One of the great strengths of St Mary’s is, I think, its catering and hospitality. From bacon and sausage sandwiches at the Railway Exhibition to the amazing cakes at Kith, Kin and Canine we do food very well and very generously. Food, wine, fellowship these are things that we, as a community, love to share with each other and those who come to our door.

It’s a very biblical theme. The Old Testament speaks constantly of the need to feed those who are hungry, to welcome in the orphan, the widow and the refugee – those who have no permanent home or means of livelihood. The people of Israel are told over and over again to remember that they were once homeless and to show their gratitude for God’s gifts by sharing them with those in need. Jesus himself told many stories about God’s generous and overflowing hospitality and the heavenly or Messianic banquet which we will all share.

Overflowing hospitality and the desire to make guests feel very welcome is a common aspect of many African and Eastern traditions, and I read with great interest (as well as with shock) the report of the Croydon Episcopal Area group who visited our link diocese of Central Zimbabwe in April. Over and over again they spoke of the hospitality that they had received, the wonderful meals that they had eaten, the way that hearts and homes had been opened to them. At the same time the members of the group recognised that this was sacrificial giving: that food offered to visitors could not be eaten by the hosts and that those who had so little were giving so much to their guests.

Reading the report brings us face to face with the extent and the true generosity of our own giving. It’s easy for us, as members of an relatively affluent society, to forget what true hospitality and generosity is. It’s easy for us to be satisfied with doing a little, doing our bit, rather than really being willing to share our resources with others, and yet that’s what we’re challenged to do in the face of the real needs we encounter. Later in this magazine you will find a letter from Bishop Nick about his feelings on his return from Zimbabwe and his challenge to us, you will also be able to read of the PCC’s response to that challenge.

On October 7th, together with the Guides and Brownies we will celebrate and give thanks for the gifts of God’s creation and the harvest that we share. As we come to that celebration let us give generously as we remember all that we have and offer our hospitality through our gifts to those who are less fortunate than we are.

Justine

What’s on in October?
Mon	1	The funeral of Mrs Cynthia Clarke	1.30 pm
Tue	2	Magazine Panel meets at 35 Vanguard Way	10.30 am
Wed	3	St Mary's Guild AGM at St Mary's Court	2.30 pm
Thu "	4 "	'Praise & Play' with a Harvest Theme for pre-school toddlers MU&OG. An Evening with Guy Middlemiss. In church	10.00 am 7.30 pm
SUN	7	HARVEST THANKSGIVING Our Rainbows, Guides & Brownies with attend the 9.30 am Eucharist
Mon	8	Friends of Beddington & Grange Parks meet at The Grange	7.30 pm
Tue	9	Centre Committee meets. The Centre	8.00 pm
SUN	14	TRINITY 19 (Morning services will take place at their usual times) Confirmation Service at St Michael's Church which will include six candidates from St Mary's Baptisms	10.00 am 11.30 am
Tue	16	'Time for God' quiet worship. The Carew Chapel	9.30 am
Wed "	17 "	MU Corporate Eucharist Poetry Circle. Poet of the Month: John Betjeman The Centre	10.00 am 2.00-4.00 pm
Thu	18	'Praise & Play' for pre-school toddlers	10.00 am
SUN	21	TRINITY 20
Fri	26	'Kith, Kin & Kanine' . Coffee & Cake in Church (not the Centre)	10.00- 11.30 am
Sat 27 October Don't forget to put your clocks back one hour before you go to bed
SUN	28	LAST AFTER TRINITY Friends & Dedication Sunday
Wed	31	Families at St Mary's Alternative Halloween Party. The Centre	4.30-6.30 pm

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Saints and Commemorations in October

