Get messy, and help revive an ancient British tradition

In June artist Tereza Buskova will revive a 16th Century English tradition at a Church in Erdington; and she needs your help.

Clipping the Church took place once a year when young apprentices and women in service were allowed to visit their families and their ‘mother’ church. Derived from the Anglo-Saxon word ‘clyp-pan’ meaning ‘embrace’ or ‘clasp’, the ceremony is often associated with Mothering Sunday. Church-goers would join hands and move around the outside of the church in an unbroken ring, often singing a traditional hymn. Although there is evidence that the ceremonies took place in Birmingham, it is unknown where.

In her take on the Clipping the Church ceremony, Tereza will explore the tradition in a new performance and video work exploring motherhood, the meaning of rituals, family ties and relationships with the local community. As part of the ceremony baked goods will be paraded. She is asking people to make salt dough decorations for the performance at workshops in the run up to the event. Try your hand at making beautiful traditional Eastern European plaited doughs, or express what motherhood means to you by using only flour, water and salt – and see them in the final performance and film.

Workshops take place on the following dates:

Saturday 19 March 2016, 11am-1.30pm – Kingstanding Food Community.

Saturday 30 April 2016, 11am-1pm – Loaf Bakery and Cookery School, Stirchley.

Saturday 14 May 2016, 2.30pm (then a gathering with the artist, films screening + food and drink from 5pm).- St Barnabas’ Church, High Street, Birmingham. B23 6SY