This Sunday is the Feast Day of St Bartholomew, whom Christ called to be one of the apostles. He is believed to have also used the name Nathaniel and was known as an Israelite, but also as “a man with no guile”.

He is credited with spreading the gospel in India, Lycaonia and Armenia, but was later horribly martyred.Some of his relics are said to be in Rome with others claimed to be in churches around Asia Minor that are dedicated to him. The Anglican church in West Witton carries his name but I have never heard it claimed that some of his relics are hidden there.

Despite his lack of positive links with England, we do celebrate his feast day. Many celebrations used to be held around this country, some developing into huge “Bartle” fairs, one being at Smithfield in London from 1133 until 1855.

The Lee Gap Horsefair was also held on this date at West Ardsley, near Wakefield, this being one of our oldest horse fairs.

In parts of England, autumn was said to start on St Bartholomew’s Day, which was also the day when morning dew first appears, and it was also claimed that whatever the weather on that day it would continue throughout the autumn. The 40 days’ rain that might have followed St Swithin’s Day (July 15) were said to finish on St Bartholomew’s Day.

In Wensleydale, of course, St Bartholomew’s Feast Day is celebrated with the famous Burning of Old Bartle which now appears on the nearest Saturday and brings Witton Feast to an end. An effigy of Old Bartle is carried in a procession to the outskirts and ceremoniously burned, but the identity of this character is not known.

I very much doubt that it represents St Bartholomew, patron saint of the parish church.