The Shawthraite well-dressing ceremony.
Every first-Sunday in August, rain or shine; I take a possee of Christians, tourists and most of the village who can get up in time to the Mompesson well. Named after the vicar of nearby Eyam in the time of the plague. (see http://www.cressbrook.co.uk/eyam/ for more information).
I kneel down in front of the arch-shaped well, and I bless it in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Then I put on a piece of natural clay in the chalked-in outline and add a purple violet petal. This is on church plate (silver) and handed to me by the leading alter boy (or girl).
Still on my knees, I bow to the well, (struggle to) get up, and move as a line full of people place petals, leaves and twigs all on the well, and supervised by the artist of the well or their rep.
Some of the more famous wells like Tessington, get in grand artists of tapestry or art. (Last year Tideswell tried to get Tracy Emin!) In the ninety-seventies, wells were designed by among others, Andy Warhol and Gerald Scarfe, (and even a local poet Terry Cuthbert!) These days they are more often designed in the local school by the art teacher and her class.
Rather than explain more fully what all this well-dressing means, I can do no better than give you another web-link.
Rev. Toby +
Comments (12)
I am on my way over there! Bless you, my friend for the links!!!! BTW, I, too, have to be pulled up from a kneeling position…what rot!!!!
Very appropriate Easter proceedings.!
I’m still not sure I understnad it all, but it sounds interesting enough.
Well, you know I loved them. I think it is so just perfect for Easter and Spring. Nothing is more important than a towns well water so am sure that must have had something to do with starting it in the past. I would love to see it.
That is a different sort of ceremony.
Thanks for your comment.
Mmmmmmmm interesting being you are ???? Share more – tell me more !!!!!! I am all ears.
Madussa
Interesting custom. Thanks for sharing it. I am not aware of people doing this in the US.
Thanks also for the link to the poem about teachers. You are right – that is a wonderful poem and really says it all!
I’ve never heard of that. Hmmmm, interesting.
really interesting. i don’t celebrate easter, but i’d like to see what the ceremony looks like. protocol is always important.
Never been much interested in Easter except for chocolate bunnies, but interesting.
~V
What a lovely ceremony Rev. While others may have lost the essential meaning in their attempts to “beautify” their wells, you are wise enough to know nothing dresses a well better than God’s good gifts. Very nice.
your links were very interesting…but not as interesting as you, Reverand…this must be a “deeply” moving, “well” intended, ceremony…