The May Fair House Story

In May 1949, a wonderful St. Stephen’s event made its first appearance—the May Fair—and it became an annual tradition. The “Big Event” was planned by the women’s Auxiliary-Guild and included a supper, bazaar and children’s carnival. The May Fair’s first chairman, Mrs. Hallowell Dickinson, advertised the event “as a wonderful way to get better acquainted with each other.” She further stated that the proceeds would be used to meet the Auxiliary Guild’s pledge of $1000 annually to St. Stephen’s Building Fund. The first May Fair raised $1,900.

In 1977, parishioner Nancy Tucker-Wildrick was in Norfolk, Virginia, staying with a friend who was a member of Church of the Holy Spirit. The women of Holy Spirit managed a shop which was open on Sundays after church to sell gifts and homemade Brunswick stew. Aware that the Women of St. Stephen’s were looking for a fund-raising project to replace the May Fair, Nancy put two and two together and an idea was born.

The May Fair House, a retail food and gift shop managed by the Women of St. Stephen’s, opened in the fall of 1978 in the former rectory, located approximately where the shop stands today. Established to foster fellowship among the church’s women and as the fund-raising arm of their organization, the shop has thrived and monies raised through sales have been awarded each year to various groups, schools and non-profit organizations in the Richmond area, most recently with a focus on organizations that assist women and children at risk.

After dealing with licensing, zoning issues, signage that would not compete with the shops in the nearby retail district at Libbie and Grove avenues, and a simple renovation of the rectory, a committee of three women drove to the Gift Show in Washington, D.C., with $5,000 from the Women of St. Stephen’s. Gift items were carefully chosen, shipped, priced and displayed. May Fair House was open for business.

From the beginning, the designers of the shop planned for food to be as important as merchandise. At first, parishioners brought in their recipes and serving pieces for dishes to be prepared on request. Fruit baskets were available by advance order. The recipes for frozen casseroles and other food products sold in the shop today were developed over many years. Food now accounts for approximately 50 percent of the shop’s gross sales. The food is prepared and the shop staffed by volunteers, and cooking teams include men as well as women.

Those involved in May Fair House have carried on the work begun more than 100 years ago by the dedicated women of this parish. The shop and kitchen volunteers today number several hundred. Since the shop opened several decades ago, friendships have been made, projects planned and executed and financial support given. God willing, the Women of St. Stephen’s will continue to provide fellowship within the parish and loving care and aid for our neighbors.

Fern D. Newsom

Adapted from the history originally published in St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church: The First Hundred Years.