2 days ago
Wedding dress exhibition held at Kent church
A village church in Kent is celebrating its 175th anniversary with an exhibition of wedding Paul's Church in Rusthall was consecrated in August 1850 by the then Archbishop of Canterbury John Bird Sumner. The Victorian church is marking the milestone by displaying 20 dresses, all worn by brides at St Paul's over the years, until 14 June. The dresses on display - both designer and handmade - have been loaned along with photographs and mementos dating back to 1920, according to curator Elaine Bruce.
"This exhibition is bringing people together to appreciate the beauty and significance of weddings and reconnecting with those who had their marriages at the parish church," she told the BBC. "It all adds up to quite an emotional display." Flowers will also be exhibited based on the bouquets the brides had when they tied the knot.
Jennifer Farman, who got married there in 2018, said it felt like a "privilege" to have her dress shown in the exhibit."I have a long history with this church. I've been coming here since I was a toddler," she told the mum also got married there and her grandparents used to attend services. "I always knew this would be where I got married," she added. Rita Wilson said her dress - which she walked down the aisle with in 1956 and later wore to dances at the Assembly Hall in Tunbridge Wells - is the oldest on show. Her mother also married at the church in 1926, alongside her daughter in 1985."There's so many memories of events that have happened here... and friendships [that we have made]," she said."It's actually very special."
