St Mary's Church in Cleator is set to host a Flower Festival along with a range of other events to mark a very special time. 

The church is currently celebrating their 150th anniversary and are doing a whole host of things to help celebrate the occassion. 

Earlier in the year, world renowned artist Conrad Atkinson, who is originally from Cleator Moor, donated a piece of his art to be displayed at St Mary's. 

Sean Close, a volunteer at the church who has helped to organise the proceedings said: "On Thursday May 12 there will be a preview evening for sponsors of the Flower Festival who have been invited.

"On Friday 13 May Copeland MP Trudy Harrison will perform a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10:30am. Mrs Harrison will be shown around the flower festival and will be given a private viewing of Conrad Atkinson's art work. There will also be councillors and local dignitaries in attendance."

On Wednesday, May 4 The Priory Club will be hosting an event at Cleator Moor Civic Hall at 7:30pm. 

Mr Close said: "At 7:30 pm The Tyneside  Irish group are performing traditional Irish music and dance. The event is sponsored by the Irish Government, in an attempt to reintroduce towns with an Irish Heritage with some Irish traditions.

"There will be food and refreshments.  The event is free of charge including the food and refreshments,  we are asking for a donation of £5 per head which will be donated to the Ukrainian relief appeal. There will also be a raffle."

Celebrations will continue on into the summer months as on June 23 at 6pm there will be a mass held by Bishop Swarbrick. Which lies on the date of the official opening of the church in 1872. 

On Saturday, June 25 there will be a musical evening with Joan Rodgers CBE, a Cleator Moor born renowned soprano and the Whitehaven Male Voice Choir. Mr Close informed us that tickets for this event are £10 and can be bought via St Mary's on 01946 810324.