'We couldn't deprive the town of it altogether' 

Wellspring Church found a way of being a welcome presence even though its town's busy May carnival had to be cancelled for the first time since the war

 

Wellspring Church, a Local Ecumenical Partnership, is based in the small Derbyshire town of Wirksworth, where the Well Dressings and carnival over the second May Bank Holiday is usually the biggest weekend of the year. Well Dressing is a Peak District tradition, in which wells are decorated with natural materials, such as flower petals, moss, fruit skins and seeds to create intricate and visually stunning designs, and the town attracts thousands of visitors to see the displays. There are also stalls, street music and a fun fair, and the whole thing culminates in the carnival procession on Monday.
 
Like all other events at the moment, this year’s had to be cancelled.
 
Nevertheless Wellspring Church found a way of marking the carnival. Church member Jenny Few takes up the story:
 
‘Sue, a member of Wellspring and the inspiration behind Wellspring's annual well dressing, decided that we couldn't deprive the town of it altogether, so she and her husband made 18 mini-frames, complete with clay, and delivered them to people who were delighted to be able to do them.
 
‘The finished 'pictures' made with flower petals, leaves, peppercorns, gravel, rice and other natural materials, were displayed on the steps outside Wellspring.   
 
‘Many people in the town went to look and many posted appreciative comments on social media.'

The Wirksworth Facebook group shared photos of the mini-frames, alongside the message:  "The kind and talented people at The Wellspring Church have made and put on a display of mini-welldressings. They are really lovely and making everyone smile." 

The post was liked more than 200 times, and had several appreciative comments. 
 
‘This weekend was rather special,’ added Jenny. 

Wellspring Church formed from the coming-together of Baptist and Methodist congregations.