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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
1
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? ………………
3
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, [email protected]
4
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
5
6
Children’s pages
7
8
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.
9
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
10
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 [email protected] or chat after a service.
Come to one, come to all. It will be great to have you join us.
Maureen Stevens
11
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 [email protected]
if you have a news item (report of a meeting or appeal for help), please
email [email protected]
if you have a suggestion for the website in any other way, please
email [email protected]
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)
13
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
14
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
15
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!
16
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
18
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
19
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.
20