Holidays are over, a new term at school is underway and the crops are “safely gathered in.” So Harvest Festival is almost upon us. In our rural parish of East Garston, it is clear that ancient country customs remain important in our community. So on Sunday 11 October, we shall once again celebrate Harvest with a Family Service at 12 noon.
Harvest Lunch, splendid as usual, will follow in the Village Hall.
The church will be decorated on Friday 9th and Saturday morning 10th October, by men and women as well as mothers and children. If you would like to be involved, please contact Ann Phillips 648 660.
In previous years we have worked with a local baker, teaching local school children to bake bread. This is always a popular project.
West Berkshire Strings – a popular group of young (and one or two not quite so young!) musicians, trained and inspired by Patricia Glover, will again play at the service. We are very fortunate to have this group play for us and we have enjoyed watching them grow and develop.
Harvest is one of three country customs: the other two are less well known, but we have celebrated them in our parishes since 2008, though not every year. Rogation is in early May when the blessing of crops and stock takes place. This was in hope of an abundant Harvest. If the crops failed then the parish went hungry in the winter. Below the Rogation service at Maidencourt Farm in East Garston, which took place under the willow trees on the banks of the river Lambourn. The service was conducted by The Revd Martin Partridge and a youthful George Rabbits gave one of the readings.
The third custom, on the first August – Lammas, marked the first cutting of ripened grain which was made into a large decorative loaf. This was presented to the parish priest and used at Holy Communion. Three outdoor services were held in different locations in East Garston in 2011. The picture shows one of these when the Lammas loaf, baked by a local baker was presented by Elved Phillips to The Revd Tony Cumberlidge.
Afterwards, the Lammas Lunch….
Everyone is very welcome at the Harvest service and the lunch.
It is always a very happy Family occasion.
We look forward to seeing you.
(Please contact Vikki Brooks 649 744
if you are able to be with us for lunch)