The hats, gloves and the pinkies (see below) were in full view at the Church of Francis de Sales in Mathews at its recent Ladies’ High Tea.

BETTY WRENN DAY / GAZETTE-JOURNALAllie Wilson graciously serves her great-grandmother Patti Sarosy a cup of tea.

The church had hoped to make this an annual affair after holding its first in February 2020 before Valentine’s Day. “But COVID stepped in,” explained chairman Helen Yacobucci. “Our hope of continuing our teas before Valentine’s Day was interrupted again when we had the Covid rise this year.”
Wanting the teas to continue, “We decided to go ahead and hold our tea just before Mother’s Day, hoping we can get back on our February schedule next year.”
Whether high or low, holding a tea has been a practice of the ladies of this country since around 1880. And like so many creations of the Victorian era, tea came with certain correct behavior. It’s called etiquette. The more than 50-plus ladies at Francis de Sales knew all about tea etiquette, ...