Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 13 May 1922
May Festival.
Pretty Catholic Ceremony at Denaby.
On Sunday the Denaby Catholics held their May festival and the event was favoured with glorious weather. The congregation assembled at six o’clock in the Catholic Church of St. Alban’s and there, led by the, priest, Father Leteux, the choir and a bright company of festive maidens, they recited two decades of the Rosary.
Father Leteux addressed a few words to the congregation and then the procession prepared to , leave the church and to make its way to the neighbouring football field, where the central ceremony was to be performed.
The spectacle attracted a great throng of people, and the short route from the church to the ground was densely thronged. Afterwards the football field was crowded and the proceedings were watched with interest, though unfortunately, the noise and racket of children in the football stand prevented the singing from being heard to advantage and the address of father Leteux only reached his immediate vicinity.
The procession was led by the cross bearer and altar boys, and at the head of the pageant was some delightful infants in pink, Annie Riley, the “infant Queen,” and harry Wyatt, the home quotes infant King,” with their entourage. Immediately after thanking the most important person in the pageant, Elisabeth Dunn, the “May Queen,” a pretty, graceful girl of 10, with her attendants. She was veiled and dressed in white silk, and can be made on lilies. All the girls in the procession were veiled. Immediately before the May Queen, walked a tiny tot, Kathleen Mee, bearing the cushion and the crown, a chaplet of roses. There were eight train bearers.
Then Agnes Dolly, the Queen of Erin came at the head of a company of Colleen’s in refreshing green. The next section, in white, was led by “Joan of Arc” (Annie Clough), and behind her Miss Dutchman, the Queen of Roses, and her attendants, in old rose dresses. Other “Personages” were Kitty Meehan, Queen of Purity, and her attendants were Jessie White, and Lily Glover, Queen of Violets in purple. Lastly came the “Queen of Heaven, Star of the Sea,” the blessed Virgin Mary, borne aloft in effigy by eight of the oldest girls: Dolly Finn, A Dunn, R O’Brien, J O’Brien, D Dolly, N Fallan and M Higgins, all dressed in white. The statue was draped in pale blue and adorned with Madonna limits, Star of Bethlehem, white orchids, carnations and delicate foliage. There was also a draped canopy, hung with a crown of silver leaves and forget me nots.
On arrival at the field, the possession was disposed in front of the image, forming a wide semicircle. The effect was irresistible, the May Queen advanced, with her attendants, and after two or three hymns to the season and to the Virgin had been sung, and an address had been given by father Leteux, the May Queen crowned the statue with a chaplet of roses. This done the possession reformed and returned to church for the Benediction. The whole of the arrangements, even to the costume scheme, were in the capable hands of father Leteux, who extracted from the festival its fullest significance and impressiveness. He had reason to be proud of the effect obtain of the love and reverence which alone made it possible.