Shepherds’ Pie History

Shepherds’ Pie History

For many years, the Bakers’ Dozen, meeting weekly throughout each year (1974-2014), made individual meat

pies, which were delivered to the sick and to shut-ins, as well as being sold at Metropolitan United Church’s

annual November Yuletide Fair. This social and profitable venture netted the United Church Women (U.C.W.)

over $1,000 each year.

As the team of pie makers aged and retired, meat pie production ceased. In 2015, Unit 7 members of the

U.C.W. discussed the loss, and decided to revive this service in a smaller way, creating Shepherds’ Pies, rather

than pastry-based meat pies, as possibly a healthier option.

Marjorie Frankel undertook the organizing of 8-person teams in 2015 to make Shepherds’ pies. Meeting

approximately 6 times on Wednesday mornings throughout September and October each year (2015-2019),

teams of volunteers would prepare thirty pounds of potatoes, and assemble/make pies using a meat recipe

based on the former ground beef meat pie recipe. Three batches were completed, yielding over 40 pies each

week. Over 200 Shepherds’ Pies were available for sale at the Yuletide Fair at $8/pie, bringing in well over

$1,000 each November until 2019.

With the onslaught of COVID-19 in 2020, the Yuletide Fair, along with gatherings of most sorts, ceased until

2022. Marjorie undertook, with occasional help, to make batches of pies at home throughout COVID-19 in

2020 and 2021. These pies were delivered to some folk sick at home or were sold to those who knew of this15

option, the profit being donated to the U.C.W. With the resumption of the Yuletide Fair in 2022, Marjorie and

her team of pie makers had over 100 Shepherds’ pies for sale, and $800 was raised.

The future of this pie making, as a Shepherds’ Pie group effort, remains uncertain at this time (July 2023), due

to the increasing cost of ingredients, and mainly to the aging work force.