THE cliff-top church of St Mary’s, Whitby, that is for ever linked to Bram Stoker’s gothic horror story Dracula, played host over Hallowe’en to visitors attending the town’s annual Goth Weekend in the run-up to Hallowe’en.
The church’s involvement in the festival, which draws in thousands of exotically costumed fans of steampunk and Gothic styles, was organised by Lizzie Reynolds, an ordinand at St Hild College, Sheffield. “I have been to Goth weekends quite a few times,” she said. “The first time I was a curious tourist; the second time I went as a Goth. When I was younger, there were Gothic elements, but I was never a full-on Goth.”
The idea to get involved came to her during a retreat in Whitby last spring. “I had always wanted to offer something missional that was appropriate to the [Goth] Weekend; something that was ‘goth-specific’. I think a lot of Goths are very spiritual people” she said.
Then she discovered that the Assistant Curate of St Mary’s was the Revd Paul Burnett, who had been at St Hild when she first started. He agreed to help, and obtained the approval of the Team Rector, the Revd Michael Gobbett, who is also Area Dean. Her placement supervisor, the Revd Paul Wheelhouse, Vicar of St John the Evangelist, Bierley, in Wharfedale, who is interested in steampunk, also became involved.
LIZZIE REYNOLDSVicky Angell (centre) with two visitors
Together, they arranged a tour of the churchyard, evening prayers by candlelight, a tea party in the belfry, a candle-lit mass, and a screening of Buster Keaton’s silent classic train-chase comedy The General, with live organ accompaniment.
“It was a positive and joyful experience,” she said. “We had a lovely time, and were very pleased with the engagement we got. We had around 30 people at the mass — it was hard to tell in the dark — and the belfry was absolutely buzzing, with people queueing to get in. There were people in costumes, dogs in costumes, curious walkers, and people on holiday, all having tea and cake and chatting together.”
She was aware that Hallowe’en celebrations do not always chime with the Church, and St Mary’s has had difficulties with some Goths in the past, but this time there were no problems. “People were just really lovely.” she said. “The whole negative stuff from the past didn’t show up at all. I was very keen that I kept in touch with the Goth Weekend organisers. There is a huge sense that we want to work together.
“I would certainly do it again. St Mary’s is part of the Goth Weekend. People in the congregation were glad to get involved, baking cakes and so on. It was a chance to engage with a big thing happening in the town, and have the church feel part of that.”