The Diocese of Southwark Newspaper of the Anglican Diocese of … Bridge... · 2018-07-31 · The Bridge is full of the stories of our Diocese, our discipleship, our mission amongst

Newspaper of the Anglican Diocese of Southwark Vol.22 No.2 March 2017

Inside THE BRIDGE ...this month

THE BRIDGE

Follow the Diocesan Blog: ‘Hearts on Fire – sharing God’s Good News in Southwark Diocese’ - http://southwarkcofe.tumblr.com/

Heartson Fire

The Diocese of Southwark

The Revd Prebendary Dr Karowei Dorgu will be Consecrated as the 13th Bishop of Woolwich in Southwark Cathedral at 11am on Friday 17 March. Please remember him, his wife, Mosun, and the priests and people of the Area in the coming weeks as Dr Dorgu prepares for his Consecration and the priests and people prepare to meet and work with their new Bishop.

‘Messy Celebration’ at Southwark CathedralOn Saturday 25 February nearly 500 people from across the Diocese came to Southwark Cathedral for Southwark’s fi rst ‘Messy Celebration’ - organised by the Diocese in partnership with Bible Reading Fellowship (BRF).

Inside the Cathedral complex had been divided into fi ve activity zones: Meeting Jesus; Preparing for Communion; Saying Sorry; Prayer and Music.

Within the zones, people (adults and children) could ‘see and try’ 25 different ‘Messy Church’ activities, including bread making, pressing grapes, colouring the Bishop’s chasuble and stole, printing the altar cloth, prayer trees, origami cross making, Godly Play, singing and musical instrument making. The event ended with a Eucharist where everyone sat in groups to share the sacraments.

A few numbers...• 450 - 500 people attended;• 83+ churches represented;• 120+ volunteer helpers;

Martyn Payne, BRF Messy Church Team member, said: “Everything came together so well: the prayers and communion activities fed into the Eucharist where the stations that talked about

‘meeting Jesus’ linked to the story that was shared… We hope it has modelled something very possible that many parishes might try”,

Hugh Ridsdill-Smith, Consultant Children and Young People, Mission and Ministry said “We wanted to organise an event where Diocesan churches and churches of all denominations could participate in rich and varied expressions of worship with children and young people. As Messy Church is one of the leading Fresh Expressions of Church with in the Diocese it was an obvious main partner, we wanted to explore with them how sacramental worship can be conducted in creative ways”.

Feedback was very positive: ‘that was brilliant’; ‘so lovely to see the cathedral full of children and families’; ‘the atmosphere was so special’; ‘Honestly, I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it – but it was wonderful!’ ‘It was so good

to see so many really happy children.’

Hugh Ridsdill-Smith adds: “It doesn’t stop here: the event was set up to encourage further development of mission and ministry to children and young people, to extend and diversify ministries with children and

young people and maybe to start up Messy Churches”.

Follow upSo, as well as support, advice and consultancy, there are follow up training events, which are open to all: Messy Celebration - So what next? Saturday 18 March 10am - 1pma practical workshop style session to draw out the learning and inspiration from the event. Led by Martyn Payne from BRF and Hugh Ridsdill-Smith with special guest, Mary Hawes, CofE National Advisor for Children and Young PeopleMessy Leaders Training Day Saturday 4 May 10am-4pm, a hands on fast moving training day for all ages. Led by the Messy Church team. The Key Children and Young People. Saturday 24 June 10am - 4pm. The core basic course led by Hugh Ridsdill-Smith and team.

i For information visit www.southwark.anglican.org/cypm&m/

or e-mail; [email protected]

“This was a brilliant, fun and inspiring occasion. It was great to see so many children and adults engaged in the activities and gathered for the Eucharist. “I hope and pray that this will encourage and inspire churches as they develop their ministries with children and young people throughout the Diocese.”+Jonathan Clark, Bishop of Croydon.

Right - Bishop Jonathan - assisted by temporary chaplain Rylee Rose - models the chasuble and stole created at one of the activity stations.

