St. James Prepared for Shrove Tuesday Tradition

ZANESVILLE, OH – Lent begins soon, and one local church is inviting the community to come together for a warm meal and a sweet tradition.

St. James Episcopal Church is preparing to host its annual Shrove Tuesday dinner on Tuesday, February 17th, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The meal, which is a tradition that dates back to around the time of the Civil War, will include ham, cheesy potatoes, applesauce, dinner rolls, and green beans, along with the church’s well-known St. James pancakes for dessert. Father Michael Tigner explained how pancakes became part of the Shrove Tuesday tradition.

“Back then, people would empty out all the fatty or sugary ingredients from their pantries before going into Lent. So, it’d be about not wasting things but also about not leaving that temptation in there to break the fast.” Father Michael Tigner said.

Tickets for the dinner are $15, and children under 12 who just want pancakes can eat for free with the purchase of an adult meal. All proceeds from the event will go back to support the church and its ministries.

“I’ve always taken this as a Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner where you invite people in, you sit down with a meal, and you talk about all the things that happen in past years.” Dinner Co-Chair, Sherry Gillespie said.

St. James Episcopal Church is located at 155 North 6th Street in Zanesville. Tickets can be purchased at the door. Dine in and carry out will both be available.