| Where: | Newchurch in Pendle, Lancashire with Procession from St Mary's School on Spenbrook Road to the Church |
| When: | Saturday in mid July |
| Time: | Procession usually 2 pm |
Newchurch is one of the few locations in which the once-common custom of rush bearing still takes place. Back in the days when churches had cold earth floors, the annual renewal of rushes for cleanliness and warmth became an occasion for celebration. Most of the surviving customs are in the northwestern corner of England and some involve rushcarts and flower covered bearings. At Newchurch, there’s a Rushbearing Queen who is crowned before a short service at the church, following a flower-bedecked procession from the school with some bearings in the shape of crowns and crosses. This is followed by refreshments, and on the Sunday the Queen presides over the morning service.
Helpful Hints
It’s held each year on a Saturday, usually in mid July (ignore the many references on the internet to it happening in August as this is incorrect!). Full details will appear on the church Facebook page below.
In 2023 it was on Saturday July 1st, a little earlier than usual, with Malkin Morris leading the procession, and due to work on the church floor the service was held back at the school. As it was a special Coronation year, two Queens were crowned. 2024 date is yet to be announced.
Pendle is famous for its history of witchcraft and the western face of the church tower bears a mysterious “eye of god” symbol, origins unknown, while a gravestone to the Nutter family is connected to that of Alice Nutter ,one of the Pendle Witches executed in 1612.
Click here for the church Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/stthomasandstmarys
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