On Saturday 26th August 2023, St Augustine’s Church will be celebrating its 100th year. To celebrate this momentous occasion there will be a variety of events held at the church throughout the day, to which everyone is welcome. This event first and foremost is to bring the community together and also to celebrate the church as a building for its structural beauty as well as a place of worship.
Tin tabernacles are extremely rare due to the nature of the building materials used. They were often built as a temporary measure until a more permanent fixture could be erected. St Augustine’s church is one of only a few tin tabernacles that is still in its original form.
Tin tabernacles were predominantly built upon a brick or rubble-and-mortar foundation with a bolt-together wooden frame. The interior walls were lined with tongue-and-groove match-board pine and the roof and outer walls were clad with corrugated iron sheeting which were then painted in a multitude of colours. Designs ranged from the simplest chapel to designs aimed to mimic the most ornate High-Church architecture making every tin tabernacle unique. The flooring of the tabernacles came in many forms from beaten earth, flagstones or suspended wooden floorboards. Windows could be plain rectangles, or ambitious Gothic arches. Some tabernacles with the more ornate structures had a steeple or bell-tower. Internal fittings tended to be simple benches, and perhaps a raised platform at one end. The earliest churches had no heating or lighting, although paraffin lamps and gas lighting were later introduced in some. St Augustine’s is truly a fine example of such a tabernacle but will only continue to be in existence if it has the support from the community.
To start the day of celebrations a special church service will be held at 10am Saturday 26th August to celebrate the 100 years of the church being in the village and supporting the community of Draycott-in-the Clay. The worship will be led by The Rt Revd Dr Michael Ipgrave, Bishop of Lichfield.
The church will then be opened up to the general public from 12noon-5pm so that everyone can come and visit the church and learn about why the tin tabernacle is so important as well as enjoying entertainment provided by Heath Chorus Choir and light refreshments.
In the evening Lesley Smith is very kindly performing as Katherine Swynford. This will be a tickets only event due to the limited space in the church. Due to the popularity of previous events please ensure you pre book your tickets ASAP to save disappointment. Details can be found below. Katherine Swynford was John of Gaunt’s mistress and later became his wife. Through her son, John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset, and her daughter, Joan Beaufort, Countess of Westmorland, Katherine became the ancestor of all English (and later British) kings. Since Edward IV up to today with our own Charles III, all monarchs are descended from that one couple. Katherine dates from c1350 to 1403. Not many people have heard of her but she represents one of the greatest love stories in English history. The spectacular costume that Lesley will be wearing is scarlet silk with a large gold and red headdress and after Lesley’s performance there will be an opportunity for questions (the harder the better!!) and also pictures taken with Katherine Swynford.
For tickets to the evening event please email [email protected]
Tickets are £10 per person, and the event is pre booked tickets only, due to the size of the venue. The performance starts at 7.30pm.
If you would also like further information or would like to help with the event please also contact the above.