St George, Castle Street, Kendal www.kendalstgeorge.com

May 2018

CALENDAR

Tues 1st May 2pm Pause for Prayer

Thurs 3rd May 7.45pm Sacred Space

Sat 5th May 8.30am First Saturday Breakfast

Sun 6th May 10am Holy Communion

10am Sunday Club

Mon 7th May 8.30am Morning Prayer

Tues 8th May 2pm Pause for prayer

Thurs 10th May ASCENSION DAY 7.30pm Service at Levens Church

Sat 12th May 9.30—11.30am Mothers’ Union Coffee Morning

Sun 13th May 10am All Age Worship

Mon 14th May 8.30am Morning Prayer

Tues 15th May 2pm Pause for prayer

Sun 20th May PENTECOST 10am Holy Communion

Mon 21st May 8.30am Morning Prayer

Tues 22nd May 2pm Pause for prayer

Sun 27th May TRINITY SUNDAY 10am Holy Communion

Mon 28th May 8.30am Morning Prayer

Tues 29th May 2pm Pause for prayer

Weds 30th May 2pm Mothers’ Union meeting

Sat 2nd June 8.30am First Saturday Breakfast

Sun 3rd June 10am Holy Communion

10am Sunday Club

Every Tuesday 11.30am to 3.30pm Community Hub

I am sure that there will be a good number of people reading this who remember

being told off for using a “four letter word” If you are not familiar with this term it

refers to a set of English-language words, written with four letters which are

considered profane, including common popular or slang terms, certain bodily

activities! The "four-letter" claim refers to the fact that many (but not all) English

"swear words" are made up of four letters. Apparently, this description came into

use during the first half of the twentieth century.

These four-letter words, once used to be reserved for male conversation at work, or

in places where they gathered, such as the terraces at a football match. These kind

of words, were heard in the playground. Now it is likely that we will hear these

words in the pub, shouted in the street, and on TV, in many a drama or a comedian’s

act, usually because the use of certain four-letter words, always seems to raise a

laugh.

There are some four-letter words which are not classed as swear words and one in

particular that comes to mind during the Easter Season is ‘hope’. It comes to mind

because the death and resurrection of Jesus, which Christians commemorate at

Easter, is about the triumph of hope. Since then the church has kept this hope alive

through faith. The world can be a dark and difficult place – we know that because we

see the darkness on our TV screens every evening. However, the resurrection

experience of the first Easter Day, means that for Christians, hope is the foundation

on which faith is built. Hope keeps alive the belief that the world doesn’t have to be

like it is. Hope keeps alive the belief that evil doesn’t have the last word.

It is not always easy to live in hope and it is sad to see when a person is crushed

under the weight of the many things that life heaps on them. Yet those who live with

the Christian hope, are strengthened in their struggle. Hope is the oxygen which

keeps a person alive, even though they may have the breath knocked out of them,

again and again.

Hope may not be a swear word, but it does have something in common with certain

expletives involving a two-fingered salute! You see hope gives a two-fingered salute

to the things in this life that cause despair. Hope says to those things – the world

doesn’t have to be like this; I’m not going to live by those rules; good does triumph

over evil; and yes, love IS stronger than death.

Yours, Nigel

From the Team Rector

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SACRED SPACE : Matthew 9: 9-13

Sit comfortably and read the Bible passage two or three times until you are

familiar with it, then immerse yourself in the story as you read the reflection. Take your time over it.

In your imagination take yourself to Capernaum in the time of Jesus. You may look

around this busy town ………………. feel the temperature of the air ……………… listen

to the sounds around you ……………….. note the chatter of the crowds as they pass

along the road ……………… watch as people make their way to the tax booth to pay

their dues ……………… what is the attitude of the people to the unpopular tax

collector? …………………… like all the tax collectors Matthew is a Jew working for the

hated Romans ……………. a collaborator ……………….. a Quisling ………………… lumped

together in the minds of the people with the worst of sinners and barred from the

synagogue ……………….. growing rich at the expense of his fellow Jews …. listen to the

comments of the people to each other and to Matthew ……………………….. and how does

Matthew respond to the people? …………………… What is the expression on his face?

……………….. and what is your opinion of this unpopular man? ………….. You may wish to

speak to him ……………. Ask him the questions that come into your mind and listen to

his reply ……………………………

You become aware that Jesus comes to pay his tax …………….. what is the expression

on his face as he looks at Matthew? ………………. What does Matthew say to Jesus?