Mon 1 Remigius, Bishop of Rheims, Apostle of the Franks, 533

“ “ Anthony Ashley Copper, Earl of Shaftesbury, Social Reformer, 1885

Thu 4 Francis of Assisi, Friar, Deacon, Founder of the Friars Minor, 1226

Sat 6 William Tyndale, Translator of the Scriptures, Reformation Martyr, 1536

Tue 9 Denys, Bishop of Paris, and his Companions, Martyrs, c250

“ “ Richard Grosseteste, Bishop of Lincoln, Philosopher, Scientist, 1253

Wed 10 Paulinus, Bishop of York, Missionary, 644

“ “ Thomas Traherene, Poet, Spiritual Writer, 1674

Thu 11 Ethelburga, Abbess of Barking, 675

“ “ James the Deacon, companion of Paulinus, 7th century

Fri 12 Wilfrid of Ripon, Bishop, Missionary, 709

“ “ Elizabeth Fry, Prison Reformer, 1845

“ “ Edith Cavell, Nurse, 1915

Sat 13 Edward the Confessor, King of England, 1066

Mon 15 Teresa of Avila, Teacher of the Faith, 1582

Tue 16 Nicholas Ridley, Bishop of London, and Hugh Latimer, Bishop of

Worcester, Reformation Martyrs, 1555

Wed 17 Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, Martyr, c107

Thu 18 LUKE THE EVANGELIST

Fri 19 Henry Martyn, Translator of the Scriptures, Missionary in India and

Persia, 1812

Thu 25 Crispin and Crispinian, Martyrs at Rome, c287

Fri 26 Alfred the Great, King of the West Saxons, Scholar, 899

“ “ Cedd, Abbot of Lastingham, Bishop of the East Saxons, 664

Mon 29 SIMON AND JUDE, APOSTLES

“ “ James Hannington, Bishop of Eastern Equatorial Africa, Martyr in Uganda, 1885

Wed 31 Martin Luther, Reformer, 1546

“ “ Richard Hooker, Priest, Anglican Apologist, Teacher, 1600

Giving Campaign

The Responsibility Is Ours

On 23rd September at the 9.30 Eucharist, Justine preached a sermon which reminded us that the subjects of finance and money, as enablers of our mission to do Christ’s work in our communities, were proper matters for discussion in church and in the pulpit. Jesus did not avoid talking about money or even taxes, and some of his most telling parables deal with money. A church which did not involve itself in the world, even if that meant confronting issues of finance and sometimes politics, was, Justine suggested, not doing its job properly.

The PCC, responding to the Bishop of Croydon’s request (his letter is below) for us to think about ways in which we could help our linked dioceses in Zimbabwe when the time is right, has recently decided that with immediate effect, 20% of profits from social functions should be allocated to a fund to support relief work there, an example of giving “to and through” the church.

The Bible teaches us to give according to our means to support the work of the church and St Mary’s has a fine record of raising money for specific projects – clearing the loan on the Parish centre, replacing the old bellframe and re-hanging the bells, and rewiring and relighting the church inside and out.

But our recent record of regular and committed giving to meet the costs of running the church and paying for our various and growing ministries is not so good. In 2006 we had a serious shortfall which was exceeded by the receipt in one year of three year’s worth of tax rebates. We are heading for another shortfall this year – and this one won’t be covered, because we have only one year’s rebate to come.

The PCC has therefore decided that we need to have a Giving Campaign this autumn, in order to set our finances on a sounder footing, and they have asked me to lead a small team to plan and run it. I am delighted that Lizzie Atkins, Marion Martin, Chris and Mike Morgan and Babs Taylor have agreed to help, and a good deal of work has already been done.

There will be more news shortly, and every member of the Parish family will be invited to participate. In the meantime we ask for your prayers as we plan and prepare the campaign.

We have much to celebrate and be thankful for at St Mary’s – and that will feature in the campaign. We may be able to find some external funding for specific projects to do with the church building, but the costs of the living church – all we are and all we do – are down to us; we can’t expect anybody else to pay. For that reason, the Giving Campaign will be run under the TRIO banner, reminding us that, in these matters, The Responsibility Is Ours.

Ian Akhurst

Letter from Bishop Nick

The Rt Revd Nicholas Baines, Bishop of Croydon, has requested that this letter be printed in every parish magazine

2 August 2007

To: The Congregations of the Churches in the Croydon Episcopal Area

Dear Brothers and Sister in Christ

The Plight of Zimbabwe

The three Episcopal Areas of The Diocese of Southwark are linked with three of the Anglican Dioceses in Zimbabwe; the Croydon Episcopal Area has been linked with the Diocese of Central Zimbabwe for more than two decades. The importance of this link cannot be overstated.

