| Where: | Southwold, Suffolk at St Edmunds Church |
| When: | 20th November or near schoolday |
| Time: | 2pm for 2.30 |
November 20th is the feast day of St Edmund; at Southwold it is celebrated by a dole of special buns at the local church which is dedicated to the saint. The children of the local primary school are given sticky buns in memory of Edmund’s sticky end : pierced by arrows, headless and martyred for his faith. The Anglo Saxon King is now Patron Saint of Suffolk and the festival is a healthy revival of an ancient custom marking his memory. The schoolchildren are invited to participate in telling Edmund’s sad tale, and a couple of well-known hymns are part of the short service which is attended by local dignitaries. All are welcome to attend and hear the story of St Edmund, and visitors as well as the children receive a sticky bun at the end.
Helpful Hints
In 2024 it was on Wednesday 20th November- 2025 date is yet to be announced.
If 20th November falls on a weekend, the distribution is moved to a near-date schoolday (often the Friday) and in some years it varies date slightly to fit in with the commitments of the participants. The event is organised by the Town Council and the school as well as the Church.
To find out more and get the bun recipe, click here : http://www.bbc.co.uk/suffolk/content/articles/2007/11/16/st_edmund_buns_feature.shtml
Click here for the school website (the event usually appears on their calendar) : www.southwold.suffolk.sch.uk
here for the church: https://www.stedmundssouthwold.com
and here: http://www.solebayteamministry.co.uk
and here for the Town Council : https://southwoldtown.com
I’ve enquired & the date will be on Tuesday November 20 at 2.30.
Alice Sanders.
Thanks Alice- you’ve just beaten me to it as my annual email inquiry to check the date was just sent off this weekend!
Best wishes,
Averil
I attended the St. Edmund’s Sticky Bun Service & thoroughly enjoyed it. I was very pleased that the adults as well as the children were handed out the sticky buns at the door! Well worth a visit!
Alice Sanders.
Thanks for that Alice – it’s still on my to-do list so maybe next year…It’s good to know about the buns – I shall add that detail to the listing as sometimes adult visitors miss out on things like that!
Best wishes,
Averil