On Palm Sunday we observed an old Herefordshire tradition of distributing Pax cakes after the service. Pax means peace and the little shortbread cakes are stamped with an image of the Easter lamb.

When the cakes are distributed, the words Peace and Good Neighbourhood are used as a blessing. These are the same words which are engraved on the big bell here at Walterstone which was recently restored and rehung.

The background to this tradition is to encourage everyone to settle their differences and lay all enmity aside to prepare for the Easter Festival.

We would like to thank Val Lilwall the warden at Hentland Church for her advice and Phil Jackson at Beamers Designs for very kindly providing the stamps for the cakes.