EAST TRENT CHURCHES
Besthorpe, Clifton, Collingham,
Girton, Harby, Holme, Langford, South Scarle, Thorney, Winthorpe
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EAST TRENT CHURCHES
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| A very popular Songs of Praise service was held in St Helena's Church, South Scarle, in July 2004, as part of a Fun Weekend in aid of the Church. Afterwards the congregation (audience) was invited - if they wished - to remain for a special performance of the famous Mummer's Play1. The South Scarle Plough Play. Everyone stayed! Click photos below to enlarge, then . . . Click <-- back button (top left) to return to this page Photographs © by Carole Needham and the Editorial Team
Enter Peter as The Fool (Wiser than we think, really!)
Next on stage: Stephen as a farmer and Adrian as A Lady Bright and Gay.
Now who's this? Mike as a Recruiting Sargent. Trying to recruit the farmer? Is he ready to be recruited?
Enter next, Roy as Dame Jane, being counselled by The Fool.
Whoops! who's this? Dame Jane with a baby. Who is the father? Where's that farmer boy? Oh! maybe it would be a good idea to join the army after all!
Thunder and Lightning!! It's Stephen, this time in the form of The Devil, threatening all and sundry. Meanwhile The Fool looks on in wonderment.
Is Dame Jane trying to plead with The Devil? The Fool looks distinctly uncomfortable!
Midst anxious looks all round, The Devil speaks threateningly to Dame Jane, and anyone else who will listen.
Enter Mike in another guise, this time as A Doctor. He is asked to attend to Dame Jane and the baby.
A general discussion ensues. And The Doctor gives some sage advice! Is it all being resolved?
All ends happily as cast come together in Curtain Call mode, with flautist, who provided some appropriate music during the performance. And is that a horse that The Fool has mounted?
Yes, there he goes on his steed. Maybe he's a knight, and not a fool!
Lots of cheering from audience, ably led by Rector David. Meanwhile Tina also takes her share of the credit for a really good entertainment.
Would you Like to join cast and friends at The Old Vic' for supper? Footnote 1: A Short Introduction To The South Scarle Plough Playby Tina Paris During the 17th and 18th centuries the Plough Plays performed annually on the 2nd Monday in January after the Plough Sunday Service. A plough was blessed in the village church in readiness for tilling and preparing the earth before seeds. The tradition was particularly strong in rural Lincoln and Nottinghamshire. There were only slight variations from one village to another. Some had a Father Christmas character, some a happy horse and in Lincolnshire a black face character, but most contained the characters you will see tonight. You will I hope find it jolly and amusing but it has its roots in pagan celebrations of reviving the dying or trance-like earth in readiness for spring and the miracle of growth and rebirth. The plays were never written down but passed on from generation to generation by word of mouth. Consequently during the 19th century when rural life was changing and young people moved into towns and cities to work in the new industries, the plays became forgotten and virtually died out. But the mid 20th century saw a revival of interest in the old customs, music and folklore and the hunt was on to record that which was still remembered. Our play was recited word for word by Mr. J G Holmes aged 89 in 1951. Five generations of his family lived in South Scarle and he remembered being in the play when he was 17. The scripts were forgotten for some 45 years until we performed it in 1996 and 1997. South Scarle now has a new Rector and at least 1/3rd of the residents have arrived here since the play was last performed, so it was thought that even though it will soon be time to harvest rather than sow, our Summer Festival would be a good time to present our own - our very own, South Scarle Plough Play.
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