Rocking Chair Ceremony, Blidworth, Nottinghamshire

The Rocking Ceremony in Blidworth, Nottinghamshire, is more than 600 years old. The information plaque by the sculpture informs us that the ceremony is 'based on an old bible play about "the presentation of the baby Jesus in the temple".' It was revived in 1922 and takes place annually in the parish church on the first Sunday in February, when the baby boy born nearest to Christmas day is baptised and rocked in a 100-year-old wooden cradle. The church is 'the last church in the country, and possibly the world, to perform the ceremony'. This sculpture was made by Morris Reddington, and presented to the village free of charge in March 2010.