Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper returns to Grace Episcopal

Jill Doss-Raines, The Dispatch
Updated ·3 min read
In this file photo, Grace Episcopal Church members gather around a large griddle to cook pancakes for their annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper in Lexington. The event, set for Feb. 21 this year, is the first time the church men have been able to host the community event since the pandemic.
In this file photo, Grace Episcopal Church members gather around a large griddle to cook pancakes for their annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper in Lexington. The event, set for Feb. 21 this year, is the first time the church men have been able to host the community event since the pandemic.

A beloved Lexington-area community tradition is back in business after having to pause two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Feb. 21, the Men of Grace Episcopal Church invite all to practice gluttony with the 70th anniversary Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper in the church undercroft. Thousands of locals have pilgrimaged to the church, located on East Fifth Avenue off South Main Street in Lexington, for years to pig out on all-you-can-eat pancakes and homemade sausage for seven decades. before entering a fast for the Christian Lenten observation.

The Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper has been hosted by the Men of Grace Episcopal Church since 1953.

The word shrove is the past tense of the English verb shrive, which means to obtain forgiveness for one's sins way of confession and doing penance. Pancakes became the food of choice for this pre-Lenten feast so that rich ingredients such as eggs, milk, and sugar could be used up before the start of fasting during the season of Lent.

"In 1953 Don Blanton and other men of Grace Church wanted to host an event around the beginning of Lent that would bring both the church and community together," said David Inabinett, a member of the men's group. "Pancake suppers around Shrove Tuesday were already a tradition in other locations so it seemed a natural opportunity. For over 30 years this was held in the old parish hall behind the historic chapel then moved to the undercroft when the new sanctuary was built in the late 1980s."

Thanks to its long tradition, food and fellowship, this event typically attracts 500 or more people from the congregation and the larger community. Carry-out meals are available and a popular option for those who wish to avoid the crowd.

"Like many beloved traditions that we could not hold during COVID, we heard from numerous church and community members lamenting not being able to enjoy both the comfort of the hearty food/famous homemade sausage and the camaraderie of attendees from all facets of the community to start off the Lenten season in Lexington," Inabinett said.

In addition to an endless supply of delicious pancakes cooked on a unique rotating griddle custom-built by one of the event’s founders, Don Blanton, the meal includes approximately 200 pounds of homemade sausage that is cut from pork shoulders, hand ground, seasoned and cooked on-site by the men of the church.

"With 40-50 men participating in various ways, we look forward to this event as a way to gather again socially and to work together to serve and give back to our community," said Patrick Miller, who assumed the role of “Trail Boss” of the Pancake Supper after former Lexington Mayor and Trail Master Richard Thomas passed away. "Proceeds are donated annually to local non-profits serving the Lexington Area.”

The supper is held from 5-8 p.m. in the church undercroft, located along East Fifth Avenue. Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for children under age 12.

Jill Doss-Raines is The Dispatch trending topics and personality profiles senior reporter and is always looking for tips about businesses and entertainment events, secret and new menu items and interesting people in Davidson County. Contact me at jill.doss-raines@the-dispatch.com.

This article originally appeared on The Dispatch: Pig-out Shrove Tuesday Pancake feast returns to Grace Episcopal in Lexington