CAPTION: Cranbrook Church held a Jubilee Messy Church event
Churches Celebrate Platinum Jubilee With Community Events
Churches across Devon celebrated H.M. The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with a range of events, including special services, bellringing, hand-made bunting, tree-planting ceremonies, cream teas and community lunches, flower festivals and craft events.
For many churches it was a way to connect with their local communities and come together after the restrictions of the pandemic.
Jubilee cakes in the Horsebox Cafe run by Pinhoe Church
St Pancras church in Plymouth held an All Age service followed by Walking Church, which invites families to journey through the church building doing activities along the way. People then enjoyed a sit-down Jubilee lunch for 100 people.
Mariska Minter, the Families and Outreach worker at the church, said “We are just a tad tired now but it was a fab day and so lovely to have a mixed team of volunteers from the community and the church.”
Cranbrook Community Church held a Jubilee Messy Church event as part of the town’s celebrations and St Andrew’s Church, Ashburton, released 70 purple and silver balloons inside the church as part of its Jubilee service.
Jubilee congregation in Parkham, taken from the church tower
Rev’d Madeleine Bray, Team Rector of the Hartland Mission Community in North Devon, said in Parkham: “The church gave the gift of the Jubilee book to every household in the parish – over 300!
“We held a finger buffet social time on the Beacon Lighting evening, with bell ringing, and showed the live events from the TV, and then went outside to light our own beacon. We held a Jubilee service on Friday with about 80 people attending, and afterwards had a photo taken from the tower. We held a super Big Lunch in the village hall, ending with Jubilee cake.
“We also had a barn dance, and a Big Picnic. A very full weekend!”
St Michael’s church in Tiverton had a Jubilee wedding, with the bride arriving on horseback.
Tree planting service in Chursten Ferrers
St Andrew’s Church, Tiverton, was one of a number of churches which planted trees for the Jubilee as part of its celebrations.
Churchwarden Joan Mitchell, said “Our service of Evensong was followed by the planting of two trees in the Church garden and afternoon tea in the Church Hall. The rain did not dampen our spirits on what was a joyous occasion.”
The Bishop of Exeter said “It’s extraordinary in an age and society when we celebrate youth that our head of state should be a great grandmother aged 96, who embodies extraordinary wisdom and resilience.
“One of the things she is very open about is her own Christian faith, she doesn’t have to go to church but she does so, week by week.”