……………………………. And now listen as Jesus says to him, “Follow me” …………………… What

does Matthew do? What happens to the money? ………………

How do Jesus’ disciples respond? Are they glad to welcome this new addition to their

number? ……………………….. Listen to their conversation, and see how they respond to

Matthew ………………………. Does Matthew appear comfortable joining them?

……………………..

What of the crowd around? How do they respond as Matthew leaves his tax booth?

………………….

And now join Jesus and his disciples as they enter Matthew’s house for a meal

………………. See how other tax collectors are joining the party, along with other

people who appear to be social outcasts …………….. how does Jesus interact with them?

……………….. how do the rest of the disciples behave? …………. Do they appear

comfortable in these surroundings or not? ……………. And what about you? Do you feel

comfortable? ………………….. Are these the sort of people you would happily invite to

your home? ………………

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And now some Pharisees come onto the scene ……………. See the expression on their faces

……………. Now listen as they speak to the disciples . “Why does your teacher eat with tax

collectors and sinners?” … and as Jesus overhears these comments listen to his reply

…”It is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick. Go and learn what these words

from the scriptures mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice’. For I have not come to call

the righteous but sinners”.

Ponder these words …. What does Jesus mean? ……………..

You find you have an opportunity to speak to Jesus quietly yourself … What do you want

to say to him, and what is his reply? ……………..

When you are ready come back to the present, thanking God for all that he has

shown you through this meditation.

Jean Radley

Roy Bailey plays Kendal for the Winter Shelter

St George’s Church, Castle Street, Kendal LA9 7AS

8pm, Saturday 14 July

£12 in advance from www.trybooking.co.uk/2724 or on the door For over 60 years, Roy Bailey has been one of the UK Folk & Acoustic

scene's most loved and admired performers. Described as having one of the

finest voices in the folk world, Roy has a large and loyal following

worldwide. Now he is coming over from Sheffield to play a rare gig on this

side of the Pennines, sharing his unique repertoire of songs of dissent and

hope, to raise money for the Kendal Winter Shelter. We are delighted to

welcome him and his fellow band member, Marc Block.

For more information contact: Lois Sparling,

01539 725534, lois@manna-house.org.uk

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Castaway This monthly series is inspired by the much loved and

extremely popular series created by Roy Plomley: DESERT

ISLAND DISCS.

In it we get to know a little more of some of us from our Church community as

we imagine ourselves being a ‘Castaway’, and how we would cope.

This month Julie Armitstead reveals how she would while away her time.

What music would you like to imagine as you were stranded? (3 pieces)

Johann Pachebel : Canon in D Major. This is a very soothing and calming piece

of music—it is often played at weddings, but I like it and find it to be uplifting.

Your food on the island may just be fruit or nuts, so what food and drink

would you rather be eating?

My husband Robert makes the best Sunday lunch of roast

beef, Yorkshire puddings and secret recipe roast

potatoes. I would love to eat any of his roast dinners, with

a glass of Merlot! Or a very chilled glass of Chablis.

Your second choice of music?

Rick Wakeman’s album ‘The 6 Wives of Henry the Eighth’. He’s an amazing

keyboard player and I love listening to the different musical characteristics he

gives to each of Henry the Eighth’s wives. This was one of the first records I

bought in 1973.

If you were to encounter a ‘Man or Woman Friday’ or perhaps both (alive

or dead), who would you like it to be?

Bear Grylls! He would be fantastic at teaching survival skills and it would be

interesting listening to his recollections of adventures and people he has met

and worked with.

What favourite place do you wish you were at instead of being castaway

on the island?

Linn of Dee, Cairngorms, Scotland : a famous beauty spot favoured by Queen

Victoria. There are lots of walking trails through the woods and beside

waterfalls. When walking through Glenhui you walk through Caledonian pine

forests and often see deer, red squirrels and golden eagles.

Your third choice of music?

John Williams and Julian Bream playing ‘La Vida Breve’ by Manual de Falla. They

are two of the best classical guitarists in my opinion. I learned to play classical

guitar at high school, but will never in my wildest dreams be able to play like

theses two maestros.

What book – apart from the Bible - would you like to read?

The complete works of Jane Austen : Sense & Sensibility, Pride & Prejudice,

Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion, Love & Friendship.

