free to attend but donations for the appeal are welcomed. Keynote events, workshops and concerts are entry by ticket only.