THE epic journey of a saint who sailed from Ireland to America is being recreated in flowers as part of a celebration of his voyage.

St Brandon’s Church in Brancepeth, thought to be the only one in the country to use the name, is hosting a flower festival this weekend to mark 1,500 years of the saint’s history.

Top flower arrangers have been challenged to make their displays based on an account of St Brandon’s voyage from Ireland, in search of the Island of Paradise.

Featuring arrangements inspired Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Newfoundland and an island of giant sheep, there will be 12 displays, using around 1,500 flowers.

Brancepeth’s Archive and History group have also created an exhibition on the history of the village, in the village hall, which features a film of the aftermath of a fire at St Brandon’s, which gutted the church 19 years ago.

They are open between 10am and 4pm today and tomorrow.

On Saturday, explorer Tim Severin will be giving a sold-out talk on his own attempt to recreate the voyage by building a leather boat and sailing to America.

On Sunday there will be a special St Brandon 1500 service in the church, conducted by the Bishop of Durham, at 7pm.