History

The Rocking Ceremony

The Rocking Ceremony goes back to medieval times and in its original form was a short play depicting the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple.

In the little church of St Mary of the Purification in Blidworth, which is 7 miles east of Mansfield in north Nottinghamshire, the re-enactment of this Biblical story fell into disuse in the 19th century.  However it was revived again in 1922 by local Vicar, the Rev. John Lowndes, and is now a popular annual ceremony.

Held on the first Sunday in February it revolves round a male baby who was born nearest to Christmas Day and whose parents are resident in Blidwoth.  The baby is Baptized in the morning of the Rocking Ceremony, and in the afternoon is blessed and rocked in a 100-year old wooden cradle which has been decorated with flowers.

The child receives a Bible for his later use and a Register of Rockings is fixed to the wall in the Baptistry.

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