Book launch and fair boost for historic St Peter's in Gonville

Kathleen Keith, Murray Crawford and Julie Matheson at the St Peter's book fair on Saturday. Photo by Bevan Conley

Book lovers flocked to St Peter's Church in Gonville on Saturday where there was a treasure trove of second-hand books on offer.

The book fair was also the launch for Murray Crawford's new book Granny Dalton and the Curious Case of the Disappearing Cornerstone.

"We had quite a respectable 'congregation' at St Peter's for the event and nearly 30 books sold - a nice contribution towards Friends of St Peter's," said Mr Crawford.

Mr Crawford sold copies of the book at a discounted price of $25 and donated $5 from each sale to the church group.

St Peter's is at the centre of the novel which is a mix of local fact, legend and the author's use of poetic licence to spin a riveting local yarn.

When the church was moved from its original site in Victoria Ave to its current home in Koromiko Rd in 1921, the cornerstone went missing and never recovered.

Book fair organiser Kathleen Keith said the book fair raised around $800 which will be equally divided between the Anglican Church and the Friends of St Peter's.

"It is the first time we have held a book sale at St Peter's and we are very pleased with how it went.

"We had a wonderful supply of donated books and the Davis Library gave Murray boxes of books when he told them about the fair.

"We were very grateful to get those."

Although Sunday services are no longer held at St Peter's, traditional worship still takes place on Wednesday afternoons at 1pm.

Copies of Granny Dalton and the Curious Case of the Disappearing Cornerstone can be purchased from murraycrawford@gmail.com or from Paige's Book Gallery.