Our annual Festival is
a great day with us, and it is well that it should be so, for it is
the continually recurring evidence that we are united together as
a community, which claims to have its foundation resting upon the
rock of the Church of Christ. Hence has been chosen as our watchword,
the name of one of the foremost of her first bulwarks, the first martyr
of the apostles, S. James. Hence that
our parish is specially known by his name. Hence that our Church is
dedicated to his memory, and hence, too, that S. James’ Day
is a red-letter day in our calendar. Our Festival, perhaps, is the
time above all others that we should be endeavouring to preserve and
consolidate the unity of spirit which should exist in all communities;
and on this account it is not at all inapt that the most complete
symbol of unity which we could produce, should be the centre round
which the celebration of our Festival should seem to cluster.
We have no other such a symbol of unity as our parish school, where,
in the interest of our little ones, we have one common interest, we
have the deepest fellow feeling. That long precession, with its flags
and music and happy faces, symbolic of joyous hearts within, 550 of
our children united as one surely give us a key note to the unity
which we should strive to preserve and strengthen as members of the
Body of Christ. The weather, which during some weeks had caused anxiety
to those who were responsible for out-door fetes, was especially favourable
to us, and we had a glorious day. There is nothing specially new to
chronicle. The children met as usual at the school, and as might have
confidently been expected there were very few absentees. They were
formed into line and headed by the Hampton Hill Band, marched to the
Church, where the usual short but bright service was held.
After the service, the procession was once more formed, and again
led by the Band, showed itself to full advantage in the march round
the Vicarage field. Tea was found ready, and very shortly after 4
o’clock, the little ones with the kind aid of many to wait on
them, were soon masters of the situation, and enjoying a thoroughly
good tea. Then followed the accustomed routine of sports and amusements
specially adapted to young minds. Punch and Judy was as popular as
ever, if not more so, for there seems to be an ever increasing difficulty
in maintaining the arrangement of the audience so as to ensure the
little ones a full view of the performance. Then there were the swings
and the races, bell in the ring, jumping and all manner of games extemporized
by the children and their teachers. In the meantime the wants of those
who kindly helped were cared for on the inner lawn. Our Band, too,
ministered not a little to the success and brightness of the day,
and was especially appreciated by the well-grown children who delighted
to trip it gaily en the green sward, when the shadows of evening fell.
Many a young heart and many older ones too, we trust, went home well
satisfied, and thankful to God for the bright and pleasant day that
they had enjoyed.
Our Festival was not complete however, for the next day, Sunday, its
celebration was carried into God’s House, our Church of S. James,
and there in bright and hearty services, we were enable to join together
in the spirit of love and unity, and to offer our united service of
praise and thanksgiving unto God. There were good congregations and
the services were bright and hearty. The next morning, Monday, July
25th, S. James’ Day, there were two celebrations of Holy Communion
at 7.30 and 10 a.m., and thus ended our Dedication Festival of 1892."
Source: The Hampton Hill Parish Magazine
- 1892 September
