Lammas Tide Holy Communion

St Andrew’s Finghall 
Outside -Please bring chairs
Sunday 30^th July – 10:00

Lammas or ‘Loaf-mass’ (derived from the Anglo-Saxon Hlafmaesse) is an English feast in origin, held on 1^st August as a thanksgiving for the firstfruits of the wheat harvest.  Traditionally, a newly baked loaf from the wheat harvest was presented before God within the mass of that day.  While the ceremony ceased at the Reformation, reference to Lammas Day continued in the Prayer Book calendar, and the practice has been revived in some places in more recent years.  The tradition of giving thanks for the firstfruits need not be limited to 1^st August, and churches are at liberty to decide when to hold such a celebration.

The Lammas loaf should ideally be baked by members of the congregation, using local produce wherever possible.

Part of the Lammas loaf may be used as the eucharistic bread on this occasion.