More photos can be seen & downloaded from https://fl ic.kr/s/aHskVctrsE

• Growing links with Zimbabwe - page 7

• Meeting Places - fi ve refl ections for Lent - centre pages (8-9)

• Parish Profi le - All Saints, Blackheath - page 10

PLUS7 pages of news and photos from around the Diocese and

Page 15

2 THE BRIDGE... March 2017

Editorial Advisory Board:

John Kiddle (Chair)

Adeline Cole

Carol Coslett

Roxanne Hunte

Betty Percival

Wendy S. Robins (Secretary)

Dr Jane Steen

Tom Sutcliff e

The Bridge is on the web at : www.southwark.anglican.org

is produced & published by Kent Christian Press for Communications and Resources on behalf of The Diocese of Southwark, Trinity House, 4 Chapel Court, Borough High Street, London SE1 1HWTel: 020 7939 9400 Fax: 020 7939 9468e-mail: [email protected]

THE BRIDGE

Managing Editor: Wendy S. Robins (Communications & Resources)

Editor: Bryan Harris (Kent Christian Press)

ADVERTISING & DISTRIBUTION �: 01474 854503 E: [email protected]

The APRIL edition is due to be printed on 6 APRIL and in your parish from the following Sunday. Material for that edition must be with Wendy S. Robins at Trinity House by MONDAY 27 MARCH. Space limitations mean that we cannot guarantee to publish everything we receive and material may be edited.The editorial team will assume that all photographs submitted for publication come to us with the necessary permission for printing. So, please ensure that people are happy for their photographs to be submitted before you do so. A form for permission for the use of photographs of children and adults who may be vulnerable can be found at www.southwark.anglican.org/what/diocesan-policies-procedures

Metalsmithand woodworkerConscientious and reliable, Ian Marshall provides new work and maintenance for a number of churches. To join his list of satisfi ed customers. Call: 020 8850 7851 or 077 6666 2747

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A view from

THE BRIDGE

Candidates from across the Diocese were confi rmed by Bishop Richard at Southwark Cathedral on Saturday 28 January, the Eve of the Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple - including some who were also baptised,

Outstanding SIAMS for Saint Cecilia’s Saint Cecilia’s CofE School, in Southfi elds has been graded ‘Outstanding in all areas’ and ‘Outstanding overall’ in its recent SIAMS inspection.

The Diocesan report, which looks into the school’s Christian ethos, included the following comments from the inspector:• ‘Pupils of all abilities and

backgrounds fl ourish as a direct result of the school’s deeply embedded Christian character. The truly exceptional quality of care for staff and pupils is widely recognised to be a direct result of biblical inspiration from Ephesians 4:2: ‘Be completely humble and

gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love’

• ‘Students grow into mature and compassionate young people who are confi dent to discuss issues of faith and spirituality and to challenge all forms of injustice’

• ‘The work of the school is unashamedly driven by biblical teaching. This has become deeply embedded in the school because of the headteacher’s clear and uncompromising commitment to the Christian faith’.

The full SIAMS report is available at www.saintcecilias.london

The Conservation Foundation’s Trees for Sacred Spaces project is enabling churches in London, Southwark, Chelmsford and Rochester Dioceses to plant trees that support bees and other pollinators as part of the Mayor’s ambition to make London one of the greenest cities in the world.

The tree plantings will also offer an opportunity for churches to involve members

of other faiths and none in celebrating and helping to enhance the environments that people of all faiths and no faith share. Churches with no space to plant a tree will be encouraged to donate one to a school or community garden within their parish

The project is supported by the Diocesan Bishops. Bishop Christopher says, “The Mayor’s initiative is an innovative way of contributing to the life of London’s communities by improving the city’s air quality and also brightening its public spaces.

“The Diocese of is playing its part by giving all of our parishes in the Greater London area a tree for their churchyard, or to pass to their local schools and community gardens”

The trees will be available between March and June 2017. Those wishing to take part are asked to visit www.conservationfoundation.co.uk/trees to fi nd out more and to register to receive trees.

Churches to help the capital bee greenerLondon churches can make their neighbourhood greener and more bee-friendly as part of a new project supported by the Mayor of London.

