Harvest Festival 2025

‘Have you finished? Can I collect your cup?’
The cheeky, smiling face of the youngster broke into a broad beam as his stack of used, compostable coffee cups grew, one cup at a time. He hurried off to seek more ‘treasure’ from the coffee-drinking members of the congregation as they enjoyed each other’s company whilst the nave was set for Bring and Share Harvest Lunch.

Preparations for Harvest Festival had begun on Friday, as the flower arrangers filled the Priory with beautiful arrangements of locally sourced flowers in autumn hues. Then, on Saturday, representatives from the PALs had gathered to create dainty posies for PALs to deliver to members of the church family who can no longer attend services in person: Two fish kettles and two preserving pans filled with posies decorated the altar table on Sunday morning, ready to be blessed by Roger before distribution.

Harvest gifts for Malvern Food Bank were brought up during the first hymn, led by the Priory’s Orchestra; single tins, bags of goodies; soup, washing up liquid, biscuits, rice… at the end of the service, the churchwarden’s car was full to bursting with contributions for the very worthy cause.

A service packed with favourite seasonal hymns, laughter as Roger attempted to make a sweet chestnut grow, right ‘now’…and it wouldn’t. How long would it take to sprout? ‘Sixty seven months’ a small voice called out. Time, as they say, will tell. Prayers led by a youngster and her mum and then coffee whilst the Priory’s crack team of furniture movers and quiche cutters prepared for the Harvest Lunch. A harvest poem ‘Farmer is the harvest ready?’ was read by a junior member of the congregation, grace was said and all tucked in to good food in good company.

And as the post-meal clearing up began, the enthusiasm of the junior coffee cup collector earlier was reprised in the joy of another youngster tidying up the table decorations, sorting out tablecloths; doing the ‘church’ things that many of the maturer members of the congregation remember from their youth. ‘Can we do this again next year?’ she asked, smiling from ear to ear.
Watch this space…