In Oxford, on Ascension Day, the choir boys of New College School walk along the medieval boundaries of the parish of St. Mary's church (the University Church these days) and beat the bounds with sticks to mark out where the parish once stood. Apparently this tradition used to involve beating the actual boys so they remembered the lessons of the Ascension. These days the boys beat the bounds and sing hymns, and eat ice cream after they've beaten the last bound which is in the middle of Oriel first quad. In the middle of the craziness that was 4th week I went to see my first Beating of the Bounds and am stealing some pictures from my friend Jo to show you. It was such a lovely tradition. Oxford has a lot of traditions, and some of them are not so lovely, but this was a community activity which saw many members of the parish coming to beat the bounds and watch the boys eat ice cream. Some even ate ice cream themselves (they ran out before I could have any *tear*).
Here's me waiting for the Bound Beating to begin:
The Chaplain, The Provost, and the St. Mary's ministers heading towards the first Oriel Bound:
And the bounds being beaten by some Orielenses:
It was a lovely day. Fingers crossed some of you across the pond will come and see it next year!
Love to all,
Elizabeth
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