Bishop Christopher gets a helping push from Canon Giles Goddard (St John’s Waterloo)

Meeting with GodTwice a year, at Lent and in the Autumn, with other colleagues of the Bishops senior staff , I have a residential meeting at Wychcroft, our Diocesan Resourcing and Retreat house, set in beautiful countryside near Godstone.

I am writing this editorial at Wychcroft during this Lent and like most busy Christian disciples I will be multitasking work, family, friends and also trying to make more time for God.

In our Bridge this month Chris Palmer provides us all with an opportunity to consider how we meet God and where. What I have discovered myself is that the more I pray, fully in the presence of who I am and where I am, the more I need to pray more. The more we pray, the more we encounter a God of surprises and open ourselves to be changed.

Nearly three years ago, in May 2014, I was at Wychcroft on a weekend with one of our parishes and I strolled up to the bluebell woods very early one morning. I felt strongly the presence of God all around me and found myself praying for a new direction in my discipleship. I have been given that, in the privilege of serving the Diocese as Diocesan Secretary.

Here, at Wychcroft, I will be reporting the continued improvement of our Diocesan fi nances to colleagues, I will also be sorting out some capital plans, fi nalising the new lease for Wychcroft itself and drafting some new policies. And amongst all of this I will also make time for Him, in worship, praise, prayer and the Eucharist with colleagues and in a period of guided Silence.

The Bridge is full of the stories of our Diocese, our discipleship, our mission amongst the communities we love and care for. In order to reach out we have to reach in, into our hearts where God meets us. Chris Palmer’s centrespread gives us an opportunity to reach in, whatever else we need to be doing.

We have now developed Wychcroft so that we can off er individually guided retreats as well as group retreats and opportunities for parish groups. As I parked my car, the sheep came over to give me a welcome, reminding me that we are all sheep and God takes care of each of us whatever we are dealing with.

I hope you will have an opportunity to come to our amazing retreat centre at Wychcroft and that your journey of discipleship is enriched during Lent.

Ruth Martin

THE BRIDGE... March 2017 3

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Diamond Celebrations at Lingfield2016 saw a bumper crop of special celebrations, as four couples, all regular members of the congregation at Lingfi eld Parish Church, celebrated their Diamond Wedding anniversaries.

They gathered for a special photoshoot just before Christmas – (from left to right), Joan and the Revd Michael Carter, Dilys and John Southgate, Jean and Derek Lee, and Brian Davies (whose wife Geraldine was unfortunately unable to attend).

The Revd Kathryn Percival says, ‘It’s been wonderful to celebrate with these couples during the past year; their love and faith is an inspiration to all of us who know them, as well as to the new wedding couples we have welcomed during 2016.’

The organ blower at St Mary the Blessed Virgin, Addington needs serious work! To help cover some of the £10,000 cost, the vicar’s husband, Edward Forman, is aiming to play all fi fteen of Schubert’s piano sonatas in a sponsored marathon on Sunday 30 April.

The organ dates back to 1873 – with refurbishments in the 1930s and 1970s. But the blower now needs to be taken apart and put back together again with new bearings and other components.

Edward’s organ marathon will start after the weekly parish Eucharist and he will play the sonatas in four sessions, from 11.15am to 9pm.

Visitors are invited to come and go throughout the day and stay as long as they want. Refreshments (coffee, lunch, afternoon tea) will be available in the Church Hall from 10.45 until 4.30 and Debbie (the Vicar) and Edward will invite any stalwarts there at the end for a glass of something in the vicarage.

More information, including how to sponsor Edward, can be found on the website at http://www.addington.org.uk/event/2848728

On Ash Wednesday as part of #ashestogo, Bishop Christopher was out in East Street market, Walworth, with the Revd Andrew Moughtin-Mumby, Rector of St Peter’s. They were offering passers-by Lent Cards and the opportunity to be ‘ashed’ as well as talking about the meaning of Lent.