In April this year I led a group of twenty people from the Croydon Episcopal Area to the Diocese of Central Zimbabwe, a visit that was recorded in the June edition of The Bridge. The experience was both challenging and encouraging. The faith of the people was remarkable given the political and economic plight of the Country. It is because of this plight - and our experience in April - that I write to you urgently.

I am writing primarily to urge you to pray - individually and in your churches - every week for our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe. Inflation is now unmeasurable, the currency is worthless and food is scarce. Power cuts and water shortages are the norm. Fuel is almost non-existent. Life expectancy for a man is 37 and 34 for a woman. The infrastructure of the Country has been destroyed and there is also a drought to cope with.

In the face of this challenge it is important that we do not turn our face away from those with whom we belong in the Body of Christ. However, we also need to retain our discipline. The Croydon Link Working Group is not sending any money at present because money cannot be spent. However, the situation will soon have to change and the time will be right for us to support health, schools and churches. I will probably be asking for financial support from individuals and churches when the time is right in order that we can make a material difference to the survival of the people and the reconstruction of that Country. The churches are crucial to this process.

Please pray for Bishop Ishmael, his clergy and people as they struggle to be faithful to God’s call to serve as suffering people. And please be ready to offer the appropriate support when the call comes.

In God’s name I thank you.

Nick Baines

The Bishop of Croydon

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Kathleen and Michael Hodgson would like to say 'thank you' to everyone for the love and good wishes showered upon them on the occasion of their 60th wedding anniversary - for Justine's prayer, for the signed card, for the MU&OG celebratory evening on the 6thand, perhaps most of all, for the welcome they have received on their return to St Mary's.

We have heard from Barry Alexander, a former St Mary's chorister . Barry is who is now serving in a busy UK Joint Forces Medical Group Field Hospital in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, where they treat British soldiers, local people caught in the crossfire and the occasional Taliban. Barry has told us of the great needs of the soldiers and local people where 'just keeping alive is a struggle'. He has asked if we could send some small parcels of toiletries - soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, flannels, tissues, and a few new T shirts, etc - and above all, asks for our prayers. These items will soon be posted to the hospital, but it is not too late to add to them at the back of church.

Barry has recently written to Justine describing life in Helmand Province and the varying degrees of risk encountered there, adding: 'It is an old cliché that when a unit deploys on Ops, it "takes out boys and brings back men". In the case of UKJF Med Grp, this is true - except that we have female soldiers as well! Our young soldiers (average age 19-23 yrs) are really proving themselves here; treating casualties under fire and keeping a level head at the same time takes a lot of doing. Having seen this myself. words cannot describe how proud I am of the way our youngsters have stepped up to the mark.' He finishes by saying, 'Once again, many thanks for your letter and the details of the practical efforts of all at St Mary's and, most importantly, your prayers.'

A footsore Linda Wood spent Saturday, 15 September on the Children's Society's Footsteps for Childhood (formerly the London Bridges Walk). A lot of miles were covered, but Linda has raised around £400 for the Society. Congratulations!

I've never seen so many cakes outside Mr Kipling's factory! Kith, Kin & Kanine made over this month's coffee & cake session to Macmillan Cancer Support's World's Biggest Coffee Morning. Unimaginable amounts of cake were consumed, making everyone look very happy if slightly guilty. £206 was raised for Macmillan, to which will be added Gift Aid. Our thanks to Carolyn and all her bakers & helpers for organising this.

Church and Centre Diary Bookings

Following on from my article in the previous magazine, I have now also taken on bookings for the Centre. Instead of the usual diary, details of both Church and Centre bookings will now be combined in a ring binder on the table under the tower, but for ease of reference I will continue to post the Centre bookings on the noticeboard in the Centre lobby. These lists will be regularly updated as bookings are added or changed. Please let me know of all intended use of the Church or Centre so we can avoid duplication. I'd welcome your comments on how this system is or isn't working, or suggestions on how it could be improved. Mike Morgan (020 8669 3933)

Some Dates for your Diary

Friday, 2 November, 7.30 pm

Sung Eucharist for All Souls Day

Saturday, 17 November, 7.30 pm

Celebration Performance by

Chimes Musical Theatre

Saturday, 24 November, 11 am-3 pm

Christmas Fair

2 December, 6.30 pm

Advent Carol Service

St Mary's entertains …..

