Bassetlaw Christian Heritage are pleased to announce this year’s programme for the Pilgrims Festival, with a range of events for all ages and interests to commemorate Bassetlaw’s role in the Pilgrim story:
Free lantern-making workshops
Free lantern-making workshops – make a lantern and join the parade in Retford on Tuesday 20 November.
Tuesday 30th October – 10am – 4pm, with artist Jessica Kemp at Retford Library
Friday 2nd November – 10am – 4pm, with artist Kirsty Champ at Bassetlaw Museum, Retford
Thanksgiving Dinner
Venue: Spencer’s on the Square, Retford
Thursday 15th November 6.30pm for 7pm
3 course dinner plus entertainment from Adam Schofield and Jessica Mary Brett (£29.95) Call 01777 800230 to book
Pilgrims Art Exhibition
Featuring art inspired by the Pilgrims Story
Venue: Babworth Parish Church, near Retford
Saturday 17th November 10am – 4pm with a talk by local historian Adrian Gray at 11am
Sunday 18th November 12pm – 4pm- see working embroiders and artist
Refreshments available
Parades & Performances
Austerfield & Bawtry – Sunday 18th November
11.15am: Candle-lighting Holy Communion service at St Helena’s Church, AUSTERFIELD – home of William Bradford, Mayflower Pilgrim
4pm: Hog roast at Bawtry Hall followed by a lantern parade through BAWTRY (further details available from Doncaster Council)
Retford — Tuesday 20th November
5.30pm: Parade from Carolgate to St Swithun’s Parish Church
6pm: St Swithun’s all age event, led by Rev Mark Cantrill, with the Elizabethan Academy, Katie Green’s Imagination Museum: Mayflower 400 and the Songbirds
7pm: the ‘400’ photograph, then refreshments for all in the Church
Gainsborough – Wednesday 21st November
5.30pm: Registration for parade participants from 5.30pm at the United Reformed Church, followed by a performance
6pm: Service & performance at the United Reformed Church featuring Made by Katie Green’s The Imagination Museum: Mayflower 400
6.45pm: Parade through Gainsborough from Parish Church to Gainsborough Old Hall, the Market Place and finishing in Marshall’s Yard at about 7.15pm (event led by West Lindsey District Council)
Scrooby – Thursday 22nd November
5pm: St Wilfrid’s Parish Church – talk by local author, genealogist and historian Sue Allan, a short operatic performance by opera singer, Kamilla Dunstan and a candle-lighting service
6pm: parade around the village ending at the Village Hall for a performance by Retford’s Elizabethan Academy Drama Group, and refreshments (event led by Bassetlaw District Council)
Other candle-lighting services are taking place on Sunday 18th November at GAINSBOROUGH All Saints (joint with URC) and BABWORTH church. STURTON-LE-STEEPLE church will also be holding a joint event with the local primary school during the Festival Week.
Music at Worksop Priory
Monday 19th November 7pm for 7.30pm
International Mediaeval Harpist Leah Stuttard returns to the Priory – this year Leah is playing her Sacred Fragments programme – the evening will start with a short talk about the Priory and its place in the Mayflower Pilgrims Story
£10 entry incl. mince pies & mulled wine
Friday 23rd November 7pm for 7.30pm
Doncaster Waites: Music from the streets from the time of the Pilgrims – Doncaster Waites both play and explain historic instruments in an entertaining and engaging way. The evening will start with a talk about Worksop Priory and the Mayflower Pilgrims (a different speaker to Monday)
£10 entry incl. mince pies & mulled wine
Pilgrims Fun Run
Sunday 25th November 9.15am
Starts off the Retford Christmas Market and Lights Switch-On – prizes for the best children’s and adult’s pilgrim outfit – its for fun! In partnership with Retford Business Forum and TLS, supporting Bassetlaw Hospice
This year’s programme of events is supported by funding from, and delivered with the support of:
- Arts Council England
- Bassetlaw Christian Heritage network
- Bassetlaw District Council
- Bassetlaw Museum
- Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham, Church of England
- Elizabethan Academy
- Made by Katie Green
- Retford Business Forum
- Retford Civic Society
- Retford Library (Inspire)
- Retford Lions
- Retford Rotary
- Spencer’s on the Square
- TLS
- West Lindsey District Council
Bassetlaw Christian Heritage 