Some events are all about the food. Others are all about the people. Our recent visit to the Diocese of Hallam in Worsbrough managed to be both, which made it a real pleasure to be part of.
This Roman Catholic church has been bringing people together across South Yorkshire for years, and that sense of community was impossible to miss when Father Humphries invited 95 parishioners to stay behind after Saturday service for a hog roast. It was a lovely gesture, and one that had everyone looking forward to lunch before the final hymn had even finished.
For our Hog Roast Barnsley team, the morning started early, with the hog cooking low and slow over real flames for hours until it reached that perfect golden-brown stage. The sun did us a favour too – blazing away and speeding the whole process up nicely, while also putting everyone within sniffing distance in an even better mood than usual. Though, it’d have been impossible to be in a bad mood with that delicious smell drifting across a churchyard no matter the weather.
By the time the church service wrapped up and parishioners spilled out looking for lunch, Hog Roast Barnsley had the spread ready and waiting. Slow-cooked pulled pork, crispy pork scratchings, sage and onion stuffing and applesauce were all up for grabs, piled onto gluten-free or wholemeal rolls depending on preference. Grilled vegetable skewers and vegan-friendly BBQ pulled jackfruit sliders with plant-based slaw made sure nobody was left feeling forgotten about, while mixed salad and coleslaw kept things fresh alongside the richer flavours.
And, just when most people assumed they were done, dessert arrived in the form of rich, decadent chocolate tortes and light, creamy cheesecakes that proved impossible to turn down – plenty of guests who swore they were full somehow found room anyway.
Between the sunshine, the mouth-watering food and Father Humphries’ generosity, this was an afternoon that brought a community together in exactly the way it was meant to.
As for Hog Roast Barnsley, we’re already crossing our fingers that the Diocese of Hallam will invite us back for another event in future.