Donald Teuma-Castelletti
BRISTOL Nov. 17, 2018
Tea, treats and plenty of sweets were on the menu, as an annual fundraiser returned to fill the hall of St. Edward’s Catholic Church on Saturday.
Running through the early afternoon, guests enjoyed the catering of volunteers as the Tea and Bazaar took over the hall, all in support of the church.
Nora Findlay, one of the event organizers, explained that the fundraiser – the church’s only one all year – affords the insurance for the building. She explained that the insurance is one of the church’s biggest expenses, but with the support of the community it is much more manageable.
The group of 15 volunteers prepares for 200 guests, and also prepare raffles, guessing games, and many trays of baking to sell alongside the event.
Guests had the chance to win a wide selection of candy, testing their perception as they submitted a guess as to how many jelly beans or chocolates filled the containers. They also had an opportunity to win some larger prizes in the raffle, with a shot at $500 worth of meat, homemade quilts, and more.
The afternoon tea is a tradition decades old to the church, though it has come in a variety of formats. Findlay said when she first started going to the church in 1954 the tradition was a gathering for a full supper.
As guests and volunteers grew busier, it’s difficult to find the large number of people in order to put on a meal, and so it’s continued in this aspect through recent years.
Still, Saturday saw tables full and teacups fuller, as volunteers rushed from kitchen to table, with hardly a moment to slow down.
