From whichever direction you approach our charming village of Painswick you won’t miss tall the spire of our ancient Grade I listed parish church, St Mary’s, topped with a weathercock.
The grand old church is, literally and figuratively, at the heart of the community, and a drawcard for the many visitors who come to admire our quintessentially “chocolate box” Cotswolds village.
Here at the Edgemoor Inn the imposing spire of St Mary’s looms large in our spectacular view across the Painswick valley, so our guests can admire it as they refresh themselves with a pint or enjoy one of our home-cooked meals.
St Mary’s – the oldest part of which dates from 1377 – is worth a visit any day of the week, and fortunately it is open daily for tourist visits. Its main purpose is, however, to be a working church, so there are often services, funerals and weddings taking place (particularly at weekends), so be prepared to have to wait for access if offices are in progress.
A Traditional Festival Like no Other
The churchyard around St Mary’s is as renowned as the church building itself, and on one day of the year in particular the impressive tombs, gravestones and pathways lined with neat yew trees standing like sentinels becomes the setting for a traditional festival and feast like no other.
The annual event, founded on an ancient ceremony with origins shrouded in the mists of time, is known as the “Clypping of the Church”. You may be forgiven for thinking it has something to do with cutting back the topiaried precious yew trees which the community cossets, but you’d be wrong! The “clypping” referred to is actually an ecclesiastical ceremony which involves the garlanded community – predominantly the children – joining hands in a ring around the church and, in effect, giving it a big hug while they sing and encircle the building.
In the context of St Mary’s “clypping” comes from an Old English word, “clyppan”, which means to embrace or clasp – a public expression of thanksgiving and communal belonging.
September 21, 2025 – Feast Day in Painswick
If you’re lucky enough to be in Painswick on the first Sunday after September 19 (which this year is September 21) you can take part in the fascinating and charming clypping ceremony and all that goes with it – because over the years this quaint old tradition has involved into an all-day celebration known as the Painswick Feast.
You can expect the town to turn out with all it can offer in the way of stalls, local crafts, entertainment, and all sorts of activities centred on St Mary’s churchyard. Around mid-morning the local children follow the church banner, choir and band into the churchyard and the clypping takes place, after which the vicar delivers a sermon from the stone steps of the tower.
Thereafter it’s a case of play, eat, drink and make merry, and top of the menu is the legendary Painswick “puppy dog pie”!
Rest assured no dogs were harmed or injured to provide this Painswick delicacy either now, or in days of yore. There are various reasons as to how the canine connection with the pies served up at the Painswick Feast came about, all playful tales connected with local folklore. What you’ll get if you’re lucky, before they are all sold out, is a pie with a little china dog ornament hidden inside it. It’s a good ice-breaker to ask the locals about the pies, but you’ll probably get a different answer from everyone!
Explore Painswick
If you’re planning a visit to Painswick (its just three miles north of Stroud on the A46) Feast Day is a great day to do it – but we’ve got plenty on offer here in our small but captivating village all year round. If you’d like to discover St Mary’s and its churchyard there’s a pay and display public car park close bay with a footpath to the church. As you enter the churchyard you’ll see the Gravedigger’s Hut which houses a Tourist Information Centre where you can find out all about Painswick and the surrounding area.
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