#ashestogo#ashestogo

As the UK questions its post-Referendum future, over 500 people attended two days of debate in St Mary’s Church Putney, the scene of the historic Putney Debates of 1647. The Putney Debates 2017 - Constitutional Crisis in the United Kingdom - took place 2–3 February, chaired by the UK’s leading legal commentator Joshua Rozenberg, Cambridge philosopher and cross-bench Peer Baroness Onora O’Neill, and Oxford constitutional law experts Professors Paul Craig and Denis Galligan, Canon Ailsa Newby, Team Rector said: “The 1674 Putney Debates proposed a dramatic new approach to the creation of a fairer system of governance based on Christian principles of human dignity and the equality of all. This 2017 debate gave a vital opportunity to explore the implications of the referendum decision for the future constitution of our nation and the values which underpin it”.

Schubert marathon in Addington Church


Woolwich Area laity discuss ‘Setting God’s People Free’ reportSaturday 4 February saw the second Woolwich Area Lay Conference at the Ark All Saints Academy in Camberwell.

Over 150 people came from across the area to take part in one of the fi rst public forums discussing the Setting God’s People Free report, published by the National Church in January.

In the morning Alison Coultner (below left), a member of the task group that authored the report, gave a keynote address.

Alison, a management consultant who is also lay chair for Winchester Diocese, spoke about the importance of empowering the whole people of God to not only be active in their churches, but to be effective leaders at work and faith-full members of their communities.

In the afternoon over a dozen workshops looked at turning these principles in practice.

Setting God’s People Free is a report published by the National Church’s Renewal and Reform programme that sets out to ‘determine how to empower, liberate and disciple the 98% of the Church of England who are not ordained’.

This report resonates with several of the objectives the Diocese had already recognized in our own Strategy for Ministry and a key part of

the day was also to celebrate together the variety of ways we already see this happening in the Woolwich Area and beyond.

The day ended with the Bishop Designate of Woolwich affi rming the need to be collaborative in Church life and ministry and an act of worship afi rming baptismal vows and committing the participants to seek to use all their gifts and talents in God’s service and mission.

The event fi red the imaginations for many who attended. One church sent a group from their PCC that resulted in their next meeting immediately picking up on the implications.

Another participant said that they felt reinvigorated in their particular work role. Still more talked about how the workshops gave concrete ideas for how concerns to for the needs of their communities could be taken forward.

Day conferences for the Croydon and Kingston Areas will be held on 10 and 17 June.

CTSL brings church leaders togetherSenior church leaders gathered at Methodist Central Hall Westminster on 19 January to mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. They met at the invitation of Churches Together in South London (CTSL).

The Revd Nicola Furley-Smith (United Reformed Church Moderator, Southern Synod) offered a refl ection on reconciliation. Drawing on the theme of Crossing Barriers, she recounted that on an international conference last summer, many were grappling with issues like

Brexit, antagonism to refugees in Germany, and towards the Romany community in Ostrava. In each place there was a common theme of the Gospel call to live not for ourselves but for Christ, to reach out to others and break down the barriers of isolation.

The leaders then shared key initiatives for 2017 and many shared priorities emerged, including London Churches Social Action’s ‘LondonUnited’ campaign and Christian Aid’s ‘ChangetheStory’ campaign.

“It is a strong witness to fellowship between denominations to see this group of Christian leaders meeting with one another to pray, refl ect, discuss and eat together at a time when unity, friendship and multilateral partnership, is crucial for our city and world”, said Claire Crowley (CTSL).

CTSL represents over 50 local ecumenical networks across 10 London Boroughs south of the River Thames www.ctslondon.org.uk

Following the General Synod debate relating to Marriage and Same Sex relationships during which the Synod decided not to ‘take note’ of the House of Bishop’s Report, Bishop Christopher sent a pastoral letter to the Diocese via the clergy and members of Diocesan Synod.

In this he noted ‘that two Shared Conversations have already taken place in Southwark, following the National Regional Conversations.’

He went on to say, “People have grown in confi dence and trust in voicing very different convictions. I believe that we have taken a positive approach towards the good disagreement that the Archbishop of Canterbury has commended. I am meeting with participants from the Shared Conversations at the beginning of March to refl ect on what has been of value and to consider carefully what to

commend more widely to the Diocese”.

