St Gudula’s Well in Ashburton, an ancient holy well, will be the focus of a new community ritual honouring water as the source of all life, and celebrating the start of summer. ‘Gudula’s Gathering’ has been conceived by events curator and writer Kirsteen McNish, and Helen Bruce of the Dartmoor Preservation Association, as the closing event for the Dartmoor Tors Festival.
It will incorporate a community procession and a well dressing, and a parade led by St Gudula and the three River Spirits – Avon, Dart and Teign. The event is free; people will be encouraged to adorn themselves with greenery and flowers and bring posies to offer to the well.
The idea came about because the festival organisers, Alex Murdin and Sophie Pierce, wanted to create a new community event which drew on ancient and local places and customs. Says Alex: ‘Gudula’s Well has been known for centuries as a place for healing, particularly of the eyes. There is also an ancient cross standing by it. That was our starting point, and then we thought about well dressing, which is a traditional May custom in England, and the idea of ‘bringing in the May’ – celebrating the start of summer.’
Kirsteen McNish, the co-curator of the event, says it’s about giving people a chance to reflect on what is precious about this corner of the South West “St Gudula’s Well is a quiet place of care, reflection and pilgrimage. We hope that by breathing life back into the ghost of St Gudula, and summoning up the spirits of the Rivers Avon, Dart and Teign, we can celebrate the connection between people and place and encourage protection of rivers in both Dartmoor and indeed everywhere.”
The procession will be led by St Gudula, who is being ‘embodied’ by Helen Bruce. St Gudula is said to be the patron saint of the blind, and traditionally carries a lantern, bringing light to the darkness. Says Helen ‘There is a wonderful symbolism in St Gudula; she represents ideas of clear sight and healing; ideas that we very much need in these difficult and uncertain times. The idea of light also feeds into the sun returning after the long months of winter, and nature coming back to life; ideas that are a key part of the old Mayday celebrations.’
The Dartmoor Preservation Association is lead partner for the Dartmoor Tors Festival this year. We believe that keeping Dartmoor wild and free and supporting people in building a connection with place is vital work. Dartmoor has been a peopled landscape for thousands of years and people have an important role to play in ensuring its healthy and secure future. By reconnecting with local customs, by invoking Dartmoor rivers as beings with agency and presence, we invite both locals and visitors to enter a relationship with the national park. People are encouraged to go on and become stewards and guardians of Dartmoor, advocating for the animals, plants and people that make it so special.
Music for the procession has been specially created by musician and renowned composer Mike McInerney. It will take place on Sunday 3rd May at 4pm outside Ashburton Arts Centre, as the closing event for the Dartmoor Tors Festival. Participants will then walk in procession to St Gudula’s Well via the back alleyways of the town. Once at the well, there will be a reflective ceremony followed by the dressing of the well with flowers. After, the procession will return, to the sound of music and drums, back to the Arts Centre.
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Images: Glavind Strachan Photography