Parishes celebrate the Jubilee

11th May 2022

 
Celebrations, big and small have been planned, bunting bought, invitations sent out and cake making is being prepared as Bath and Wells communities come together to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen's 70 years of service.
 
How are you celebrating? Do share your stories and photographs with us. Email comms@bathwells.anglican.org or tag us on social media.
 
In Stogumber they have covered St Mary’s church tower with a beautiful floral cascade of more than 2,000 handmade flowers. For almost a year local volunteers have been knitting, crocheting, and sewing the flowers to add to the rainbow of colour.  A flower festival is planned in St Mary’s for Jubilee week. Watch as the cascade is hoisted to the top of the church tower with the help of voluteers and the local firebrigade, the whole thing was filmed by BBC Somerset.
 

Across the diocese many more celebrations of all kinds are taking place.
 
Bath Abbey                                                                                                                
Platinum Jubilee Evening Prayer The children of the Abbey’s youngest choir, Melody Makers, will be singing at Evening Prayer on the 2 June at 5.30pm, to give prayerful and joyful thanks for the faithfulness and faith of The Queen. On Friday 3 June a band of bellringers will attempt to ring the Abbey bells to a full peal of more than 5,000 changes of Cambridge Surprise Royal. This will begin at 12noon and, if successful, will last approximately three and a half hours." Matthew Butler, Tower Master. Tours: From Coronation to Queen Jubilee Tours Thurs 2 – Sat 4 June. An Exhibition in the South Transept will bring together precious documents and objects from our Archive that tell the stories of our royal visits and special occasions in the twentieth century, from Queen Victoria to our present Queen.
 
St Petrock’s in Timberscombe, deep in the heart of Exmoor, is planning a three day open Village and Church Heritage Exhibition on 2-3 June, and again on Monday 6 June. Ancient church registers, complete from 1656 along with many other historic church documents, churchwarden accounts and faculty papers held by the Somerset Heritage Centre will be among the things on display. Alongside these will be extracts from the History Group which is based in the church. Pupils from the local school will be guided through the displays and their Platinum Jubilee creative work will be exhibited in the church alongside a display of village royal memorabilia gathered for the event. 
 
There is a long and unbroken tradition of celebrating Royal Jubilees, Weddings and Coronations with the lighting of beacons. In 1897, beacons were lit to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. In 1977, 2002 and 2012, beacons commemorated the Silver, Golden and Diamond Jubilees of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. On 2 June this year more than 2,022 beacons will be lit throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories, and one in each of the capital cities of Commonwealth. In Masbury Ring, Somerset the tradition continues with a Beacon Bonfire which will be one of the more than 2,000. The beacon will be lit as the sun is setting and those enjoying the spectacle will be able to celebrate with a picnic at the site.
 
These are just a selection of celebrations planned by our parishes:
  • St Martin's Church in Worle is open on Friday 3 June for people to come together to watch the special Service of Thanksgiving streamed live from St Paul's in London. There will also be coffee and pastries. On Sunday 5 June they're having cream tea in the church and a Songs of Praise Service featuring hymns that have been part of royal services of celebration across the years.
  • St Peter's Church North Newton and St Mary's Church North Petherton are both holding a Special Service with words and music to mark the Jubilee.
  • On Friday 3 June, 6.30pm St Giles churchyard there will be celebratory singing. A selection of hymns and songs chosen by local people will be followed by 'fizz and nibbles'.
  • St Peter and St John in Northmoor Green are holding a proms and picnic in the Paddock at Acorn Lodge on Friday 5 June.
  • In Crook Peak Parish the 6 village communities across the United Parish are holding a Celebration Praise and Picnic at Flagstaff Farm in Christon on Sunday the 5 June. This will be outdoors if the weather permits and in a lovely barn if it rains. There will be live music for all attending to enjoy.
  • In Binegar and Gurney Slade they are holding a Family Funday on Sunday 5 June in the memorial Hall and park and in Oakhill they have a 1950’s themed Platinum Picnic planned at Oakhill Recreation Ground and in the evening at Oakhill at the village Hall there will be a Jubilee Dance Party.
  • In Nunney, All Saints Church will be holding a Community Jubliee Commemoration Service at 10am on Sunday, 5 June to which all Nunney community organisations have been invited.
  • St James, Taunton are organising a Family Fun Day from 11am until 3pm on Saturday, 14 June.
  • Wheathill Benefice have a range of events planned across Keinton Mandeville, Barton St David and Lydford on Fosse, they include an Exhibition of Crafts and Memorabilia and a Royal Treasure Hunt. You can read more on page 13 of their May parish magazine which you can find on their website.
These are a few celebrations we know of, but why not tell us what your church community has planned. Email the Comms Team.