| Where: | Ackworth, Yorkshire at St Cuthbert's Church |
| When: | A Sunday in early October |
| Time: | At the end of the 10 am morning service |
At St Cuthbert’s Church in Ackworth, the statue of the Saint above the church porch is given a special burden every autumn- his crozier is garlanded with a sheaf of corn. The hanging of the sheaf follows the traditional Harvest Festival service held on a Sunday early in October, which features a collection of foodstuffs for distribution to the needy and all the seasonal hymns you’d expect at such a service like “We plough the fields and scatter” and “Come ye thankful people come”. The church is beautifully decorated with seasonal colour and the sheaf stands by the altar until the conclusion of the service . Apparently in olden times the sheaf was hung in wintertime, but it seems appropriate that it has moved to Harvest when the corn is fresh, and it will nourish the local birds as supplies grow scarcer through the autumn.
Helpful Hints
In 2023 the Service was on Sunday October 8th- 2024 date is yet to be confirmed but likely to be Sunday 6th.
The sheaf hanging is very low key so if you want to be sure of seeing it happening, leave the church very quickly at the end of the service or you might miss it! All ages are welcome at the Service and everyone is very friendly.
Parking is available at the Brown Cow pub next door by kind permission of the landlords.
Click here for the church website: http://www.ackworthcofe.co.uk
and here for the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AckworthParishStCuthbertsAndAllSaints
Many thanks to Jane Gosney for all her help!
The Vicar confirms that it will be on Sun 9, the Harvest Festival service starting at 10 a.m.
Thanks Roy! If you go, make sure you very swiftly exit the church as the service ends- the sheaf was hung up very quickly last year and it would be a pity to miss it going up.