Hermites gathered at St Tugual's Chapel for the island's first harvest festival.
ST TUGUAL’S Chapel was last Sunday the scene for Herm’s first harvest festival.
As it is only a week since the hotel closed, it was also the first get-together for the winter community.
The service was held by the Rev. Richard Bellinger, who first came up with the idea of a Herm harvest festival, to give thanks not only for the harvest, but for the past season. He invited workers from each department to bring an offering relating to their particular job. For example, wine from the pub, a menu from the hotel, a bag and a jar of preserves from the shops, secateurs from the gardeners, a tape measure from the service team, a ledger from admin., rope from the boat skipper, the bell from school and workbooks from the children.
The basis of the sermon was an autumn bouquet, put together from plants and flowers found around the island.
‘Each part of the bouquet represents a certain personality type,’ said Mr Bellinger. ‘There is the clinging ivy, the large, showy flowers, the wild flowers that go their own way, and the small blossoms that are easily hurt. At the back is the foliage that holds it all together, which could be representative of God.
‘In every community or group there are all of these personality types and all of them are needed to make the whole. In the island community, in the church congregation, or even in the school are all of these different personalities, and all are special in their own way.’
The island children put together a little show. With headdresses of various vegetables, they recited an autumn poem and sang a song about a pumpkin. Christine Anthony accompanied on the church organ.
‘It was a lovely service and the children did wonderfully, as always,’ said Christine. ‘They did pastel pictures of pumpkins and fruits in the style of Holbein and put them up around the church.’
Christine, though originally from the UK, has lived in Guernsey for many years.
‘People in the UK seem to think that everyone in Guernsey is just very wealthy and they don’t realise it’s a real community with a real mix of people, just like anywhere else. The bouquet shows that you need all these different types to bring it all together and make it work.’
Mr Bellinger also blessed the stone seat outside the church door. This small bench is in memory of the Wood and Heyworth families, who took over Herm 60 years ago and laid the groundwork for the island we know and love today
Article posted on 16th October, 2009 - 10.00am
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