A VICAR from a village near Oswestry organising an inaugural beer festival in the local church to raise funds for it and the local parish hall.

Reverend Chris Precious, 45, has come up with the idea to organise the very first Kinnerley Beer Festival on Saturday, May 27.

He explained that his ‘unusual idea’ has proven to bring the community together and he hopes to raise funds for St Mary’s Church and the neighbouring parish hall.

Revd. Precious said: “I saw the great opportunity to bring the community of Kinnerley together and another one of the main institutions, which is the parish hall.

“There will be beers in the church, as we think we can keep them cold, and other spirits and wine at the hall, because they have a bar.

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“I’ve seen beer festivals in other churches, and I thought it would be a good idea – although some might not think so, but after the pandemic people have really come together for this.”

The festival will not only use the parish hall for the serving of the beer, but also St. Mary’s Church – an historic building still in daily use as a church.

Revd Precious designed this with the intention of demonstrating the place of the church at the centre of the community.

Festival-goers will be able to enter the church and admire it while sampling the best of the local ales and local food. 

“There will be an ale that will make its first-ever appearance at our festival,” Revd. Precious added, who remained tight-lipped on the name of the ale. 

“It will be quite unique to the area.”

The event will start at 2pm, and it will go on until 8.30pm, when the organisers hope participants will make their way to the village's Cross Keys pub.

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There will be a token system in place for the festival – people will be able to buy a £5 half-pint glass with the Kinnerley Beer Festival logo alongside the church’s insignia.

After, they can purchase tokens which are £1 each.

Prices and rules will be displayed all around so people can make sense of how the system works.

Revd Precious expressed his gratitude to all that have made this possible.

"Thank you to everyone involved, it really wouldn't have been possible without others believing in my idea."