I love reading about the vivacious and spirited heroines in her novels. She

studied the nuances of 18th century society and her books are iconic, comic

and wise.

Apart from family and friends, what would you

miss that you could have with you on the Island?

Farrer’s No 1 coffee roast in a glass cafetiere.

Whenever I go into the shop in Kendal it reminds me

of Saturday morning shopping with my mum in town.

We always went to Farrer’s for a coffee and a scone

with jam and cream.

Happy Days

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Children’s pages

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OUT AND ABOUT: in the Beacon Team

Many thanks this month to Karen Metcalfe who shares some memories of St John’s Skelsmergh:

I returned to my home town of Kendal in 2015, having lived in Penrith for the previous 20

years. My parents and family had attended St George’s church; my father and his brothers

were in the choir about 100 years ago and I was Christened and confirmed there. I left

Kendal in the 60s, but returned and was married at St John’s church in Skelsmergh where

my husband was born and lived. I lived in Skelsmergh during the 70s and 80s and became

involved in the church and community there.

St John’s is a beautiful small church and I have many happy memories. All my three

daughters were Christened there and in 2016 my grandson was the 5thgeneration of the

family to be Christened there. During the late 70s and 80s we were privileged to have the

wonderful ministry of Lawrie Peat, who died recently. He really was an amazing man

and there were several wonderful changes made whilst he was at Skelsmergh. The Hall

opposite the church has had many refurbishments over the years and now is used for

events and receptions. During Lawrie’s ministry we had a small choir. Mrs Peat played the

organ and we wore large, blue, rough robes (or horse blankets as we called them) over

our Sunday best clothes to keep us warm up in the choir stalls. The church, like many others

in those days, was a very cold place. I remember some of our older members of the

congregation having hot water bottles on their knees! Nowadays it is warm and welcoming.

Prior to the Beacon Team, Skelsmergh / Selside and Longsleddale were under the ministry

of one vicar who lived at the Vicarage next door to the church. There wasn’t

a Sunday school as such but Lawrie started a 2 day ‘school’ for all children of the 3 parishes

to come to Skelsmergh Church Hall during some of the school holidays. The younger

children spent their days having fun and learning with Sheila Peat in the vicarage and the

older ones were with Lawrie in the Hall. With my mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law, I

attended the W.I monthly in the Hall and we held our monthly meetings of the Mothers’

Union in the Vicarage . After Sheila and Lawrie Peat left the parish to go to Levens, I

became Enrolling Member for a few years until I left Skelsmergh.

I am fortunate that returning to Kendal and discovering the Beacon Team, I can worship at

both churches. At Skelsmergh we are a small congregation and I am back with friends and

old neighbours. Any newcomers and visitors are welcomed warmly. I love singing and it is

wonderful that we have a small choir, led by Liz Bingham of Burneside : the Beacon Team

Choir, which compromise of singers from the different churches in the Team. We sing on

the 5th Sunday of the month in one of the 6 different churches and it is wonderful to

share with our friends from all parishes. The service at the small amazing church at

Longsleddale last summer was so beautifully moving and I look forward to singing there

again in July. We were due to sing at Skelsmergh on April 29th but have been invited to go

to the Cathedral in Carlisle and I hope many as can will go from all our parishes.

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We welcomed Elizabeth Swarbrick to our March meeting. Elizabeth, (dressed in a

beautiful blue dress, which was presented to her on her last visit to Uganda) told us how

she had first gone to Uganda in 1969 to work as a midwife. For two years everything was

quiet in the country.

Once a new leader was appointed Asian people were expelled and societies banned but not

Mothers Union as members decided to ignore the ban and carry on with their work.

Elizabeth explained that Mothers Union members in Uganda have a voice as they own

their organisation and are not attached to our own Mothers Union here in England.

On 25th March they celebrate Mary’s Day and we watched a video of their dancing and

listened to the music.

Elizabeth had been given a tee shirt with the MU logo on the front and “I am the Lords

Servant” on the back. Would we wear that here !!!

She spoke of the many practical ways that MU members help in their own communities,

from improving hygiene to leading by example.

Gradually things are improving, cows are back in the countryside, enabling people to

return. Cow dung goes into underground pits to produce bio gas. Fertiliser is then used to

grow orange trees. An excellent example of improvements.

