Giving up for Lent
At the end of the vicar’s pre-Lent sermon he suggested, as an example to the rest of the community, that the congregation should worship in an unheated church for the whole of Lent. As they made their way into the chill Sunday air the vicar addressed one member of the congregation, asking what she had decided to give up for Lent. “Church,” she replied firmly. (From Parish Pump)
Wages
Advert for a new minister: ‘Wages not high, but retirement benefits out of this world.’ (From Parish Pump)
Afternoon tea, anyone?
Do you take afternoon tea? Ever wondered where it started? The custom seems to date back to the mid-19th century, and the seventh Duchess of Bedford, Anna Russell. The Duchess got hungry at about 4pm each day, and complained that she had “that sinking feeling”. As it was still four hours until dinner (at 8pm), she began to have sandwiches or a small cake with some tea. Her friends thought this was marvellous, and the idea spread quickly through (hungry) upper class circles.
Soon, it seems, everyone in England was looking forward to Afternoon Tea, and a great British tradition was born. Though during the last century the sandwiches and cake gave way to biscuits, still we reached for the teapot each afternoon. Not so much any more, it seems. In the last five years, sales of tea have dropped by nearly a quarter, and sales of biscuits have sunk by a tenth. Nowadays we reach for bottled water and fruits, nuts or even cheese.*
The research was done by retail analysts Mintel and printed in Parish Pump.
* It has to be very hot before I reach for water at teatime. Ed
From Parish Pump