CHAGFORD is stealing a march on the rest of the country by commemorating the actual 50th anniversary of the Queen's Accession with a festival starting this weekend and Prince Charles has given his blessing!
The ancient parish church of St Michael the Archangel is organising events from February 2-6 to celebrate the season of Candlemas — commemorating the blessing of Mary, mother of Jesus — and her Majesty's Golden Jubilee.
Throughout the 'Green and Gold Festival' the church will be dressed in evergreens and candles with a gold theme in the decoration for the Queen.
Services and events throughout the four days will include a 'Frost Fair' on Saturday with stalls selling everything from cakes and hot soup to books and bric-a-brac, a candlelit evensong and a family communion service on Sunday incorporating a blessing of the plough danced into the church by the Cogs and Wheels Ladies Morris Dancing Group.
Administrator of the parish office in Chagford Lucy Shields said the actual anniversary of the Queen's Golden Jubilee was February 6 but the majority of celebrations countrywide were happening on June 3-4 when there was an official public holiday.
'Next week there is a parish meeting to discuss what events to have in June but we thought we would start the celebrations early,' said Lucy.
'We have written to the Queen and the Prince of Wales and we have had a reply from the Prince who has given us his best wishes for a successful event.'
The Family Communion Service at 9.30am on Sunday will see children floating candles in the font and adults lighting candles for someone special.
Tuesday sees the Ceremony of the Christingle at 2pm with the children, family and friends of Chagford Primary School and on Wednesday, the actual anniversary date, there will be a celebration of Holy Communion at 10.30am and a concert of Coronation Music and Royal Readings with the Chagford Singers at 7.30pm — preceded by a peal by the Chagford Bellringers. Admission to the concert is free.