Olde English Tea at St. James Episcopal Church in Wichita

Today was the 84th annual Olde English tea at St. James Episcopal Church in Wichita. It’s only the second time I’ve been able to attend, but I do love it.

Even though it was a little wet, I walked through the garden area because they had made it so beautiful with the cloth and flowers.

They seem to be aware that details are important, and had these matching flower arrangements at the door.

Just inside the door they had these lovely vignettes.

Centerpieces were teapots with flowers on each table.

I didn’t know the story of their tea until this year, but apparently Mrs. Walter Wintle, a recent transplant from England, held the first tea 84 years ago. She arrived to find the church in desperate need of $300 for roof repairs. She had a tea in her home and secured all the needed funds. A tradition was born!

The lemon curd is still made with the same recipe. They are also famous for the toffee, which you can purchase by the bag to take home.

They have a series of buffet tables, and just keep bringing food out. You can help yourself to whatever appeals to you.

A little touch they do, which I really love, is they have vases of flowers on each tray. So, even if the food is gone from the tray, it’s never empty. It’s beautiful and practical.

They also do cucumber sandwiches with different varieties of toppings. I loved this combination. They also have them with shrimp on top, as well as other goodies.

Both years I’ve been they have these little mice, which are really adorable.

They have someone pouring tea at each end of the buffet table. They also offer coffee. And I noticed today they had water on a sideboard. I always try to take bottled water with me to an event like this because I can’t drink caffeine and I know how difficult it is to manage special requests at an event.