Post by sameedle on Jun 20, 2011 8:52:39 GMT
Just had a message from John Oakley ref WRAYSBURY.
John, Patricia and Jackie, plus Ezra the ranter, spent part of Sunday at Wrays bury Church and from the info below it sounds like the day was a great success. Congratulations to John and Patricia for driving this initiative through, to Jackie for another bravura performance and to Paul for logistical support.
Well done - as from these sorts of seeds larger things grow...
Here's John's message:-
"Yes - Its a big thank you to Jackie again for one of her stunning performances as mistress Bryant. We spent most of the afternoon and early evening at the church this time. Paul could not come as he was on call, but gave us some much needed logistical support with spare uniforms which we were able to display.
A lot of preparation went on this time, including help from people who could not attend. We now have an expanded static display which includes fine dining and marriage customs. Pat not only put a lot of work into this, but cooked a tasty chicken pie, ember tart and spinach tart, bisquits, and arranged a salat. Asked to explain the display, Pat gave an impromptu, but professionally detailed talk on 17th century cookery which was greatly appreciated by the congregation thanks to earlier research suppied by Helen and Mari Horsfall. It was the successful climax of a frantic week for us.
The Vicar Simon, just sat back for both services, and handed over his pulpit, though he had researched some music and Hymns of the period and observed everything with a keen and experienced eye from his organists chair as he played the tunes . Kevin (Ezra the ranter) was in his element as the Calvinistic 'reverend' Caleb Fossey and foil to my act as Thomas Clifford, authorised parish priest, keen to please his Bishop. We were able to debate much of the impact and history of the King James version, as well as many social customs and political history of the times in a cameo which included Margaret a retired headmistress who played the role of a learned historian.
At the end we were thanked by the Deputy Mayor. The Rayner's are a local landowning family who are descended from John Wycliffe author/translator of much of the content of the Bible. Isobel Rayner took the part of 13 year old Miss Bryant, with a pushy mother eager to secure the future of their estates through her advantageous marriage to Mick the Miller. (Some of you may know of a Wilfred Pickles Ealing film which mentions this name).
Very many thanks also to everyone who supported us .... We hope to return for a muster in the vicinity in the not too distant future, negotiations for which we expect to see emerging soon."
John, Patricia and Jackie, plus Ezra the ranter, spent part of Sunday at Wrays bury Church and from the info below it sounds like the day was a great success. Congratulations to John and Patricia for driving this initiative through, to Jackie for another bravura performance and to Paul for logistical support.
Well done - as from these sorts of seeds larger things grow...
Here's John's message:-
"Yes - Its a big thank you to Jackie again for one of her stunning performances as mistress Bryant. We spent most of the afternoon and early evening at the church this time. Paul could not come as he was on call, but gave us some much needed logistical support with spare uniforms which we were able to display.
A lot of preparation went on this time, including help from people who could not attend. We now have an expanded static display which includes fine dining and marriage customs. Pat not only put a lot of work into this, but cooked a tasty chicken pie, ember tart and spinach tart, bisquits, and arranged a salat. Asked to explain the display, Pat gave an impromptu, but professionally detailed talk on 17th century cookery which was greatly appreciated by the congregation thanks to earlier research suppied by Helen and Mari Horsfall. It was the successful climax of a frantic week for us.
The Vicar Simon, just sat back for both services, and handed over his pulpit, though he had researched some music and Hymns of the period and observed everything with a keen and experienced eye from his organists chair as he played the tunes . Kevin (Ezra the ranter) was in his element as the Calvinistic 'reverend' Caleb Fossey and foil to my act as Thomas Clifford, authorised parish priest, keen to please his Bishop. We were able to debate much of the impact and history of the King James version, as well as many social customs and political history of the times in a cameo which included Margaret a retired headmistress who played the role of a learned historian.
At the end we were thanked by the Deputy Mayor. The Rayner's are a local landowning family who are descended from John Wycliffe author/translator of much of the content of the Bible. Isobel Rayner took the part of 13 year old Miss Bryant, with a pushy mother eager to secure the future of their estates through her advantageous marriage to Mick the Miller. (Some of you may know of a Wilfred Pickles Ealing film which mentions this name).
Very many thanks also to everyone who supported us .... We hope to return for a muster in the vicinity in the not too distant future, negotiations for which we expect to see emerging soon."
