AN historic church threw open its doors for the weekend and made lots of new friends.

St James Church in North Cray Road, North Cray, attracts many admiring glances from people walking the adjacent Foots Cray Meadows but many have never been able to get a look inside.

And because it is set back from the road, lots of people don't even know the church is there.

So a flower festival weekend was just the thing to bring the crowds in and it did.

Church member Joanna Malster said there was a steady stream of visitors to admire the church and to enjoy afternoon tea.

"We also had a number of new faces at the Sunday service. Part of the idea of the festival was to let people know we are here and we have had lots of positive feedback," she said.