Herefordshire Pax Cake Distribution

Where: Sellack at St Tysilio's Church, Hentland at St Dubricious' Church & Kings Caple at St John the Baptist's Church, Peterchurch at St Peter's Church with walk starting at St Peter's Well
When: Palm Sunday
Time: Hentland 3pm - other churches at morning service: Sellack 9 am joint service with Kings Caple, Peterchurch walk starts 10 am to service at 11 am

 

The distribution of Pax Cakes survives in three churches in Herefordshire and has been started at another; it is a charity dole and the round shortbread-like biscuits are given out by the vicar  after the Sunday service. They are stamped with the image of a lamb and a blessing of “Peace and Good Neighbourhood” is spoken with each gift (hence the name of Pax Cakes as “pax” is the Latin for “peace”). The dole is believed to go back to a fifteenth century bequest. The churches of Sellack and Kings Caple are very close together and currently share their services in the morning, connected by a walk which begins with the distribution of Palms, while Hentland takes place during the afternoon. The  custom has also been recently established at Peterchurch, and sherry is served with the Pax cakes.

Helpful Hints

In 2025 Palm Sunday will be on Sunday 13th April.

Palm Sunday moves in date from year to year as it is linked to the moveable feast of Easter.

The walk between the churches at Sellack and Kings Caple may be muddy, and it involves crossing a very wobbly footbridge! After crossing the Wye, a donkey joins the procession and in all it takes just over half an hour depending on how quickly the donkey sets the pace. Instead of tea and coffee, cider and sherry are served along with the Pax Cakes.

Click here for Hentland’s parish website : http://www.stw.org.uk/

here for Sellack: https://stowcaplechurches.co.uk/services/

and here for Kings Caple contacts: https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/10582/

and here for Peterchurch: http://www.wyedoreparishes.org.uk/Peterchurch.htm

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