8th September

'The best evening I've had for ages' - one verdict, echoed by many, on Hugh Crozier's and Pam Akhurst's programme of Ragtime and Early Jazz, with popular songs of the 1920s and 30s. Hugh had his large audience mesmerized, amazed and applauding as he (apparently effortlessly) entertained us with music by Scott Joplin, Fats Wallker, Jelly Roll Morton and many others. Joining Hugh for the second half of the evening, Pam too had the audience open mouthed and foot tapping along with popular and well-known songs from the period - and all leaving with the question/request: 'When can we do this again'?

15th & 16th September

London Open House this year celebrated 15 years of thousands of unique buildings opening their doors to the public one weekend a year. The aim is to raise Londoner's awareness of the old and new architecture around them. St Mary's is privileged to be one of these unique buildings - and the steady flow of visitors quietly enjoying the building and its treasurers was itself a reward for the team of meeters and greeters. Not so quiet were those of the visitors who braved the stone spiral staircase for the bellringing demonstration, view of the bells and have-a-go opportunity. Their praise was loud and enthusiastic and echoed all the way to the lych gate.

22nd September

Alfred Road, Cranbrook Town, St, Wats Lane, Sung Roy, West Croydon, Collingwood and Sticky End - not a British Rail announcement, but all the Model Railway layouts which filled the church and Centre on 22. Add to these the train game for young visitors where (so it seemed) you won a prize whether or not you got the answers right, plus the authentically basic buffet - bacon and sausages in a bun and coffee in a polystyrene mug - and 'a great time as had by all', raising just over just £408 in the process.

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It was in 1948 when I was 17 years old that I was sent to London from the Gold Coast, now Ghana, to train as a nurse and midwife. I have to admit I had no very clear idea of what to expect in this great country. It was soon after the war and we knew there was still food and clothing rationing in the UK, so my family provided all the things I’d need to avoid starvation, and freezing in the English winter weather - these terrors being the notion back home of what I may have to suffer! So there was a trunk of warm clothing, heavy knitted cardigans, good quality outdoor shoes, woollen stockings, etc, etc, you name it. And food, glorious food, all the provisions one could want: sugar, Ovaltine, sardines, tinned corned beef, sweets and chocolates in probably the biggest “Chop Box” on our ship, the MV Apapa. The ship was to be our home for the next 14 days of delightful sailing in well-fed luxury; that was until we hit the Bay of Biscay! How I prayed the boat would turn round and go back home, but all that happened was the waves got bigger; I was certain the boat was going to sink at any moment. Thanks be to God it didn’t! The seas calmed and soon we arrived at the Port of Liverpool. It was here that I got my first glimpse of heavy snow, and my goodness that was something else, it really was.

From Liverpool we went by steam train, the London Express, all the way to London, arriving at Liverpool Street Station in the afternoon. I was met by a charming English lady who was so helpful and kind I am a little ashamed to say that somewhat distraught after the rush and all the travelling, I did not remember to ask for her name and address, as I would have liked to have written to thank her. Dutifully, she took me to my destination - the hospital in London at which I was due to begin work the next morning. When she said goodbye, I suddenly felt so lost and lonely but, out of the blue, help arrived: an English girl, about my own age and possibly feeling a bit lost too, began talking to me and there it was we became instant friends, lifelong friends; and we still are, now over 60 years later we see each other nearly every week.

Once I’d settled down I qualified as an SRN and SCM, and took other courses in nursing subjects as well. I have to say I enjoyed every moment of it.

I met my husband John in 1952 and we ran a medical clinic together in Ghana, which was good and interesting. John was kind, especially towards children from poor families, and I too liked working and helping youngsters: they seemed to appreciate it, as did their parents. The clinic was well staffed, well stocked, well equipped, and it went well. After Ghana’s independence, however, we decided to return to Europe.

We were blessed with six children, boys and girls, three of each, and later ten lovely grandchildren came along.

We thank the Lord for His many blessings, given us in abundance over the years.

