Great Dunmow

Today I met with Sam, children's & families worker in Great Dunmow.

Dunmow is a small market town steeped in history, with mellow plaster cottages and riverside church. The town is well known for its four-yearly ritual of the "Flitch Trials". This is (probably) the oldest recorded competition in the world still running. It's mentioned by Chaucer and is believed to have started in the 13th century. Brave, confident or hungry couples try to convince a jury of six local bachelors and six local maidens that they have never wished themselves un-wed for a year and a day. If successful, the couple are paraded along the High Street and receive a flitch of bacon.

I met Sam, not to stand trial, but to talk through ideas for a dad's & children's group, prayers with under 5's, safeguarding issues and how to integrate a children's corner into church life.