kids encyclopedia robot

Parish ale facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Parish ale or church ale was a fun party in England long ago. People gathered in a parish (a local church area) and the main drink was ale, a type of beer. These events were usually held to raise money for the church or for people in need. They often included music and dancing, making them big community get-togethers.

Parish ales were very common in the later Middle Ages (around the 13th to 15th centuries). After the English Reformation (a big change in the church in the 1500s), some people didn't like these parties as much. However, some forms of these celebrations continued even into modern times.

Different Kinds of Ales

The word "ale" was used in many names for different types of parties where ale or beer was served. Here are a few examples:

  • Leet-ale: Held on "leet" day, which was a local court day in a manor (a large estate).
  • Lamb-ale: Celebrated when lambs were shorn (their wool was cut).
  • Whitsun-ale: Took place around Whitsun, a Christian holiday.
  • Clerk-ale: A party for the church clerks.
  • Church-ale: The main type of party held by the church.

The word "bridal" actually comes from "bride-ale." This was a wedding party organized to help the new couple raise money. Another common type was the bid-ale. This was a benefit feast where everyone was invited. Those who came were expected to give a donation to help someone, usually a poor person or family, or another good cause.

Why Were These Parties Important?

These parish festivals were very important for both the church and the community in medieval England. The main goal of the church-ale (which first started to honor the church's saint) and the clerk-ale was to help collect money for the parish. They also made a profit for the church by selling ale.

The money raised from these events was used to keep the parish church in good repair. It was also given out as alms (charity) to the poor people in the community.

For example, in the church of Thorpe-le-Soken in Essex, there's an old wooden screen called a Rood screen. On one of its beams, an inscription from around 1480 says, "This cost is the bachelers made by ales thesn be ther med." This means that young, unmarried men paid for this part of the church using money raised from ale parties.

Where Did These Events Happen?

The parties usually took place in a barn close to the church or right in the churchyard. During the Tudor period (1485-1603), church-ales were even held on Sundays. Over time, parish-ales became more limited to the Whitsun season, and some local versions of these festivals still exist today.

Even universities used to have their own "college-ales." They would brew their own special ales and hold festivals. Some of these traditions continue, and certain famous ales are still brewed today. For instance, "chancellor" ale is made at Queen's College in Oxford, and "archdeacon" ale at Merton College. Trinity College in Cambridge has its "audit ale."

See also

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Parish ale Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.