Monica Phillips

From the registers

Weddings

28 July

Paul Turvill and Rebecca Davis

Peter Moorcock and Michelle Quickenden

11 August

Anthony Gibbs and Samantha Higgs

Robin Metcalfe and Yvonne Finnis

18 August

John Dodd and Kerry Steptoe

Baptisms

12 August

Ben Harris

Mason Russell-Snow

Harrison Blackman

19 August

William Westwood

Zachary Pocock

26 August

Miriam Uchechi

Isabel Little

23 September

Poppy Bea Pavey

Funerals

25 July

Nicola McHale

26 September

Donald Phur

Singing at Salisbury 2007

Tim Boxall (Head Chorister) and I were invited to join St’s “partner” choir from St Boltoph's, Heene, Worthing and their choirmaster, Neil Turner, to sing at Salisbury Cathedral from 12th to 19th August. It was a very busy week for us and we had to work very hard!

I arrived in Salisbury on Saturday, 11th August with my parents and little sister. Tim came down with his mother by train the next day. After a day’s sight seeing with my family, we made our way to the Choir School to meet up with the choristers from Heene, and then went to the dormitory which was at another building in the Cathedral Close, Wren House. Wren House was built in 1714 and is where the Cathedral choristers usually live. The boys and girls had separate dormitories; Tim and I were in a dormitory with four other boys. The worst part of the week was being kept up at night by a six year old in our dormitory who wanted the light on. Our meals were served in the Cathedral School refectory, where the choristers also eat during term time. The food was a bit bland but there was plenty of it.

We had to do two and sometimes three practices every day, and then sing at Evensong every day - apart from Sunday, 19th August when we sang at three services! In between practices, we drank tea and went on the space-hopper, and also generally chatted and told stories to the younger boys.

On the Thursday, we had the day off to visit Longleat. We went in separate cars and were able to see monkeys and other animals at very close quarters!

We managed to see a lot of the Cathedral between practices and services. It is most impressive – the spire is amazing and the interior is very beautiful. As we were wearing cassocks, some of the tourists asked us whether the Cathedral was a museum! We had to explain it is a “working” Cathedral.

We were given a tour of the tower and spire. There are spiral staircases in each corner of the tower, leading to the top from where you have an excellent view. The tower was built between 1285 and 1315. Then the spire reaches a further 128 metres (404 foot)! Over the years, there has been some structural strengthening of the tower and spire. The windows in the Cathedral are very old and so are not very colourful as they could not make such bright stained glass then. However, they are very detailed and impressive.

I would recommend the experience of singing at a Cathedral. We had to learn well over 200 pages of music but the acoustics were wonderful. It was also a good experience to sing with people we did not know well at the beginning of the week.

If you would like to read more about Salisbury Cathedral, there is a very good website: http://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk.

Harley Day

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Quiet Day at St Mary's Abbey, West Malling

Memory can sometimes be unreliable. At other times it can serve us well and recall in detail some special time or event.

The first time I went to St Mary's Abbey some years ago now, I felt immediately I arrived a deep sense of peace and wondered on my way down - would it be the same this time? I should have been more confident for the minute we all walked through the big gate there it was - that definable moment that we were entering a place of deep tranquillity and worship.

Our welcome by Sister Shona was warm and friendly - the coffee and biscuits were very good too. Justine started our day for us by outlining the programme and starting, as we do in 'Time for God' on Tuesdays at Beddington with relaxation of our whole bodies. We heard some lovely music and were aware of a running programme of images of icons of St Mary continually playing on Justine's laptop computer. We were then free until midday: we could walk in the grounds; tread the labyrinth (a form of shallow maze); sit and read, or simply just 'be'. Whatever we chose to do - there was always meditation. At noon we all gathered for Eucharist in the Pilgrim Chapel - a lovely, sparse ancient chapel, very very old and somewhat bare. We celebrated with our familiar communion vessels that we use at midweek services at St Mary's and we all stood in a circle round the altar and communicated each other. I'm pretty sure that most of us found this quite moving.

We then went back to 'base' - our room for the day where we devoured our packed lunches and broke our silence! After lunch we repeated the morning's programme and then at three o'clock we joined the sisters of this Benedictine order for the office of Nones.

Very soon it was time for tea with a lovely ginger cake. Sister Shona threatened us that we could not go home until it was finished! We then went back to the Pilgrim Chapel for evening prayer and thus back to our own cars to head home.

As the gate closed behind us I felt that I had been in the presence of real peace - not worldly peace but the peace that only God can give us and leave with us.

