AN ANCIENT ceremony took place at St Mary’s Church, Painswick on Sunday as the community came together for the annual Clypping Service.

'Clypping' is an old English word which means embracing.

Usually this involves the congregation forming a circle round the outside of the church, holding hands and so 'clypping' or embracing the building.

But due to Sunday's rainy weather, the service took place indoors, with the congregation holding hands in a circle inside the building.

The clypping is a way of giving thanks for the church and asking for it to be blessed.

It is also a celebration of the connectedness of the community.

The custom is thought to date back to the early 14th century and is not to be confused with the 'clipping' of the churchyard's 99 trimmed yew trees.

Before the service, the congregation tucked into 'puppy dog pies' at St Michael’s Bistro, made by head chef Matt Black.

The origins of these meat and vegetable pies are uncertain, but one legend is that when a Painswick innkeeper ran out of food for travellers he resorted to serving up his own dog.

Photos by Simon Pizzey.