Sadly HIV & AIDS still affect families in Uganda , but Elizabeth said that although this

is sad, there was also joyous laughter in their lives , trusting in God. Treatment is now

free.

In one area MU members make sanitary kits so that girls can continue to go to school and

one school has built a girls bathroom.

In one town there is a nursery staffed by MU members.

This was a very interesting , thought provoking talk.

Once again members prepared the “ wedding breakfast “ plus chocolate wedding cake for

the Year 5 mock wedding. The Year 5 pupils from Stramongate school acted out the parts

with confidence and maturity , watched by parents , teachers and ourselves.

It was a very moving occasion and a fitting culmination to their studies with the Rev’d

Jean Radley.

Our annual coffee morning takes place on Saturday 12th May from 9.30 to 11.30am.

Our speaker on Wednesday 30th May will be the Rev’d Carole Marsden , whose talk is

entitled “ From Teacher to Preacher “

We welcome everyone to our meetings at 2.00pm in the Radley Room on the last

Wednesday of every month.

Mary Atkinson

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CAFÉ CHURCH @ Costa Coffee, Stricklandgate, Kendal:

Sunday May 13th 6.30pm — 8.00pm

FAITH ON THE FRONTLINE : HEALTH & WHOLENESS

Hear from a panel of health professionals on how their faith

makes a difference

Everybody welcome

Beacon Team Bible Group Through Lent an average of 15 members from 4 of the Beacon Team churches met

each week to follow through the Bible the Love Story between God and his people. It

was an exhilarating journey from Genesis to Revelation. One session had to be

cancelled because of the snowy weather but we just about managed to get to the end.

We began with God’s dealings with Adam and Eve, Noah and Abraham, then saw how he

established and led his chosen people, the children of Israel. Through their history

and the prophets we witnessed their disobedience and rebellion and God’s enduring

faithfulness. Finally, through Jesus, his love and grace has been made known to all the

earth and a relationship with God as Father is now available to all who believe.

After such lively meetings where we could learn [and laugh] together as we read God’s

word and shared our thoughts, it seemed a shame to stop. So, we agreed to meet

monthly from May through to November and look at some of the shorter letters from

the New Testament.

There will be 2 meetings a month 7.15 in the Chapel at St George’s on the 1st

Wednesday and 2nd Thursday. Choose one or the other; I hope that will give

everyone interested a time to suit. The first dates are Wed 2nd May and Thurs

10th May and we shall begin with Paul’s Letter to Philippians.

The full list of dates will soon be available in every church and there will be reminders

on the weekly notice sheets. If you want to come on a Wednesday and then find you

have to miss one it’s OK to come to the Thursday group that month, and vice versa.

As each month’s Letter will be different it will not matter if you miss a month because

of holidays etc.

If you want to know more you can phone 01539 734358,

email m-stevens@hotmail.co.uk or chat after a service.

Come to one, come to all. It will be great to have you join us.

Maureen Stevens

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Asparagus in lemon butter with

parmesan crisps

Many thanks for this Jubilee Recipe Book contribution from Anne Urquhart who adds : Seasonal starter for May – this is really easy, especially if sharing supper with a friend or two, and a delight to use local asparagus for the few weeks it is available.

For the crisps;

150g (5 oz) grated parmesan;

Place parmesan in circles about ¼” high on a baking tray lined with

greaseproof paper, pop into preheated oven at 180 ºC/350 ºF/gas 4 for 7

-9 minutes until golden brown. Remove from oven and immediately cut each

circle into 2 and leave to cool.

For the asparagus Washed English asparagus-16-20 spears to serve 4 -with the hard ends

removed.

Steam for 3-6 minutes until soft.

For the lemon butter Melt 60g (2.5oz) slightly salted butter +juice of 1 lemon.

Serve the asparagus on hot plates with the butter drizzled over and crisps

on the side

COOK’S CORNER

Keeping St George’s website up-to-date

Don’t forget that our website team need to know whatever you’re up to – so that

we can help let the wider community know. So …

if you have a meeting or event to advertise, please

email andrew.hawkins@kendal.ac.uk

if you have a news item (report of a meeting or appeal for help), please

email carolinecropper@hotmail.co.uk

if you have a suggestion for the website in any other way, please

email lois.sparling@gmail.com

Thank you

COOK’S COR-

Puzzle pages (answers on pages 13 and 14)

22 ‘After that,Jesus poured water into a basin and began to—his disciples’ feet’ (John 13:5) (4)

