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Rush Sunday Service 2008

Rush Sunday at St Mary Redcliffe is the oldest surviving ceremony of its kind that can be traced with any certainty. This year’s event will be the 514 th. It started when William Spencer left funds in his will for three sermons to be preached at Redcliffe to the Mayor and commonalty on three days at Whitsunday. It seems that Spencer, a one-time Mayor of Bristol, was desirous of getting more people to church. He died in 1493 and the first Rush Service took place the following year. It seems that down the centuries the Rush Sunday Service has changed little, save that the three sermons have been cut to one. With all its pomp and pageantry the Rush Sunday Service could well be Bristol’s answer to a state occasion. Civic dignitaries dress up in outfits that could have been borrowed from a Gilbert and Sullivan opera. The Lord Mayor, Lord Lieutenant of Bristol, High Sheriff, Crown Court Judges and the Coroner for Avon, tread over a carpet of rushes covering the nave. The city’s Lord Mayor, preceded by the Bristol sword-bearer and councillors attend in State. Their scarlet robes make a brilliant splash of colour as they process around the churchyard and through the nave to their pews. On leaving the service the dignitaries take with them a nosegay, or posy, of herbs. In medieval days the nosegay was believed to ward off any foul smells.

After the service the Lord Mayor entertains

members of the congregation to sherry and

cake at the Council House accompanied by

an exchange of toasts. Afterwards the

Priest in Charge and Churchwardens will be entertained to Sunday lunch – all in

keeping with Spencer’s will. This

quintessentially English hospitality bring to

a close the Rush ceremony for another

year.

The Rush Sunday Service this year is on

May 11 th at 11.00 a.m
The church will close until 5pm after the Service.

We hope you will be with us on this very special occasion. To request your free ticket(s) please email pat.terry@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk or telephone or write to the Parish Office, 12 Colston Parade, Bristol BS1 6RA, ( 0117 929 1487. Tickets will be ready to collect from Church from Sunday 20 th April or posted out from 23 rd April. Please remember to include a postal address.