Touch and taste foods of Bible at Sidmouth URC church

Sid Valley children invited to take part in Bible verse writing contest for Bible exhibition

WHEN people attend a Foods of the Bible exhibition in Sidmouth next week, St John the Baptist will be sporting a camel hair chest.

The man who baptised Jesus is said to have worn a camel-hair vest, so Margaret Pope wrote to Paignton Zoo asking for the authentic thing for a model of St John the Baptist being made by Mary O’Hara for the event at the Chapel Street URC Church, next Friday and Saturday, June 17/18 from 10.30am to 4.30pm.

The see, taste, smell and touch exhibition, which marks the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible, is, says Mary, whose husband is the Reverend Michael O’Hara, as authentic as it can be.

While there is wild honey on display, the locusts people in biblical times ate, are made of wood.

Said Mary: “We are getting as many foods as possible - non-alcoholic wine, spelt bread, venison, lamb stew and bread. All were used in biblical times.”

There will be a range of herbs and fruits there too.

“We aim to let you taste, touch, and smell as many as we can,” she said. “We aim to educate and amuse and provide food for thought as well as for your palate.”

Children from All Saints Infants are taking part, as is Messy Church from St Francis Church, Woolbrook, who will make decorated fish.

An exhibition of children’s handwriting, showing illuminated verses from Ecclesiastes, chapter three, verses 1-8, will be displayed and any child wishing to take part should send entries to Mary O’Hara, 2 Temple Mews, Temple Street, Sidmouth, EX10 9AX, before Thursday, June 16.

Prizes will be given out at the family service, conducted by the Reverend Robert Jennings, on Sunday, June 19, from 10.30am.