23 The nature of the seven ears of corn which swallowed up the good ears in Pharaoh’s dream

(Genesis 41:23) (4)

25 Has(anag.)(3)

28 ‘This is the account of Shem,Ham and Japheth,—sons’ (Genesis 10:1) (5)

29 ‘I will...make them drunk,so that they...sleep for—and— awake’ (Jeremiah 51:39) (4,3)

30 Paul said of him,‘he often refreshes me and is not ashamed of my chains’ (2 Timothy 1:16) (11) Down 2 Worth (Matthew 13:46) (5)

3 ‘A bruised — he will not break’ (Matthew 12:20) (4)

4 ‘Suddenly a great company of the heavenly — appeared with the angel’ (Luke 2:13) (4)

5 Slip (anag.) (4)

6 ‘Take an awl and push it through his — — into the door, and he will become your servant for

life’ (Deuteronomy 15:17) (3,4)

7 Bountiful (2 Corinthians 8:2) (11)

8 ‘Therefore, as we have — , let us do good to all people’ (Galatians 6:10) (11)

12 Acquire(2Timothy2:10)(6)

14 Container cover(Numbers19:15)(3)

15 ‘He...became obedient to death,even death on——!’ (Philippians 2:8) (1,5)

19 Refrain(1Peter2:11)(7)

20 ‘She began to—his feet with her tears’(Luke7:38)(3)

24 One who worships Brahma,Vishnu or Shiva(5)

25 ‘Give to everyone who—you’(Luke6:30)(4)

26 ‘I lift up my eyes to the hills;where does my—come from?’ (Psalm 121:1) (4)

27 One of those whom the Lord said would be taken from Jerusalem and Judah as judgment on

them (Isaiah 3:2) (4)

This month’s crossword

Across 1 Overpowered (Deuteronomy 11:4) (11)

9 ‘The — are mantled with corn’ (Psalm 65:13) (7)

10 ‘Each man—a sword to his side’(Exodus32:27)

(5)

11 On the death of Jesus the curtain in the temple

was torn from— to bottom (Matthew 27:51) (3)

13 Stagger(Isaiah 28:7)(4)

16 ‘Anyone,then,who knows the good he ought——

and doesn’t do it, sins’ (James 4:17) (2,2)

17 Stir up or provoke(Acts13:50)(6)

18 Burden(Luke11:46)(4)

20 ‘As far as the east is from the—,so far has he

removed our transgressions from us’ (Psalm

103:12) (4)

21 Sign(Luke23:38)(6)

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Wordsearch: After the Ascension

The disciples had spent 40 days with Jesus and now they were called to share that

experience with others. Jesus told them to wait for the gift of the Spirit to empower

them as witnesses. ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.’ The Spirit also equips us to display Jesus’

character (fruit) and enables us to witness (gifts). How does our life demonstrate the

difference Jesus makes? The early Christians were called to witness for Jesus in ever-

increasing circles of influence. For us, this will mean family and friends, workplace and

community, and the wider world. Where is God calling us to serve Him?

Sudoku Crossword answers

Ascension

Disciples

Forty

Jesus

Share

Experience

Wait

Gift

Spirit

Empower

Equip

Witnesses

Jerusalem

Father

Early

Christians

Demonstrate

Difference

Family

Friends

Workplace

Community

World

Calling

Serve

Sudoku and wordsearch answers

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Postage Stamps

Please keep saving your used postage stamps to help charities!

Remember to bring them down to Church and put them in the box at the back of Church and

they will be passed on to Charities for the Blind who can use them for fund raising. Please

would you leave about 5mm (or 1/4 “, if you prefer!) of paper round each stamp to help with

removing them from the paper.

Thanks to all those who faithfully bring in their stamps already. Please keep up the

good work!

Grace to be not like porridge

O Lord, grant that we may not be like porridge

Stiff, stodgy and hard to stir But like cornflakes: crisp, fresh and ready

to serve.

Anon

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SMILE TIME More ’Little Johnny’ gems from John Blake :

Teacher: I hope I didn't see you looking at Tommy's test paper.

Johnny: I hope you didn't see me either!

Teacher: In 1940 what were the Poles doing in Russia?

Johnny: Holding up the telegraph lines.

Teacher: Can anyone tell me what the Dog Star is?

Johnny: Lassie.

