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Newtown PC senior pastor entertains at the
Iowa State Fair
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This past August on a Saturday night during the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Blake Blakesley was asked to sit in with a rock and roll band called "The Nadas" and play his banjo. On Thursday afternoon a "Scotch Ridge Cloggers and Carlisle Cutoff Band" reunion performance was held with Blake and his wife and most of the dancers and musicians from their past. Having attended the Iowa State Fair for the last 4 years, Blake says it is a real joy to re-unite with these old friends and great musicians. The Rev. G.W. 'Blake' Blakesley III is actually the senior pastor of the Newtown Presbyterian Church in Newton, Bucks County, PA, (Philadelphia Presbytery) and has
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been playing banjo since he was 13 years old. Blake grew up in  the Des Moines, Iowa area, moved away for schooling, served churches in Indiana for several years, and then took a parish in Iowa for 13 years. During that time he and his wife Lynn and formed a group of musicians and dancers called "The Scotch Ridge Cloggers and Carlisle Cut-off Band". While Lynn led and taught traditional Appalachian Clog Dancing, Blake led and taught a group of musicians in Old-Time music.
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Fo r 13 years the group played in and around Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri. In 1995, the Blakesleys relocated to the East Coast where Lynn is the head of the Family and Consumer Sciences Department of Pennsbury High School and Blake serves the Newtown Presbyterian Church's 1,000 member family. When they arrived in PA, the Rev. Blakesley formed a group - to no one's surprise - of Irish/Celtic musicians into "The Boys of County Bucks". They play throughout Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
This senior pastor certainly makes a 'joyful noise unto the Lord'. |
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pictures submitted by Linda Deeter |
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