One of the stars of the BBC series ‘A Vicar’s Life’ has been invited to preach at the annual Pax Service at the church of St Dubricius, Hentland this year.

This special service on Palm Sunday, March 25th at 3pm, includes the distribution of Pax Cakes with the shaking of hands and the greeting “Peace and good neighbourhood!”

The custom, which is shared with the neighbouring parishes of Sellack and Kings Caple, is very ancient, dating back to the year 1484, when Thomas More, a wealthy vicar of Sellack died, having left the sum of six shillings and eightpence in his will to provide “Bread and Ale to be distributed to all and singular in the aforesaid churches for the good of my soul.” The background to this appears to have been quarrelsome villagers and a desire that all enmity should be laid aside in order to prepare for the Easter Festival.

It has become the custom recently to invite a visiting preacher to preach at the service, and this year Father Matthew Cashmore will be attending. Fr Matthew is presently curate in the Hereford St Peter benefice, having been recently ordained after a successful career in business.

At the beginning of the service, the congregation assembles at the lychgate, where branches cut from the churchyard yews are gathered, to be strewn on the path as all process into church singing ‘Ride on, ride on in majesty’, pausing for a prayer at the churchyard cross.

Then follows a service of book of Common Prayer Evensong, with the distribution of Pax Cakes following at the end of the service.

This will be the last service at Hentland before the chancel is dismantled to allow the conservation of the decorated plaster, which was designed by the eminent Victorian architect John Pollard Seddon. His other work includes the Grade 1 listed St Catherine’s Hoarwithy which is in the same parish.

To allow full access to the plaster will involve the removal of the 1869 organ by J W Walker, which can then be repaired and restored to its original state, with the addition of electric blowing.

The whole project, which is costing a little under £200,000, has been made possible by a grant from Heritage Lottery Fund of 67% of the total.