our benefice celebrates harvest

All three churches celebrated Harvest on Sunday 1st October. Parish Communion took place at 9.30am at St. Mary’s followed by an 11.15am Harvest Celebration at St. Michael & All Angels and a 3.00pm Harvest Celebration at St. Cuthbert’s.  In each of the three churches Revd. Jeremy was surrounded by magnificent displays of flowers, fruit and vegetables, as everyone gave thanks for ‘crops gathered in’.

Harvest Supper at St. Mary’s took place in Offwell Village Hall on Friday 6th October. A hot supper was served, followed by entertainment with Revd. Jeremy acting as MC. Everyone joined in with Mustingo, a bingo styled game where song titles are substituted on a bingo styled card in place of numbers. Much fun was had by all and thanks must go to everyone involved with organising such a successful evening. Some of the harvest displays in St. Mary’s can be seen on www.offwell.org  (Photo Gallery) with the names of those who produced the displays.

​In Farway Harvest Supper was celebrated on Saturday 23rd September with a Barn Dance in the Village Hall. It was a sell-out success with local band ‘Slack-Ma-Girdle’ boasting an ‘impressive selection of instruments’. There was a prize for the best dancer and a prize was awarded to the longest rider on the Mechanical Bronco.  Burgers, sausages and veggie options were on offer, along with ‘cheese or hot stuff’ toppings, all included in the ticket price. Never say farming families don’t know how to properly celebrate harvest time, no matter what the weather may choose to throw at them. One has to admire their constitutions – barn dance, rodeo riding, bar and burgers with hot stuff! Again thanks must go to the Village Hall committee for putting on such a successful evening; the first Barn Dance held at Farway for many years.

In Widworthy the Offwell ringers rang the five bells at St. Cuthbert’s before their service in the afternoon, after ringing the six bells at St. Mary’s in the morning.
The church was beautifully decorated with flowers, fruits and vegetables. It was Billy Anne Leach’s first Harvest service as the new owner of Widworthy Barton. Billy assisted Bishop Oliver in leading the service of thanksgiving with a talk about the joys and variety of the Devon produce, remembering those who have less than us, of which there are so many. Good voice was given to the traditional harvest hymns and following the service everyone went across to Widworthy Barton for a cream tea, put together by some of the ladies of the regular congregation. Special thanks must go to Carol, Kate, Mary and Mim. There was also a raffle with lots of yummy prizes to raise funds for the church. Thanks must especially go to Andrew and Billy Anne Leach for so generously welcoming everyone into their home for the Harvest tea.

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