Blidworth

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Blidworth is a small but old village approximately five miles east of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, UK.

The church of St. Mary of the Purification is the only church that is known to continue to hold an annual Rockings Ceremony during which the baby boy, born to parents living in Blidworth, nearest to Christmas Day is “rocked” in an ancient cradle on the Feast of the Purification of Mary which is on the Sunday nearest to Candlemas

All of the babies who have taken part in the Rocking Ceremonies have their names recorded upon a plaque at the rear of St Marys Church with their full name and the year in which they were 'Rocked'. In 1980 the rocking ceremony was performed by the Rt Hon Bishop of Southwell. The child concerned was Edward William Tristram who received a commemorative bible in-order to mark the occasion which was inscribed by the Bishop of Southwell.

[edit] Incumbents of St. Mary of the Purification, Blidworth

The list of incumbents goes back to the 14th century:

1. Hugh (1337)
2. Thomas Clerke (1470)
3. William Talbot (1485–1498)
4. William Aldworth (–1530 d)
5. James Alsebrook (1530–)
6. William Helmsley (–1566 d)
7. John Sye (1567–1575)
8. Mr. Creasie (1575–1584)
9. Robert Grace (1584–1587)
10. Henry Elwe (1588–1598)
11. John Collinson (1599–1602)
12. Henry Ellyott (1602–1603)
13. John Hains (1603–1636)
14. James Reade (1636–1643 d)
15. John Newton (1643–1649)
16. Thomas Rose (1649–1663), evicted at the English Restoration
17. Michael Buxton (1663–1705 d) (see memorial: perhaps 1716)
18. William Thorpe (1716–1721 d)
19. Thomas Allen (1722–1739 d)
20. Robert Stanley (1740–1783)
21. Seth Stevenson (1783–1794) (also Vicar of Oxton)
22. John T. Beecher (1794–1801) (also Vicar of Oxton)
23. John Hall Clay (1801–1822)
24. C. F. Fenwick (1824–1830) (also Vicar of Oxton)
25. John Downall (1830–1842)
26. Martin Roe (1842–1849 d)
27. John Porter (1850–1864 d)
28. Richard Whitworth (1865–1908)
29. Charles Littleholes (1908–1914)
30. John Paddison (1914–1921)
31. John Lowndes (1921–1933)
32. Henry Carline Swingler (1933–1938 d)
33. Robert Rogerson (1938–1939 d)
34. Walter Warr (1940–1956)
35. Jack Busby (1956–1967)
36. Charles Sawyer (1967–30 November 1983)
37. Raymond Beardall (4 May 1984–1999)
38. Beryl Allsop (2000–) (technically Associate Priest since the amalgamation of the parishes of Blidworth and Rainworth)

[edit] The Druid Stone

On the outskirts of the village of Blidworth lies a stone known locally as the Druid Stone (Grid Reference: SK5787-558), a pillar of cemented glacial gravel standing on a base of the Nottingham Castle rock formation (Bunter Pebble Beds). This monumental object is 14ft high, 84ft around the base and has a hollow centre large enough for a man to pass through.

Though known as the Druid Stone there is no evidence to suggest that it has ever been used by Druids, it is a naturally forming outcrop.

Coordinates: 53°05′N, 1°08′W