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Harvest Home at St Thomas' Parkgate

St Thomas' Church, Parkgate, known locally as the ‘Fisherman's Church' celebrated ‘Harvest Home' this weekend by opening its doors for three days for public viewing.

The interior of the church was decorated with scenes depicting Harvest Home and Parkgate during the Great War commemorating this year's anniversary of the outbreak of World War 1.

Here are some photos of the installations:

Parkgate Military Hospital that nursed the sick, injured and dying service from 1914 to 1919 was represented by a simple St Georges, cross wreath.

Fishing at Parkgate. One major family in Parkgate which was affected by the Great War was the Peters family who operated fishing boats in Parkgate when five of their sons volunteered to fight in the war.

When each son entered into marriage he was given a boat by their father so that he was guaranteed employment. The scene of a boat CH16 named Zilla after one of the daughters was registered in Chester and represents the fishermen from Parkgate who entered the Great War.

The Land. The third scene depicted farming, with farm implements, dairy, fruit produce, wheat sheaves, corn dollies and straw bales, all interlaced with red Flounders poppies.

Mostyn House School was represented by a mock display representing the thirty-seven Carillon bells that originally hung in the school tower. These were installed by AG Grenfell in memory of former pupils that died in the Great War.

Neston Female Friendly Society whose motto is "Bear Ye One Another's Burdens" was represented by six floral staffs depicting setting up of the society to help bear the hardships through the long wars with the French together with a series of poor harvests.

Wake Up Britain. In 1914. hundreds of locals all flocked to Parks Field in early July to see the Daily Mirror sponsored Monoplane flown by Frenchman Henri Salmet. He made dozens of trips taking brave souls to Eastham and back. Army Territorials were camping on the field at the same time.

The floral entrance to St Thomas'.

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