"Our Festival Day falls almost too late in the month to insert the account of its celebration in the next magazine. We apologize therefore for the apparent remoteness of its events, but we should not like all record of them to slip.

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

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