Latest Vicar's Letter

Do you know which Christmas food was banned by Act of Parliament? It was mince pies! This was during the Protectorate of Oliver Crowell, a Puritan, who thought food should be plain and simple, as should the way people dressed and behaved. The English Civil War was a clash between the forces of the crown and those of the Puritan parliament. But it was also a battle of ideology. Despite having no previous military experience, Cromwell led the New Model Army to victory in the English Civil War. In 1653 the Army drew up the Instrument of Government and Oliver Cromwell became Lord Protector.

Cromwell ‘ruled’ from 1653 until his death in 1658. During this time, Puritan values were enforced by law. The Puritans encouraged industriousness, frugality and a serious attitude to life. Cromwell believed that ‘pointless’ enjoyment was a sin, so sports and entertainment were banned, meaning that theatres and inns were closed. Plain dress was also enforced. Christmas festivities were forbidden. Cromwell and the Puritans wanted Christmas to be a purely religious celebration in which people contemplated the birth of Jesus. They viewed with consternation the excessive eating and drinking on Christmas Day. Festive food was removed from the streets which meant that the smell of a roasting goose could bring trouble. All decorations were banned. Puritans felt that mince pies were far too indulgent and rich, so in 1650 Oliver Cromwell passed an Act of Parliament banning mince pies. Anyone found guilty of eating one was to be put in prison.

The first mince pies were savoury, made of shredded meat in an oval-shaped case to represent the manger in which Jesus was laid. They included three spices as a reminder of the three gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh which the Wise Men brought to Jesus. It was traditional to eat a mince pie on each of the twelve days of Christmas to ensure a happy new year.

The Monarchy was restored in 1660. People welcomed Charles II enthusiastically, and looked forward to the reopening of theatres and inns and being able to celebrate Christmas once again. Mince pies were no longer illegal, and they became increasingly popular. It wasn’t until the 19th Century that a new sweet mince pie arrived, like the ones we have today. Instead of being eaten at the beginning of the meal, it was offered at the end.

Did you know that a lot of the things we associate with Christmas - holly and Christmas trees, as well as mince pies - have their origins in representing the Christmas story? So this Christmas season, each time you eat a mince pie, remember its origins. Mince pies were intended as a reminder of the birth of God’s Son, Jesus, who was laid in a manger. The spices recall the gifts of the Wise Men: gold for kingship; incense for worship; and myrrh for burial. Their gifts foretold Jesus’ life, death and Kingship. He is the true meaning of Christmas, the one who is worthy of our worship.

‘Therefore God raised him to the hights and bestowed on him the name above all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow - in heaven, on earth, and in the depths-and every tongue confess that “Jesus Christ is Lord” to the glory of God the Father.’ (Philippians chapter 2 verses 9-11)

Wishing you all a blessed Christmas and a happy new year,

Joy