Festival to mark third anniversary of the 'Hilda House Community' in Spittal

Celebrating wisdom drawn from aging, experience and justice, the ‘Wisdom of the Elder’ Festival will feature speakers, exhibits and music to illustrate the lessons that can be learned from older generations.

Formed in 2024 by Rev Elizabeth Baxter, the ‘Hilda House Community’ is a grassroots voluntary organisation based in Spittal.

Covering Northumberland and further afield, it ‘offers pastoral care and education while working towards combating misogyny and patriarchy in faith communities and society generally’.

Rev Baxter has considerable experience in pastoral care and healing, including more than 30 years as executive director at Holy Rood House in Thirsk.

She said: “I am delighted that once again we can bring such a wide-ranging festival to the local community focusing on the wisdom of our older generations.

“The programme inspired by our Christian heritage and other wisdom traditions will draw on spirituality, the arts, psychology, theology and ecology, and promises to be an interesting and varied day.

“This is a huge topic, so we are seeing this very much as a springboard for more conversation, learning and action.”

The festival will take place on Saturday, November 14 at Spittal Community Centre from 10am to 4pm.

The extensive programme includes some of the UK’s leading experts in the areas of aging, spirituality and pastoral care.

Among the speakers taking part is social scientist Dr Harriet Mowat, whose presentation ‘The Freedom of Years’ draws on her work in gerontology and deep interest in the processes of aging.

Dr Jenny Kartupelis will speak on the ‘Younger and Older Together in Wisdom’. In her varied career, she set up a regional multifaith body for which she was awarded an MBE and is a director of Faith in Society Ltd, which advises on co-operative projects between faith groups and with public sector bodies.

Rev June Boyce-Tillman, who is a prominent academic specialising in music, spirituality and theology and a consultant to the ‘Hilda House Community’, will look at the subject of ‘The Crone and Aging’.

Presentations will be interspersed with discussion groups, music, speaker panels, opportunities for refreshments and reflection, and a chance to talk to the exhibitors.

Stalls will showcase the work of organisations supporting older people – including Berwick u3a, Tweed Connections, Anna Chaplaincy and UK End of Life Doulas – and there will also be a book shop and Fairtrade stall, the Mothers’ Union and Age UK.

Entry to the festival is by a suggested cash donation of £10-£25. Refreshments will be available throughout the day, with participants requested to bring their own lunch or visit one of Spittal’s nearby shop or cafes.

For more information or to book, email [email protected]