Community spirit shone through at Langton Matraver’s annual church fete in Dorset, which kept up its enviable 21st century record of perfect weather, drawing crowds of hundreds.
The big summer event in Langton Matravers was held at St George’s Church on Saturday 9th August 2025, as a week of unsettled weather gave way to the beginnings of Purbeck’s fourth heatwave of the year.
There were queues for most stalls as hundreds of people thronged the church and its grounds
£6,000 normally raised for parish funds
Glorious sunshine drew huge crowds to the church as stalls, sideshows and entertainers raised what may be a record amount for the parish of St Aldhelm’s.
Even in the more challenged summers of the past two years, St George’s caught lucky breaks with the weather on fete day, and organisers believe there has not been a washout so far this century.
Swanage Town Band, the Purbeck U3A Ukulele Band, Allsort’d and Jules the Entertainer provided musical fun and circus games through the afternoon.
Trade was brisk at the tombola, raffle, cake and preserve stalls, book shop, beer stand and sideshows, and there was even an art gallery for the first time.
Normally around £6,000 is raised for parish funds by the summer fete, and although a final figure will take a while to work out, organisers believe there will be a ‘considerable’ total this year.
Helen Attfield ran the very popular tombola stall, which offered some amazing prizes from local companies
“It has been a huge team effort”
Lindy Cameron, chair of the St George’s Church fete committee for 2025, said:
“It is very important to say that this has been a huge team effort, it was teamwork all the way.
“I’ve only been in post 16 months, though I’ve lived in the area for 22 years and have always been heavily involved in local community, but while I chaired some meetings and held some discussions, I’m not the one with all the experience.
“The team worked so well this year, there was just so much camaraderie and a huge amount of love – everyone pulled together, whenever someone needed help, someone else was there.
“We had so much fun on the day, everyone was happy, and the entertainment was brilliant! For me and the rest of the team, the most important thing was that people had a good time and I believe they did!
“People often think that churches are paid for by the corporate church, but they’re not – they’re paid for by us, for the communities they exist in, so fundraising is very important.
“Money raised by this particular fete goes to general parish funds, as all the churches in this area all need work on at some point. If we are to have them for the local community to benefit from, then we are responsible for the upkeep of them.”
Purbeck U3A brought along its ukulele band to entertain the crowds with some well known songs
“Big donations have really helped”
Lindy added:
“It is too early to announce a final sum, but we have raised a considerable amount. People’s donations are phenomenal and without people giving us all their preloved items, we would not be able to make so much money.
“Particularly big donations have really helped with lots of new stock for this year’s fete, it has been fantastic. We had enough art and pictures donated to be able to have our own art gallery for the first time, thanks to the family who took over the Old Rectory, who have been more than generous.
“It was wonderful weather for the fete, but last year was also beautiful, so we have been really lucky – I believe there hasn’t been one in recent history where the weather has been absolutely awful, and I have been speaking to stall holders with more than 25 years of experience.
“The fete is the local community’s get together – although it is run by the church in one sense, it is actually run by everyone within the community, coming together to make this happen, with everyone working towards a common goal.”
Jeremy Jenkins opened a pop-up cycle repair shop at the fete and found himself in hot demand
Pop-up cycle repair workshop
One unusual addition to the fete this year was a pop-up cycle repair workshop offered by Jeremy Jenkins, who said:
“I used to work for Cycle Experience in Norden, but this is a hobby for me and I’m doing this as a way of sharing my passion and helping people to pick up safety issues on their bikes.
“I can’t fix everything at a fete, but I can give people advice and help them to understand why their bike might not be set up right, or point out when their brakes or chains are wearing out – anything that helps people to enjoy cycling and to stay safe!
“It was a bit of a last minute thing. I’m new to the area, but just happened to go to a parish meeting where they were inviting people to help with the fete, so I offered my services!
“I’ve been quite busy today – I’ve fixed a puncture, repaired some brakes, and helped people with general maintenance of their cycles.”
More photos
AllSort’d was popular with the crowds as they sang and signed their way through some favourite hits
Jules the Entertainer was teaching circus skills in the churchyard, including the art of plate spinning
St George’s Fete was able to add an art gallery to its attractions for the first time
The art of splatting a rat continues to confound competitors
The bar menu was Hattie Brown’s Moonlight or Pimms, both of which went down very well on a hot afternoon
The second hand bookstall was well stocked with summer reading
More music from the Purbeck U3A ukulele players
St George’s Church Millennium statue, Mason, marking 1,000 years of quarrying and stone working in Purbeck, helped celebrate the occasion
Organisers were delighted by another hugely successful church fete
