| Where: | Barking, Essex at St Margaret's Centre, St Margaret's Church |
| When: | Weekday in late May/early June (often a Tuesday) |
| Time: | 3pm (often 4pm approximately with laying of Chaplet at 5.30) |
Ann Nepton set up a charitable trust in the seventeenth century to make an annual payment to the poor and needy of Barking in Essex and her generous legacy continues today, organised and administered by the Worshipful Company of Poulters. After the distribution of the money to the many local recipients in church, the party dressed in fine regalia gather outside with the clergy around the table tomb of Ann and her husband Thomas. Prayers are said and a wreath is laid in their memory. A supper follows that evening for ticket holders only, but anyone can attend the Distribution (though don’t expect a crowd as it’s little-known outside the parish).
Helpful Hints
The ceremony usually takes place during late May or the first week in June, though this varies a little from year to year. In 2024 it should be on Tuesday 28th May.
Click here for the church website: https://stmargaretschurchbarking.com
and Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/stmargaretschurchbarking
Click here for the Poulters’ website: http://www.poulters.org.uk
Click here for a first-hand account: https://traditionalcustomsandceremonies.wordpress.com/2015/06/30/custom-survived-the-nepton-distribution-barking/
Thanks to Ross Parish for news of this survival!
Photo by Diamond Geezer
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