It's the season for Harvest Festivals: and at the end of September two of Northumberland's remotest Churches celebrated Harvest together.
Well - they are not too remote from each other: they are both situated between the A68 and A696.
Great Bavington URC and Thockington Church of England came together for an evening of praise led byGreat Bavington's minister, Revd Ron Forster, and Revd John Wylam, Vicar of Thockrington.
The sermon was preached by Canon Richard Bryant, Principal of the Diocesan Local Ministry Scheme. And the music
was led by what are described as "the motley crew of musicians who are known to frequent Great
Bavington".
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One of the motley crew described the service:
The church is a lovely old Norman church in the middle of nowhere – we had to cross a sheep field and a rocky outcrop dotted with gravestones (including Lord Beveridge’s) lugging our instruments to get there. The band had to sit on hassocks as there were only the pews to sit on, but despite all that it was warm and welcoming, the worship was uplifting and the congregation were appreciative (they gave out glasses of wine at the end).
As well as the usual harvest hymns we played some ceildh band pieces before and after – eg Road to the North, Bonny at morn, English country garden & Harvest home!
A good time was had by all!