Thanks too to Ken Tulley for these quotations :

Chocolate comes from cocoa, this is a tree, which makes it a plant ….

so chocolate is salad!

Seen on the website of the Flat Earth Society : ‘We are growing in

size and have members from all corners of the Globe’.

Not sure what that says about the beliefs of the Society!

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Easter is a time of surprises. Surprises are all around us.

We began by finding pairs of cards showing some of nature’s surprises: a tadpole that

turns into a frog; a small sunflower seed that grows taller than us.

Ruth had some surprises for us. If you try to pop a balloon through a piece of sellotape

she said, it won’t pop - only ours did. This was quite a surprise for people who don’t like

balloons!!

We sent Andy out of the room and hid. When he came back in we gave him a surprise

when we jumped out and blew on kazoos.

The Easter story is full of surprises. Jesus’s friends were hiding after he died.

Mary Magdalen and her friends went to find Jesus’s body. The heavy stone was gone

and the grave clothes were empty. An angel told them he was not there.

They ran to tell the disciples who went to see for themselves.

Mary went back to the tomb. She met Jesus in the garden. He

was alive.

Easter eggs are a sign of new life. When we roll painted eggs down

a hill we are remembering the heavy stone that was rolled away.

Our final surprise was wrapped in newspaper in Andy’s bin - a

chocolate egg for everyone.

Diane Knowles

Sunday

Club

BBC Radio Cumbria

Easter Big Sing

On 22nd March 2018 I and some friends, along with

approximately 400 others, were members of the

congregation in Kendal Parish Church for the recording of the big Easter Sing. We

were welcomed by Richard Corrie and Val Armstrong, Radio Cumbria presenters, who

explained the format of the service. It began with a rehearsal of some of the hymns

and information about how the service would progress. The singing was to be

accompanied by the Mark Houston Band and the Organist. Recording began at 7.30

with a resounding rendition of Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the Highest followed by

To God Be The Glory. Presenter Caroline Robertson gave us a reading of Mary’s

feelings on Good Friday, very moving as we imagined her seeing her son treated in

such a way. The rest of the service followed like this with hymns interspersed with

readings, composed by Richard Corrie, from various presenters as Pontius Pilate,

Simon of Cyrene, and a reading from another author regarding Tertius a Roman

Soldier — all very thought-provoking on different aspects of the Easter story. There were also two Easter bible readings. Father Hugh Pollock from the Catholic

Church in Kendal reflected on Easter and our walk with Jesus. We then sang Our God

is a Great Big God with actions, impressing Richard Corrie as the whole congregation

joined in. Mark Houston led the prayers and the evening closed with a marvellous

rendition of Thine Be The Glory — very uplifting at the end of an inspiring evening.

I found that, in so many ways, the service reflected the great sadness of Good

Friday, the uncertainty of the future on Holy Saturday and the Glory of the

Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

All the presenters met us as we left the church and it was so nice to put faces to

those we hear so regularly on the radio. They thanked us for our support and said how

much they had enjoyed their evening. A collection was made towards Children In

Need and £1003.03 was raised.

The service was broadcast over the Easter period and, listening to it, I was reminded

of this very special evening at Kendal Parish Church.

Eileen Allen

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St George’s Church & Greyrigg

MOTHERS’ UNION

COFFEE

MORNING Saturday 12th May 9.30 - 11.30am

St George’s Church, Castle Street

Cake Stall, Raffle, Bottle Tombola

New Goods Stall, Card Stall

£1.00

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Well dressed!

Where do you go to hear the terms pettling, flowering, barking or

puddling?

Derbyshire, or course – where the tradition of ‘well dressing’ goes right back

to 1394, when two annual displays in Tissington and Buxton began. Nowadays, there are dozens

of well dressings held across Derbyshire each summer.

So - how does one dress a well?

First, you take hard board, and wet it for up to three weeks. Then clay is puddled into just the

right consistency and mounted on the board. The clay is then barked (dot to dot) so that you

can plan the display in great details. Next, pettling – when flower petals, dried fruit and veg is

pricked out onto the clay board. Finally the display is mounted next to the historical well.

Well dressing can be a reminder to thank God for the blessing of water, as well as a fun

activity for the whole community, and it certainly keeps an old tradition alive and well. It can

also raise money for charity. In many communities the churches join in by offering to organise

hymns and prayers at the well dressing, as well as some tea and cake.

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