A VILLAGE priest is calling on residents to join her for an evening of Chinese fun, food and music.
Revd Eileen Harrop, of St Mary’s Church, in Gainford, is looking forward to marking Chinese New Year with members of the community.
A party evening is being held at the village hall on Saturday, March 3 at 7.30pm. Money raised will be split between church funds and the village hall.
Revd Harrop, who was the first ethnically Chinese woman to be ordained in the UK, said: “The idea came from Geoff, our church warden, who is very good at taking care of our programme of involvement with the community. Every year there is a social event at which the church raises funds together with the village hall.”
Chinese New Year begins on February 16 this year and lasts for 15 days after which the village party will take place. This year will be the year of the dog – the first time since 1958.
The event will include a disco with Chinese music, a hot supper with authentic Chinese dishes, quizzes, a bar and a raffle with dog prizes too. Church warden Geoff Taylor said: “It seemed a good idea to celebrate Chinese New Year because we have got a priest who has an ethnic Chinese background. It will give us a lot of fun with different food and colourful decorations. A bit of the far east in the winter would be quite different.”
Tickets to the event cost £10. Money raised at the event for the church will be used to help fund the youth ministry, Teen Beat, which is a free monthly session for youngsters aged between 10 and 14.
People are encouraged to attend the Chinese-themed party wearing red and gold clothing which are the traditional colours used to mark the occasion each year.
Revd Harrop said: “Chinese New Year is always celebrated with family. I don’t have any of my Chinese family here. My parents are in Singapore, my sisters are in Canada and I have other family in Hong Kong. By doing this, my church wardens are saying we are all like family. They are like family to me. They want me to feel at home and part of the community.
“It is so good of them to say they will celebrate with me.
“Gainford loves to party. The community knows how to eat well, play hard and rest well. One of the things they do enjoy is coming together to have supper and make music.”
To buy tickets contact Sue Taylor on 01325 730379 or Peter Dransfield on 01325 730450.