He said that he did not foresee a further report being brought back during the life of this Synod , adding that “We should proceed with a prayerful unity of purpose and integrity”, going on to commend everyone to speak well of one another and listen well to each other, whilst assuring the people of the Diocese that they were in his prayers.The full text of his pastoral letter can be found at http://bit.ly/2mdd6Nm.

Over the past eight years, provision in Diocesan Primary schools has increased by some 28% due to an increase in population and our schools being oversubscribed.

The Southwark Diocesan Board of Education has already submitted a bid for a new secondary school in Lewisham and will be submitting further bids in the next six weeks for:• Kingston Church of England Co-educational Secondary School• Sutton Church of England Co-educational Secondary School• Southwark Church of England Boys Secondary School

Thank you to those parents, parishes and communities who have already registered their proposals on the following websites:http://www.kingstoncofesecondaryschool.org.uk/http://www.suttoncofesecondaryschool.org.ukhttp://www.southwarkcofeboyssecondaryschool.org.uk/

Please register your support today for this important piece of Diocesan Mission.We are proud of our Diocesan schools and the part they play in serving our communities.

New CofE Secondary Schools for the Diocese

Marriage and Same Sex Relationships - Bishop Christopher writes...

Since 2012, Lent in Southwark Cathedral has been accompanied by art installations which aim to make visitors think and refl ect.

‘corrodere’, by the artist Liz Harrison, uses corrugated metal and the fragility of foil, to symbolises the frailty of the human condition, inhabiting and experiencing crumbling structures.

Made specifi cally for the Cathedral it asks questions about ‘home’ or ‘shelter’ in relation to hardship and suffering endured in communities across the world.

On Sunday 19 March Liz Harrison will talk with the Dean in the Cathedral at 1pm and on Palm Sunday, 9 April, at 6pm the Dean will lead a meditation entitled ‘Outside the City’.

‘corrodere’ The 2017 Cathedral Lent Installation


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Crossways Community – Appointment of New Trustees Crossways Community is a dynamic Christian charity based in Tunbridge Wells with a

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Experience or knowledge of the mental health sector, whilst useful, is not essential.

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Quiet @ St Mary’s (Beddington) launches on Saturday 11 March between 11am and 3pm and will include various tools for quiet including the new canvas labyrinth. It will then run on the third Thursday of each month (11am - 2pm) beginning Thursday 20 April. The new Labyrinth was blessed and walked for the fi rst time in February. The youngest participants were Peter Lapworth-Pyke aged 7 and his young sister Lucia aged 15 days who was carried round the labyrinth by her Dad.


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On Thursday 2 February Bishop Christopher, Andrew Nunn, the Dean of Southwark, and Jane Steen, the Archdeacon of Southwark set off for a ten day whistle stop visit to all the Dioceses in Zimbabwe.

Wendy Robins

They wanted to meet and talk with their opposite numbers, Bishop with Bishops, the Dean with Deans and the Archdeacon with the Archdeacons. Secondly they wanted to meet those from each Diocese who had been on the study trip to St George’s in the Holy Land in November 2016, to explore the best way of taking further the learnings from and relationships built at that event. The third plan was to see the projects which each Diocese was undertaking and

get extra material to support the Bishop’s Lent Call this year (which was why as Director of Communications I got to go!)

It was exciting to see how projects were growing and developing and looking towards reaching completion in some of the Dioceses and to see new projects developing.

We wanted especially to see projects related to food insecurity in the country as there had been a drought for some while and - having faced the implications of that for growing crops - the country had then experienced the joy of rain. But as often happens there was so much rain that the dry ground was unable to soak it up – and some of the crops were washed away.

It was a fruitful trip which helped us to grow in understanding of the situation

not only of our Link Diocese but also of Harare Diocese which is linked with Rochester Diocese. The wider perspective is particularly helpful to Bishop Christopher who chairs the Zimbabwe Round Table in London which brings together churches, aid agencies and others with specialist knowledge of Zimbabwe.

