The Mayflower set sail 400 years ago in September, and commemorations of the anniversary have involved places in Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire as part of the national Mayflower 400 partnership.
For the past few years, an Illuminate event has taken place as part of the Pilgrims’ Festival in November – marking the region’s connections to the historic voyage. This year will be a bit different while parades are not possible, so instead people are being asked to make their own lantern to display at home as part of the Pilgrim Roots’ One Small Candle campaign.
Ideas and inspiration for making your own lantern, including instructions and templates, are available on the Pilgrim Roots website. You can display your lantern on the evening of 26th November (Thanksgiving) and share a photo on social media using the hashtag #OneSmallCandle. Places across the Pilgrim Roots partnership in Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire will be taking part and asking people: what will you give thanks for?
The Pilgrim Roots heritage project has created an exciting series of short films telling the story of where it all began, which will be released on their Facebook page each Thursday evening from 8th of October to 19th November and then added to www.pilgrimroots.co.uk. The films feature churches along the Pilgrims Trail in North Nottinghamshire and Gainsborough.
Five Pilgrim Embroideries have been produced for the Mayflower 400 commemorations, depicting local people near the churches on the Pilgrims Trail, with text about their inspirational preachers.
Created by a group of dedicated embroiderers, the works have taken two years to complete. By taking their stitching to local community functions, people were able to participate by adding a stitch. The pieces will be donated to the churches on the Trail after going on display at Bassetlaw Museum for the ‘Where It Began’ exhibition from 17th October to 9th January 2021.
Jenny King has produced a book charting their progress called ‘The Pilgrim Embroideries’ which is available to buy now from Bookworm www.bookwormretford.co.uk.
A new ‘Pilgrim Woman’ sculpture is due to be installed in November on Gainsborough’s riverside, overlooking the River Trent. The bronze statue, designed by Nottingham artist Rachel Carter, draws attention to the often unknown stories of the Pilgrim women and marks the place where some of the Separatists escaped to go to Holland in 1608.
Further reflections and insights into the stories and myths associated with the Pilgrims will be available in the second edition of ‘Radical Routes’, an online publication available this November on the Discover Gainsborough website.
For the most up to date news about events and activities online, visit Mayflower 400, Pilgrim Roots and Discover Gainsborough.
Pilgrim Roots
To find out more about Pilgrims Roots news and events visit:
www.pilgrimroots.org
www.mayflower400uk.org
www.bassetlawchristianheritage.com
www.imaginationmuseum.co.uk
