Whitley Chapel Clipping the Church

Clipping the Church is an ancient custom whereby parishioners join hands in a ring to literally encircle and embrace the building, and a very recent revival takes place in Hexhamshire in Northumberland, at the Church of St Helen at Whitley Chapel. Like the similar custom on Mothers’ day at Upwey (see separate article), it’s a celebration of the Mother Church, and while other clipping customs happen at different seasons of the year it seems a highly appropriate time for it. The event starts with a traditional Mothering Sunday service in the church, with the opportunity to belt out some well-known family friendly hymns, and posies of flowers are handed out to all the ladies in the congregation in a charming gesture by the children. At the end of the service, everyone leaves the building and joins hands in a chain around the church while singing – and even though it’s a substantial structure we managed to join up! Tea and cakes follow inside the church including a beautifully made simnel cake which was big enough for all to share. It’s a very friendly place and all are welcome.

Helpful Hints

In 2025 Mothering Sunday falls on 30th March.

As Mothering Sunday is linked to the moveable feast of Easter it varies in date from year to year but is usually during March.

There’s plenty of parking near the church – some mapping software has it marked in the wrong place so if you get directed towards the mill (on a minor road north of the centre) rather than the village itself, ignore it (I used the church postcode in my satnav and that’s what happened to me but luckily I was able to ask someone for directions).

Many thanks to Rev Andrew Patterson and the congregation at St Helen’s for making me so welcome, and especially to Peter McKendrick for the photos from around the corner!

Click here for church contacts: https://www.hexhamshire.org.uk/church/

and Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Whitleychapelparishhall/?ref=hl