A truly very special day and so many thanks are due to the folk who organised us, led us and transported us to and fro.

Mary Tapp

Twenty Years Ago

October 1987

Over the summer, the church had been open for Music Recitals in aid of the organ restoration. Thanks were expressed to John Sharples (the organist), Wayne Daunt and Jane and Lisa Cosgrove who had provided a great variety of music on those occasions.

The ringers had had another wet outing, with peals of thunder echoing the peals of bells as they journeyed through Essex and Suffolk. One of the places visited was Lavenham, which sports a massive tower housing a 23 cwt ring of eight. Someone had been heard to remark, "It's a bell tower with a church attached!"

In an earlier column, I reported on the MU celebrations in Southwark Cathedral and the adventures of St Mary's banner. Our members had noticed the lovely banners of other groups, often bearing their name, thus being easily identifiable. Mary Tapp reported a conversation with Jane Robson concerning St Mary's banner and Jane had decided she would like to have a special one made to celebrate her 50 years membership. (The result can be seen in church today.)

The boys' Brigade had been camping in the Isle of Wight; the Guild had enjoyed a Garden Party and there was a plea for household goods for a stall at Sutton Wel-Care Autumn Fair.

In 1987, Carousel published the successes of a number of our young people as they completed various national exams. Charlotte Richardson had gained her National Nursery exams and was off to work; Catherine Sinclair was starting training to be a nurse (like her mother); David Bailey was off to work for the MoD; Robert Del Toro was entering NatWest bank in the City and Aidan Richardson was going to work at the Whitehall Theatre. Nicholas Kimber and Jane Cosgrove were both off to University to read Maths and several others were beginning A level courses at schools and colleges.

Twenty years on, several of our young people are at the next stage in their lives. Katy Seymour is off to Leicester University to read English, while brother Chris is going to read Maths at Bath. Stephanie Pope is starting a Nursery and Child Care course at Nescott, while James Pedrick, Esi Adams and Tom Wood are continuing in sixth forms to study for AS and A levels. We wish them all the best with their new studies.

Jean Kimber

Did you know the Oliver typewriter was invented by Reverend Thomas Oliver in 1888, for use in his work as a minister? He was born in Canada in 1852 and the prototype for his unique machine was rumoured to have been made of strips of tin cans. It was patented between 1891 and 1894 but didn't come on the market until 1895, when the Oliver Typewriter Company began. The story goes that he designed his writing machine without ever seeing any of the other typewriters of the time. In 1926 production was switched from Canada to the British Oliver Typewriter Company and production was based in Croydon.

Reverend A E Robertson was the first Munro-bagger - systematically climbing almost 300 of the Scottish Highland summits listed by Sir Hugh Munro in 1891 and thereafter known as Munros. His ‘compleation’ was finalised in September 1901, on the summit of Meall Dearg in Glencoe. It is acknowledged that Robertson did not truly ‘do the round’ as he failed to climb the Inaccessible Pinnacle on Skye, which at that time was not regarded as a Munro, but Sgurr Dearg was! However, considering the date and the equipment available at that time, nobody is ever going to begrudge him his well-earned title of Munroist No 1. Robertson was one of the founder members of the Scottish Mountaineering Club, which continues to this day.

The Eagle comic was the creation of the Reverend Marcus Morris, then vicar of St' Church, Southport, Lancashire, who intended it as a Christian antidote to what he saw as the bad influence of American comics during the post-war period. He strove to produce high quality, inspirational literature unlike any existing at the time. It is strongly associated with its flagship character, Dan Dare, Pilot of the Future, (created and illustrated by Frank Hampson), doing battle against the Mekon and other interplanetary foes. The Eagle and its sister papers Girl, Swift and Robin were read by millions throughout the 1950s and 1960s. The Eagle became the most popular comic in British history, selling over 2 million copies per week.

Jack Russell terriers were first bred by the Reverend Mr John Russell, a parson and hunting enthusiast born in 1795. In his last year of university at Oxford he bought a small white and tan terrier bitch called Trump. She was the basis for a breeding programme to develop a terrier with high stamina for the hunt as well as the courage and formation to chase out foxes that had gone to ground, but without the aggressiveness that would result in their harming the fox, which was considered unsporting. The line of terriers developed by John Russell was well respected for these qualities and, when he died in 1883, his dogs were taken on by other hunt enthusiasts.

