The design was beautifully crafted and around three of the edges were the words (name of place changed to defend feelings of kneeler's creator):
'SPLOTWORTH - ST ROKE - ASSOCIATION'
One of those around us asked who 'St Roke' was and soon they were brought up to speed with this wonderfully colourful mediaeval Saint who was a star turn on the church circuits with his talking monkey.
Roke would appear at church functions and the monkey would run around doing amazing things and was also heard reading the Gospel and preaching, albeit rather clumsily, on occasions.
Everyone loved the monkey and its appearance would cheer the hearts of many as it brought God's word into the place it was to be found.
As time went by, Roke was adopted as the patron saint of all curates, and this accounted for the presence of the kneeler.
As time went by, Roke was adopted as the patron saint of all curates, and this accounted for the presence of the kneeler.
All of us present, being curates felt some unseen link to this man and his simian assistant (who many of us could relate to for some strange reason) whose saint's day fall at the beginning of April!
