Hello!  This tame of yar brings with it a tindency to relax and assume that awl is will with the warld.  Warm arly simmer afternoons laying in the grarss arfter a libat-i-on et the Nane Bills; watching the cwarboys frolic in the Close; teasing the Cenon Precentor with may crosier, end looking forward to the clargy croquet evenings with great anticipat-i-on.  Thus it would be easy to spind the summer in such a fash-i-on, ignoring the hayer callings which affict us awl.  Therefore I have desaded to be out end abite in the darsen perishes a lot more then in the past.  This season of Trinity I see it es may duty to visit es minny perishes es possible before the evening begin to draw in, end the thunderstorms of August dempen the fetes of Shaston Farthing.  Remember thet I em your bishop – end the place for a bishop is with his own people end darsis.

May the Lawd bliss you awl.

+ Roderick Codpiecium.

The sedate life of the Cathedral Close here in Wenchoster is enlivened at this time of the year with the ancient traditions of our County.  For three hundred years or more Whitsun has been the time for walks and processions, some of a short distance around the Close itself, and others of far longer mileage, the pilgrims striding out into the surrounding countryside and villages bearing clay pots of ale and baskets of parkin.  In the 1930’s there was a short revival of the medieval "Procession of Witness" from the west door of the Cathedral and down to the old Cattle Market.  The custom fell once more into disuse following the incident with the curate of Censing Hill and a bullock.  These days the Cathedral Chapter process informally around the city calling at the old coaching Inns.

On Whit Monday lunchtime I shall repair to the Nine Bells to enjoy their Whitsun Ales festival.  Throughout the Easter season the cathedral vergers collect monetary subscriptions from every one of the regular worshippers, as well as accosting the hundreds of visitors the cathedral receives.  This fund is used to provide a revel that begins at the Nine Bells where free beer is provided from the sixth until the ninth hour.  After everyone has drunk their fill, and more often than not to excess, sporting contests are held on the cathedral lawns where the athletes of the parish distinguish or embarrass themselves in wrestling, boxing, and duck tossing.  A Mummers Play is performed and Morris Dancers gambol around a Maypole erected near the statue of “Striding Mary” – a modern piece depicting Mary Magdalene on her way to buy the jar of nard.  More dances take place, with young girls and matrons moving their feet to the music of bagpipes, drums and fiddles.  In the 18th century it was not unusual for this day of merriment to descend into a week or more of debauchery. 

In the evening I shall sit astride my bicycle and pedal off to Castle Mound to watch the rough and tumble of their Bread and Cheese Day.  After Evensong at St Mott’s church we shall repair to the wall below the castle and watch the young “bucks” scramble in the lane for the bread and cheese that is hurled down at them from above.  There are always injuries, but there have been no deaths since 1897 when Alfred Trumpet was felled by a particularly hard cheddar striking him just above his left eye.  I prefer this event to the other cheese rolling events that take place across the Diocese, at Wimple Clutch, Badger’s Poke, Mumsbury-on-the-Hill and Overcamp, although each has their band of dedicated followers.

There are few places in England where the Church is so involved in such social celebration.  I am privileged to serve in such a Diocese.

The Very Reverend Rupert Henry Philpott-Thrashington

Dean of Wenchoster

Winning Team in the Stinking Bishop cheese rolling competition at Wimple Clutch, 1906.

A wet Whitsunday Walk in Wenchoster Parva circa 1957.