It was a bright sunny Spring morning. The Church looked sparkling after its spring clean and the Charlton Flower Ladies surpassed themselves with multiple beautiful flower arrangements, mostly with flowers from our own gardens. Some of the congregation dressed in bonnets and top hats, which gave a Victorian feel to the proceedings.

Bishop Andrew led the Communion Service, assisted by our Rector, Revd Ruth. John Glen MP and Col James Arkell, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, read the lessons, and Shelagh Lamb played the organ perfectly. One of the hymns we sang, For All Thy Saints Still Striving, was written by Horatio, 3rd Earl Nelson, who was the main benefactor of All Saints’ Church and comes from the Sarum Hymnal, which he compiled.

Our anniversary service was also the last service in the Diocese at which Bishop Andrew presided, before moving on to become Bishop of St Albans. We presented him with gifts of local milk and local honey from the Chalke Valley.

After the service, Bishop Andrew cut the birthday cake, and then tea, coffee and cake were served to everyone in the marquee in the churchyard. Our three dignitaries stayed to talk to villagers, and to look over the small display in the Church, which aimed to give a flavour of life in the Salisbury area in 1851, and to outline the history of the creation of All Saints’.

It was a splendid occasion, as you can see from the photographs ably taken and donated by Mike Couchman, to whom we are very grateful.