| Where: | Sandwich, Kent at the Hospital of St Bartholomew |
| When: | 24th August (unless 24th falls on a weekend - see Helpful Hints) |
| Time: | Service at 11 am, race at noon |
St Bartholomews Day is celebrated in Sandwich by a special patronal service in the chapel of the ancient Hospital of St Bartholomew, followed by a race for children. The race is believed to represent the travels which pilgrims made in the past to holy sites, and the buns represent the fare they were offered on their journeys. The youngsters are given currant buns and adults receive a hard St Bart’s Biscuit with the town coat of arms impressed on them. The Hospital is still an almshouse for sixteen elderly people, reputedly founded in gratitude to celebrate a victory over the French way back in the thirteenth century.
Helpful Hints
In 2024 it should be on Friday 23rd August as 24th falls on a Saturday- it should be after the 11 am Service (so the race will be around noon)- to be confirmed.
It takes place on St Bartholomews Day 24th August UNLESS this falls on a weekend. If 24th falls on a Saturday the race takes place on Friday 23rd and if 24th falls on a Sunday it takes place on Monday 25th instead.
When we went in 2018 the biscuits for adults were given out only to those who attended the church service.
Click here for church contacts (the Bun Run appears in the fixtures list in The Signal, the St Clements parish magazine): http://www.stclementschurchsandwich.org.uk
and here for the Festival: https://sandwichevents.org.uk/sandwich-festival/
and here: http://www.open-sandwich.co.uk/events/sandwich_festival.htm
Click here to find out more : http://www.open-sandwich.co.uk/town_history/traditions.htm
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