Generations of London children have prattled1 the nursery rhyme that begins,

　　“Oranges and lemons,”say the bells of Saint Clement’s;

　　“You owe me five farthings2,”say the bells of Saint Martin’s.

　　This Church of Saint Clement Danes in the Strand3 long served the spiritual needs of London’s Danish merchant community, hence the“Danes”in its title. Historians have noted that at one time fruits, imported from Spain, used to be unloaded at a wharf on the Thames that once adjoined the old churchyard. Other researchers suggest that there was once a custom in the neighborhood of employers distributing fruit to their servants on certain occasions. Still others, however, are satisfied with the explanation that precious few words besides“lemons”rhyme with“Clement’s.”In March 1920 the first“Oranges and Lemons”service was held. Fruit donated by the local Danes was distributed to all children in attendance. Today’s service is performed by youngsters dressed in the red and white of the Danish flag. They recite the nursery rhyme in its entirety4 while playing the tune on handbells5. Afterwards the children line up under the ivywreathed stone doorway. Each child receives one orange and one lemon.