Butterfly Bushes have flowered well everywhere this year (including the roof of the lych gate across the road from St Mary’s) but their botanical name, Buddleja davidii, reminds us of two more multi-talented clergymen. The Rev’d Adam Buddle was one time vicar of Farnbridge, Essex. Davidii is for Father Armand David, a 19th century French Jesuit who combined his missionary work in China with some serious plant-hunting. He is responsible, among other things for introducing to Europe the spectacular Davidia invocucrata, popularly known as the Handkerchief Tree.

Gershon-Itskhok Sirota (1874- 1943 Warsaw) was one of the leading cantors of Europe during the "Golden Age of Hazzanut" (cantorial music). Sirota assumed the position of cantor at the prestigious Tlomaczke Street Synagogue in Warsaw where he began to record and re-record his music. He undertook concert appearances around Europe attended by both Jewish and Christian audiences alike. He was sometimes referred to as the "Jewish Caruso" and indeed it is reputed that Carusa attended one of the concerts. While Sirota eventually left the synagogue over disputes concerning his frequent performances, he continued to live in Warsaw. Caught in Warsaw during the Nazi invasion of Poland during World War II, he spent his final years living in the Warsaw Ghetto, and died in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in 1943.

The Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould (1834 –1924) was an English hagiographer, antiquarian, novelist and eclectic scholar. He is remembered particularly as a writer of hymns, the best-known being Onward, Christian Soldiers and Now the Day Is Over, He regarded as his principal achievement the collection of folk songs that he made with the help of the ordinary people of Devon and Cornwall. In collaboration with another collector, Cecil Sharp, they produced English Folk Songs for Schools in 1907. This collection of 53 songs was adopted for the UK schools curriculum for the next 60 years. Though he had to modify the words of some songs which were too rude for Victorian ears, he left his original manuscripts for future students of folk song. Stories of his own eccentricity have been exaggerated but he did once, while teaching at Hurstpierpoint, have his pet bat on his shoulder; and it is also said that, at one children's party, he called out to a young child: "And whose little girl are you?" Bursting into tears, the girl sobbed: "I'm yours, Daddy."

The Reverend W V Awdry was born in 1911. The son of a clergyman, he was ordained into the Anglican priesthood in 1936. The characters that would make Awdry famous, and the first stories featuring them, were invented in 1943 to amuse his son Christopher during a bout of measles. After he wrote The Three Railway Engines Christopher wanted a model of Gordon; however that was too difficult. Instead Awdry made a model of a tank engine from odds and ends and painted it blue. Christopher christened the model engine Thomas … and the rest is history.

Naturalist and clergyman, the Reverend Gilbert White (1720-1793) was curate of Selborne in Hampshire all his ordained life - not because he was never offered promotion, but because it was his choice to live and die there. His book 'The Natural History of Selborne' is a classic, both of natural science and of English literature. He is acclaimed for his methodical and accurately recorded observation which ranks him second to none as a scholar as well as for the charm of his writing. He was known in his day for his great sympathy with all animals, his pet tortoise was an important member of his household!

Thank you Allan for starting this ball rolling. Time to take up a hobby, Justine?

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Richard Hooker

31 October

Richard Hooker (1554 – 1600) was one of the Anglican Divines. He was a strong advocate of the so-called Elizabethan settlement, which set in law the relationship between church and state and attempted to create a middle way between the different factions in the church, attempting (but ultimately failing) to be as inclusive as possible.

Richard Hooker is described as one of the greatest advocates Anglicanism has ever had. His great work The Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity was in part an attempt to affirm and justify the constitutional changes that took place in 1559, but also became the place where the classical Anglican foundations of doctrine were set out.

It was Hooker who gave us the model of a three legged stool of scripture, reason and tradition. He argued that theological discussions and thought had to take place on the basis of all three. He believed, against the Puritans that the Bible was not simply a book of rules, suggesting that the answers to contemporary problems could not simply be read out of it. Rather, the words of scripture had to be read and interpreted in the light of tradition and human reason. On the other hand, the permanence and value of the scriptural witness must be respected, but part of our response depends on the situation in which it is read.

