The suggestion to celebrate the 1200th anniversary of the foundation of the Episcopal See at Sherborne was made by Canon C.H. Mayo, Dorset editor of SDNQ, to Canon W.H. Lyon, Vicar of Sherborne, at a meeting of the Vale of Blackmore Clerical Society, held at Lillington Rectory on 11th April 1904. Canon Lyon in turn put the suggestion before the Church Council of the Minster, and a committee was appointed to consider it. The Rev. Arthur Field (1872-1960), one of the curates at Sherborne, wrote to Louis Napoleon Parker, then a well-known London playwright, and formerly the Musical Director of Sherborne School, who suggested that they should stage in the town an historic Pageant. The Sherborne Pageant was performed at Sherborne Old Castle between the 12 and 16 June 1905. Over 800 performers took part and all the actors, apart from one, Mabel Terry-Lewis who played the role of Lady Raleigh, were amateurs. It is estimated that the Pageant was attended by 30,000 visitors.
Canon C.H. Mayo’s account of the Sherborne Pageant appeared in the June 1905 issue of SDNQ (vol.9, p.284):
THE ST. ALDHELM CELEBRATION, SHERBORNE, DORSET.
Attention was directed, at page 218 of the present volume of SDNQ, to the unique event in the life of Sherborne recalled to mind by the occurrence of the 1200th anniversary of the foundation of the Episcopal See in A.D. 705. Since those words were written this event has received a worthy commemoration. The historic scenes, which Sherborne witnessed in years long past, have been reproduced with great splendour by a master of the dramatic art, on a site which itself was an inspiration both to the spectators and the players, and but one verdict has fallen from every lip, that the presentation on the greensward stage was more than excellent, and far surpassed what the imagination had divined as possible.
It will not be necessary here to give a detailed description of the various scenes, without a flaw in the manipulation. Of these scenes our readers have already had the opportunity of possessing many word-pictures, and illustrative engravings in the Daily and Weekly Press. It will be better here to draw attention to some few features which struck the writer of these lines as he watched the play.
First, it may be noted how the whole idea of the Pageant grew under the hands of Mr Louis N. Parker, till it reached its perfect development. Only some 200 or 250 actors were originally thought of. By degrees the numbers mounted higher and higher. When the March Number of SDNQ was issued, 400 to 500 performers were contemplated. On the days of the display itself, no less than 800 were ready to play their parts.
Next, the site on which the dramatic episodes were exhibited was one which brought back the stirring times of old with a strong emotion. The Genius Loci was awake to his opportunity, and the spell of his presence was cast on every heart. The ancient glories of Sherborne were recalled, and it needed not even the blast, blown by the trumpets of the heralds, to summon “the buried ages” from the dead.
It is a just occasion of astonishment that so excellent a result should have been achieved by a town and neighbourhood of the small dimensions of Sherborne and its few daughter villages around. The event has testified to the masterly skill of the author of the Pageant, and to the magnetic force with which he was able to impart his own enthusiasm to the players. All, with one accord, devoted themselves to assure the success of the display, and to those country folk who came from miles away, with great personal effort, for repeated practices and rehearsals, should be offered a special meed of praise.
Nor should the chronicler forget to note that all the costumes and stage furniture (with but few exceptions) were made by local hands. Even the rich silks the ladies wore were woven in the town. The armour was lent from a distance, and some few dresses procured elsewhere, but the bulk of the robes were both designed and made in the previous months of preparation by willing, skillful and unpaid hands. How excellently well this bold step succeeded, the bright yet harmonious colouring of the various scenes, in which nothing was out of place, has amply testified.
The wide expanse of the Castle area, passing, unbroken, on either side into the actual stage, lent itself to the success of the representation. The groups of actors could be seen advancing from a distance, as the moment for their approach arrived. This was particularly noticeable in the scene wherein the Danes are spied from afar, and their furious onset, through an opening to the ramparts, displayed the elements of reality.
It is difficult to apportion praise to the several episodes, where all have excellences of their own. To the writer the animated scene of domestic strife appealed as much as any, owing to the realism with which it was inspired, from the dwarf, who introduced it, to the stout butcher (a butcher in reality and not only in appearance) who played a leading part, both of whom admirably fulfilled their roles.
And, indeed, it is the realism of the whole play which has translated it from the artificial atmosphere of the common stage to a higher plane. The ruins are the actual ruins of the fortress where Sherborne men lived and fought and died. The St. Aldhelm is the actual teacher of the boys. The townsmen are represented by their successors, and Gallor, of 1437, is the worthy butcher of today. The Bedesmen are still the Bedesmen of SS. John, and the boys are still the boys of Sherborne School. What more could be needed to awake that response of sympathy from the great assembly to the players, which would ensure success?
And yet there is one point more. Not far from the spot where Raleigh, so men say, first inhaled in England the fragrant weed, was presented the finest acting of the piece, where Sir Walter and his Lady, and the serving man, reproduce the legendary scene.
But Pageants do not last for ever, and best friends must part. The great array of actors enters, bowing to the emblematic Sherborne and the daughter Sherborn over the sea, till the stage is filled, enter with characteristic movement, yet without disorder. The sight is brilliant, and replete with animation; and when all have joined in singing “God save the King,” in a stream that seems almost endless they pass off the stage, and disappear behind the ruined walls.
Aldhelm, the last to go, is wakened from his reverie, and led away by a little child.
C.H. MAYO.
Further information:
Sherborne Pageant 1905, Sherborne School Archives.
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