I came across a report that St. James Episcopal Church in Lancaster, PA, has its own beer: St. James Brown Ale. Apparently, among its members are owners of a microbrewery who came up with this creative fundraising idea. It’s not a new idea, by any means. Monasteries have long been in the business of brewing beer and the Belgian Trappists have their own very popular style.

It’s not just monks. In the Middle Ages, Church Ales were among the most popular fundraisers for English parish churches. They didn’t necessarily brew their own, but they certainly sold large quantities, especially around the Feast of Pentecost. Church Ales were popular festivals for centuries, and often criticized by religious and social reformers. Brewing was a bone of contention in another way. Among the rites and privileges of many parish priests, in England and on the continent, was the right to brew, and sell their own beer. This put them in competition with inns and angered many local merchants.

It worked both ways, however. Parish visitation records are full of complaints from clergy that parishioners, especially men, spent most of Sunday service times in the local alehouse rather than in church, coming to service only in time for mass.

I doubt we’ll be brewing beer to raise funds for Grace, but you’ve got to give the people of St. James, Lancaster credit for creativity, and for marketing.