He argued that the church is an organic body, that it changes over time and that its structures too must be capable of change. The church must be able to change the laws that govern it, in a similar way to the way that Parliament can amend the laws of the land.

Many of the issues that Hooker addressed are of considerable importance to the Church of England today, issues about decision making and governance, and also about the place and interpretation of scripture.

Signs & Symbols:Picinas

Ever wondered why there’s a sink next to the altar in old churches?

There’s quite a lot of washing that goes on in a Communion service, and all the water used needs to go somewhere. During a Communion service the priest washes his hands after receiving the gifts of the people and before the Consecration of the bread and wine; known as the ‘lavabo’. It is even said that in some countries, where the gifts of the people may include live chickens or similar items, this washing has a really practical purpose. But normally for us in England it’s purely symbolic.

The priest is recognising that s/he is about to hold the body and blood of Christ, whether they feel that symbolically or in reality and so washes with that in mind.

After the giving of Communion there is often some bread and wine left over and today we are used to the priest and her/his assistants either consuming them – the ‘ablutions’ - or placing them in a special place for the Reserved Sacrament.

But even so the vessels and the cloths that have been used need to be washed, and it’s possible that some consecrated wine or bread may still be within them. So thought has to go into how these are to be disposed.

Hence the sink, called a piscine from the Latin word piscis meaning basin, was (and occasionally still is today) used. The drain from it will go directly into the earth and so the consecrated elements return to the earth and are not simply thrown away.

It is usually on the south side of the chancel near the High Altar – if you find another then that shows where a previous altar must have stood. If it’s further back in the chancel then probably the church has been lengthened at some time.

For a very short time 1272 – 1307 during the reign of Edward I they built two sinks side by side. The first for the lavabo and the second for the ablutions. Before that period one drain was used for both, and since that date the ablutions have always been consumed by the priest. Therefore if you do find a double sink you can at least date with some accuracy that part of the building.

Have a think about your hands before you take Holy Communion. Do you need to symbolically rinse them in some way?

Families at St Mary's

would love to welcome you to their:

Alternative Halloween Party

Wednesday, 31 October, 4.30-6.30 pm

Join us for Fairies and Superheroes Fancy Dress. Traditional Games,

Fantasy Bring & Share Tea.

Christmas Twinkle Twinkle Party

Sunday, 9 December, 1.00-3.45 pm

Christmas Hunt, Pin the Tail on the Reindeer, and other Festive Games. A visit from the Man in Red and much more. Then to church afterwards for the Christingle Service

Daily prayer topics in October

Mon 1 Young people beginning new jobs or university education

Tue 2 Our local schools and colleges

Wed 3 Teachers and all who influence the young

Thu 4 Thanksgiving for animals, birds, plants and sea life

Fri 5 Responsibility in the use of the world’s resources

Sat 6 Thanksgiving for our Scriptures and translators of scriptures

Sun 7 Thanksgiving for all of God’s good gifts

Mon 8 The desperately poor and the starving

Tue 9 Scientists, biologists and the ethical use of genetics

Wed 10 The healing ministry of the church

Thu 11 Hospital Chaplains and visitors

Fri 12 Prison reform and all who work in our prisons

Sat 13 The Queens and all the Royal Family

Sun 14 All being baptised and confirmed here today

Mon 15 The support and nurture of new Christians

Tue 16 All attending the MU Retreat at Wychcroft

Wed 17 The work of Religious Communities and Retreat Houses

Thu 18 Thanksgiving for St Luke’s Gospel

Fri 19 The Church Missionary Society

Sat 20 The Leprosy Mission

Sun 21 Peace and unity between the nations of our world

Mon 22 All suffering as the result of wars and violence

Tue 23 The work of the UN and its peace-keeping forces

Wed 24 All suffering from mental illness

Thu 25 All who seek to keep law and order

Fri 26 Law courts, barristers, lawyers and juries

Sat 27 All deprived of education and those with learning difficulties

Sun 28 Thanksgiving for St Mary’s Church, members and Friends

Mon 29 The Church and people of Uganda

Tue 30 The Anglican Communion world-wide

Wed 31 Our Link Dioceses in Zimbabwe, bishops, priests and people