AN Auction of Promises is to be held at Appleton Thorn Village Hall on Saturday, October 13 at 7.30 pm, with proceeds helping the upkeep and mission work of St Cross Church, Appleton Thorn.
There will be many items and promises auctioned at this event donated by local businesses and villagers.
Various auction prizes are up for grabs including having your car serviced by a local garage or having a will written by a local reputable solicitor.
Other items to be auctioned include having your lawn cut, a massage or to start to learn a foreign language. To see the full catalogue visit the St Cross Facebook page.
The bar will be open and a hot pot supper will be provided. Tickets are £5:00 and available from David Rose. Call 01925 555757 or email [email protected]
St Cross Church stands in the centre of the lovely village of Appleton Thorn, Cheshire and was built in 1886 by the Egerton Warburton family of Arley Hall, which is about 3 miles away. The family were also benefactors of the local school, which now serves the community as the village hall.
St. Cross Church has strong links with the Royal Naval Association, as during the Second World War the Royal Naval Air Station HMS Blackcap was situated in the village. There are war graves located in the churchyard of aviators who were stationed at the airfield. Every Remembrance Sunday, at the War Memorial just at the front of the church, a service is held remembering those who lost their lives serving in the armed forces. Inside the church there is an ensign and plaque donated by Manchester Fleet Air Arm Association. This year is the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the ending of the First World War.
At the front of the church, by the crossroad, a Thorn Tree has been planted which local folklore says is an offshoot of the famous Glastonbury Thorn. Joseph of Arimathea brought his staff to this country and put it in the ground on Wearyall Hill, Glastonbury, and from this a thorn tree grew. A Norman Knight Adam De Dutton, on his way back from the Crusades, took a sprig of the Glastonbury Thorn and planted it in Appleton. Each year in June the tradition of “Bawming the Thorn” takes place on or about St. Peter’s day. This is when the children from the local primary school re-enact the planting of the original Thorn Tree and dance round the Tree and “Bawm” it (i.e. adorn it) with flowers and red ribbons and sing the “Bawming Song”.
