The St. Faith’s Town Fair was held on Saturday 30^th August and was a great success raising over £2,800.

Town Fairs are not new to Havant, but were probably first seen in medieval times, around the 14^th Century. A Fair would almost certainly have been held on the feast day, or ‘Feriae’ of Saint Faith, and would have involved much by way of trade and commerce, as well as entertainment’s, some of which might well have taken place in the churchyard! Records show that Havant did indeed have its own ‘Fair Field’, on the site of what is now Fairfield Road, there being a ‘Pound’ for stray animals close by the road’s junction with the Pallant. Could it be that in the mists of time, our own Church House has served as the Fair House, used to store the fair’s booths and utensils from year to year?  The Fairs differed from the regular Markets, in so far as they offered more rare and exotic goods from further afield, as well as providing merchants and businessmen a regular opportunity to meet and do business. Acting rather like todays ‘Job Centres’, some but not all Fairs would provide the opportunity for prospective employers and employees to come together and agree terms for the coming year. Referred to as ‘Hiring Fairs’ these were often held on or just before Candlemass, on 2^nd February. Here at Saint Faiths, it is worth remembering the jollification’s as the Fair took place only when the overnight watch, or ‘Wake’ had been completed, and the Mass celebrated on the morning of Saint Faith’s day. For further information see ‘The Local History Companion’ by Stephen Friar.