JC Dine & Bid and church showcase medieval themes

Jamestown residents are invited to participate in events with a similar theme at two different locations. One is a mass and medieval banquet on March 31 at Grace Episcopal Church and the other is a medieval dinner and auction at Jamestown College April 21.

Each organization found its way to Jamestown within two years of each other before North Dakota was a state. Each has an Episcopalian-based faith in its mission and provides love, care, education and community for those who are a part of each family.

Jamestown College and Grace Episcopal Church started out here in 1883 and 1881, respectively. Many people are involved with both, so it would seem very normal for those familiar with either, that a special Mass/worship event at the stone church at the foot of the hill leading to Jamestown College might also share a similar theme as JC for its special events.

The stone church harkens back to times of old. Outside and in, the architecture is out of a storybook. Many JC professors are members of the church, and are Medievalists, either as instructors of medieval history, or are involved in a group on campus calling themselves the Madrigal Singers.

For about 20 years the singers, made up of professors from many departments, were singing for the pure pleasure of the language, instruments and musical compositions. The Madrigal Singers also dress in period costumes (ranging from mid-12th century to 16th century). Many of those same people are involved in both of these two upcoming events.

Jamestown College’s mascot is the Jimmie Knight. The armor-clad knight rides in on his white horse and saves the day, rescues the maiden in distress and prances around during homecoming. It’s an appropriate mascot, for a long-established institution of higher learning here in the Upper Midwest.

For the college’s 26th annual Dine & Bid banquet (which benefits scholarships for students to JC), the theme for April 21 is “An Enchanted Night of Knights.” References to the medieval theme are obvious and the role of the knight, whether for fairytale or religious causes, is honorable.

The April 21 dinner and auction will be at 5 p.m. at the Larson Center on the campus of Jamestown College. Reservations are $75 per person and may be made by visiting www.jc.edu or www.alumni.jc.edu, or by phoning Jamestown College at 701-252-3467, ext. 5512. Karen Crane said the attire is dinner dress or appropriate costume.

Grace Episcopal Church’s medieval banquet and Mass is at 5 p.m. Saturday at the church, located at 405 Second Avenue NE. Participants may wear costumes appropriate for the era. For those who don’t know how to put together a medieval outfit, men can wear plain, long PJ-type pants with a simple dress shirt (collar turned under) with a sash over at the waist, and a watch cap. Women can get by with a solid-colored long skirt covered by a collar-free long-sleeved blouse, a shawl wrap and dainty scarf on the head. Surcoats and chemises were common female clothing of the time. If you’ve been to a renaissance fair, those costumes, even though not considered medieval, would be appropriate.

If anyone has an item for this column, please send to Sharon Cox, PO Box 1559, Jamestown, ND 58402-1559.

Tags: sharon cox, diversions