Retford will see this year’s Pilgrims Festival Illuminate Lantern Parade walk along Carolgate to the Market Square, starting at 5.30pm on Friday 22nd November 2019. The parade will arrive at St Swithun’s Parish Church at around 6pm where there will be a service starting at 6.15pm, including performances, followed by the ever popular ‘400’ photograph in the churchyard and light refreshments afterwards. Everyone is welcome.
Discussions are currently taking place with local uniformed groups, schools and voluntary organisations about how they can take part and support this event. Further details about lantern-making workshops in October and November will be available on the BCH website soon.
This will be the fifth year that BCH will work with Retford to commemorate the sailing of the Mayflower Pilgrim Families’ journey to the ‘New World’, as part of the countdown to 2020, the 400th anniversary. There are also events planned at Gainsborough on 16th , and at Austerfield and Bawtry on 17th November 2019.
New for 2019! The Mayflower Pilgrims Story comes to Worksop!
There will be activities at The Crossing, on Newcastle Street, followed by a parade along Memorial Avenue to Worksop Priory where there will be activities telling the Mayflower Pilgrims’ Story and why it relates to Worksop. BCH is looking to engage with schools and uniformed groups from the Worksop area interested in actively participating in these events, and volunteers to help on the day are always welcome.
The very popular Arts Exhibition at Babworth Church returns on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th November featuring works inspired by the Pilgrims Story – all are welcome – for further information contact us. Refreshments will be available, and this year there will be some exciting new exhibits and a range of talks and performances throughout the weekend, and entry is free!
Music events are currently being discussed and details will be available on the BCH website later in the year.
There will be a Thanksgiving Dinner, with entertainment, at Spencer’s on the Square in Retford, on Thursday 28th November, which really is Thanksgiving Day. If you are looking for an excuse for a good night out or a location for a work Christmas ‘Do’, contact 01777 800230.
BCH, working as part of the Pilgrim Roots consortium, is organising this year’s activities, supported by the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham and individual Bassetlaw District Councillors.
Visitor numbers to the area are already increasing, and are forecast to increase further, as 2020 grows closer. The story of the Mayflower Pilgrim families and their roots in the area in and around Bassetlaw, North Nottinghamshire, is becoming better known. It is hoped that more events and activities relating to this story will be developed throughout next year.
To find out more about the story, The Hub in Churchgate, Retford, has a Pilgrims Room that contains an overview of the Mayflower Pilgrims and their roots, and the Pilgrims Gallery in Bassetlaw Museum will be officially open from 19th September 2019.
BCH is looking for volunteers at all levels of engagement – whether you want to join in the planning or help with refreshments, we would love to hear from you.
BCH is grateful to the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham, Bassetlaw District Councillors, and Churches Together in Retford for their continuing support.
Bassetlaw Christian Heritage 