INSPIRED by medieval history, the Rector of St Peter and St Paul, Fakenham, the Revd Tracy Jessop, will be pulling pints of the church’s own ale at the Norfolk town’s annual Gin and Beer Festival this weekend.
Ms Jessop, a first-timer at the event last year, found that some festivalgoers were surprised to see their parish priest among them, despite a silhouette of the church building printed on the pint glasses — it was a prominent feature of the town skyline, which had been chosen as the festival logo that year. She explained that meeting people in the community — whether over communion wine or craft beers — was fundamental to the church’s mission in Fakenham.
‘Interesting. I think I’d like to try the ale next’
The encounter led her to work with Barsham Brewery to produce a local ale, Two Apostles, named after the church’s patron saints, following a medieval brewing tradition. This was, she said this week, “an excellent way to remind people that the local church still provides spiritual support and, occasionally, a church ale”.
Beer and meads were commonly brewed and sold by churches and monasteries during the Middle Ages, and the proceeds were used to support the poorest members of society, Ms Jessop said.
“The parish ale or church ale was heavily relied on in medieval Europe, as clean drinking water wasn’t always readily accessible. People of all ages and from all walks of life often relied on various medieval drinks for hydration and sustenance.
“Although the main purpose of a church ale was intended to coincide with the collection of monies due to the parish, often the proceeds were distributed as alms to help the poor. After chatting to people at last year’s festival . . . I thought this was a good missional opportunity for the parish church.”
The process, she said, was straightforward: “a phone call of enquiry, an exchange of emails, a couple of conversations, and a handshake”. The PCC agreed to make a modest investment from the church’s mission budget to sponsor the ale.
The result is an IPA (Indian Pale Ale) aged in a wine cask in a “nod” to Jesus’s first miracle. The barley comes from the surrounding fields of the Barsham Estate and is malted near by at Crisp Maltings. “The grain-to-glass miles are incredibly low, making it a very sustainable pint,” Ms Jessops said.
Two Apostles can be bought at the brewery, and 360 pints will be available at the Fakenham Gin and Beer Festival this Friday and Saturday at the town’s Community Centre. All proceeds from beer sold at the Festival will be given to the Community Centre and a local charity, Ellie’s Love, which supports people with cystic fibrosis.
