Victorian Tea fundraiser at Trinity United in Verona

Sep 25, 2014

On September 20 the community room at Trinity United church in Verona was handily transformed into a Victorian tea house as close to 70 guests, many of whom were dressed in fancy bustles, petticoats, lace and fascinators, enjoyed tea, fancy sandwiches and dainty pastry desserts at a special fundraiser. Guests were also entertained by the local flute quartet Toute Ensemble and enjoyed the musings of a properly Victorian attired Debbie Lovegrove, who emceed the event and who mused on the era when Queen Victoria, England's longest reigning monarch, held sway over her empire for 64 years.

Lovegrove spoke of the Queen’s epic reign, of her taking the throne at age 18, her marriage to Albert, their nine children and 42 grandchildren, who gave the Queen the title “grandmother of Europe”. Albert’s death at age 42 from typhoid fever sunk the Queen into a deep depression, and she wore black for the remainder of her life.

Lovegrove recounted Victorian times, when “women's fashion surged to the forefront with horsehair petticoats stiffened with cane and padding”, and the popularity of crinolines, pagoda sleeves, hoop skirts and bustles. She cited the “great cultural expansion” that occurred during Queen Victoria's reign and the many advances made in industry, science, communications and infrastructure.

Included in the event was a festive lunch meal that included tea served from shining silver teapots, cheese and cracker appetizers, followed by a vast array of rolled and other fancy assorted sandwiches. Dessert included fine pastries plus scones, cream and homemade strawberry jam. As an added treat, guests were also invited to have their photos taken by local photographers Carl and Sharon Sole.

Numerous members of the church volunteered their time and services for the event and were also dressed to the nines as they served the guests. Noreen Peters, who organized the tea, was thrilled with the turn out and said she plans to hold another Victorian tea party fundraiser again at the church in the future.