Conisboro’ Harvest Festival

The annual harvest festival was held at St. Peter’s Church, Conisboro’, on Thursday evening last. The sacred building had been beautified almost beyond recognition by the following persons, who certainly deserve much praise for the highly artistic manner in which they carried out the loving work:—Mrs. Wood, Mrs. Little, Mrs. Wigfall, Mrs. Simpson, Miss Simpson, Miss Hills, Misses Burnett, Miss Sylvia Worrell, and Miss Craigie; and Messrs. White, Wigfall, Pearson, Gascoyne, and North. The Sunday school children also assisted in decorating the church.

The font was lavishly decorated. At its base a groundwork of moss, relieved with white flowers, was placed, while the supports were treated with white flowers and oats. The bowl was decorated with moss, asters, and stocks. In the windows fruit and vegetables, the colours of which had been disposed to the best effect, had been arranged. The gasaliers had been judiciously decorated. The pulpit was greatly admired. An artistic arrangement of variegated plants was placed on the floor, bunches of black grapes being suspended from the panels. Dahlias and Siberian crab apples were also displayed to the best advantage. The lectern, Communion rails, and other parts of the church bore evidence of the great pains taken by the decorators to render the fine old edifice beautiful.

The clergy present at the service were the Rev. J. Wood (vicar), the Rev. B. Irwin (vicar of Saltburn-by-the-Sea), the Rev. W. R. Weston (vicar of Balby), and the Rev. V. Mahon (Rawmarsh). The Vicar read the prayers; the Rev. W. R. Weston read the first and the Rev. V. Mahon the second lesson. An appropriate sermon was preached by the Rev. B. Irwin, and was listened to with marked attention.

Mr. White presided at the organ. The service was fully choral, and the visitors had an opportunity of hearing what great improvements have been made of late in the singing. The voices of the trebles were exceedingly clear, and with a little more attention to the sopranos the choir will be one of the best for miles around. The piano and forte passages were well rendered, and the time was excellent. Great care had been shown in the selection of the accompanying music, so that the parts were nicely blended. Mr. White is to be congratulated on the success of his labours.

The services were continued on Sunday.