Church set for special celebration, Teesdale Mercury

Church set for special celebration

Oct 22, 2007

BARNARD Castle United Reformed Church celebrates a remarkable anniversary this weekend - its 175th church bazaar.

Way back in 1832, Barnard Castle Independent Church, in Newgate, decided to hold its first bazaar, to raise funds for church work.

The church had been established in 1811 by the Revd Luke Prattman, and was flourishing. (The building still stands, now private property, to the left of McGarr's car saleroom).

By 1837, the congregation had moved to Hall Street, and had a separate church hall, or Sunday school, accessed from Queen Street. It became Barnard Castle Congregational Church in the 19th century, and the United Reformed Church in 1972.

The bazaar has been organised year after year through all these various changes, though now it is called the autumn fayre and is held on the last Saturday in October, rather than November. It celebrates its 175th anniversary this year, in 2007.

In the 19th century, it was a considerable operation, lasting several days, with entertainments as well as sales.

These days the fayre lasts a morning. It will be held as usual on Saturday, October 27, from 9.30am to noon.

There will be stalls for homemade cakes, jams and chutneys, various games, a white elephant stall, a children's stall and refreshments. All are welcome.

This year, however, an additional entertainment has been organised, in remembrance of the period when the bazaar started, called "Jane Austen's Christmas."

There is the promise of a merry presentation, bringing to life festive pleasures in the age of elegance, based on the life and writings of Jane Austen. It will be presented by Gillian Stapleton, a costume historian, and member of the company, The History Wardrobe.

Those attending shall learn how to dress for a Christmas party, hear Mrs Austen's recipe for a pudding, try to decipher Jane's own charades and party puzzles, play some traditional games, and hear a thrilling ghost story.

Afterwards there will be tea and cakes, baked from period recipes.

The event will take place in the church, which has a very pretty interior, dating back nearly to the same period, though successfully modernised in 2000, and very different from the church's rather forbidding exterior.

This is a public event. Tickets are £6, and are available from Alethia Moseley, 01833 638064.