The recent three-day event celebrated the church's 150th anniversary, covering many social events, communication, fashion, art and music through the decades.

Several of the tributes brought back memories for the visitors, including the treacherous winter and subsequent floods of 1947, the successful years of Southery football team, toys through the ages, and the sweeping changes seen in agriculture and farming.

"There were many other events taking place the same weekend and we were a bit worried about whether we'd get many visitors, but we had lots of people, so it all went very well and we were very pleased with the result," said Marion Lewis.

Among the attractions was the launch of a booklet A Little History of Southery and its Churches, by Judith Legge, a local supply teacher and farmer's wife, who has turned her interest in local history into a venture to raise cash for church funds.

More than 80 copies of the booklet were on sale with three copies destined for Australia and one bound for America.

The booklet is on sale at £5 per copy at Cost Cutters shop, Southery, or from Mrs Legge on 01366 377677.