Trinity Episcopal Church will hold its annual Shrove Sunday pancake supper at the church’s Cunningham Center, 250 Market St., Sunday, March 2 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
“Shrove Sunday” is Trinity’s celebration of Shrove Tuesday. English-speaking countries of the United Kingdom refer to the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, as Shrove Tuesday. This day is also known as “Pancake Tuesday” in the U.K., and also called “Fat Tuesday” because British households tried to use the remaining fat in their households before Lent, which brought with it a stricter diet.
“Shrove” is the past tense of the English verb “shrive,” to obtain absolution for one’s sins by confessing and doing penance. Shrove Tuesday gets its name from the shriving, or confession, that Anglo–Saxon Christians were expected to receive immediately before Lent.
Traditionally pancakes are to be served on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. Due to Fr. Christian’s work schedule traveling between Platteville and Prairie du Chien, serving both churches as shepherd in a two-point charge, Trinity will be serving pancakes once again this year on Sunday evening instead, getting an early start to Lent.
Lent then begins Ash Wednesday, March 5. Trinity will have Ash Wednesday Mass at noon.