Jane Steen had not visited Africa before. So it was even more of a special visit for her. She wrote for the Diocesan Hearts on Fire Blog just after we returned:

‘I didn’t think the country could be more stunningly lovely than in Matabeleland until I saw Manicaland; I didn’t think the church could be more vital than in Central Zimbabwe until I went to Masvingo – and had we travelled from Manicaland to

Matabeleland, not the other way around, I would have said the same in reverse. These are amazing Dioceses in a gorgeous country, wonderful to visit, to be linked with and to pray for. Go if you can, and welcome its people into your homes and churches if ever your Link Diocese visits you.’ You can fi nd the whole blog at http://bit.ly/2mur0vq

Find out more about what we did and saw by signing up to the Lent Call 2017 blog ‘I was hungry….I was thirsty’ at http://bit.ly/2mLMsI4

And please remember to give generously to the Lent Call. You can give online, by text or by sending cheques made payable to the Bishop of Southwark’s Lent call to Trinity House. More details of the ways to give can be found at: http://bit.ly/2mwtWHV

Growing links with Zimbabwe

Bishop Christopher with Bishop Cleophas of Matabeleland Crop-spraying at the St Mary Magdalene project in Manicaland Archdeacon Jane at Daramombe Mission school, Masvingo

Above - Rain threatens the Transfi guration project MasvingoBelow - Sunday school under the trees at St Peters Njube,


Week 1: The DesertThe desert is the place of deprivation, loneliness, and risk. Here the questions that usually recede into the background loom large: Where is bread coming from? Will we have water? Am I safe? Can I cope alone? Where is God?

And these questions easily spill over into fears or resentments or confused thinking.

We see this in the stories of the Israelites travelling in the desert for forty years.

Jesus also faced the same questions; they were the uncertainties that became voiced in his temptations. But Jesus decided to embrace the desert, rather than run from it or merely put up with it. Lack of bread became fasting; loneliness became solitude; powerlessness became reliance on God’s grace.

Somehow the deprivation of the senses gave space for Jesus to hear God speak, to hear the message of the scriptures, to deepen his sense of vocation. Soon after his temptation, we fi nd Jesus actively seeking out a ‘desert place’, when he wanted to meet with God (Mark 1.35).

Will we embrace and seek out the desert which is close to us? This might mean a journey to a literal place.

But it is more likely to mean actively choosing to dwell in the situations that spell deprivation, loneliness, or risk for us – facing the trauma of an illness, feeling the pain of broken relationships, stopping trying to look strong when really we desperately need help.If we avoid the desert, we will most likely withdraw instead into numbing compulsions: overwork, substance abuse, social media overload, or worse.

The desert is frightening because it is where we feel all our feelings. There is no anaesthetic here. But it is therefore the place where God can reach us.

Take time this week to enter your desert, and become available to God’s grace there.

Week 2:The MountainAfter Moses went up the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments, he returned to the Israelite camp with his face shining. He had encountered God’s glory, and that glory was refl ected in his face.

The mountain is also the place where Jesus shone with the glory of God, when he was transfi gured. The disciples with Jesus wanted to stay living in that moment – ‘let us make three dwellings’ (Mark 9.5) –

but Jesus knew that they most return to their community, but forever touched by the glory of God.

For many of us there will have been glory moments. They might be times of deep joy in God’s presence, or times of being so deeply loved that we feel God’s love infusing us, or simply moments of profound peace when we didn’t even name God at the time. A small number of people will see real visions of God’s glory.

These are all mountain experiences, and it is good to relish them – to recall, give thanks for, and cherish these moments – and then return with the memory to daily

life. The danger is that when the experience fades, our commitment to live as those who refl ect God’s glory fades too; we revert to being driven by expectations or agendas that are not of God. But the good news is this: whilst we cannot live in the moment of glory all the time, we can live out of such experiences every day.

This week, take time to name the mountain meetings on your pilgrimage with God. Savour them. Be on the lookout for such moments again – we often miss them when we’re not looking. And then allow God’s glory to animate and guide you in the activities of life.

Meeting Places - five re

The Revd Chris Palmer writes:

We meet God where we are. There’s a healthy strand of Christian discipleship that is suspicious of holy places: God is not ‘concentrated’ in some locations more than others. The hymn says, ‘every place is hallowed ground’. Here and now are where God is calling us to encounter him.

But I think we haven’t taken this suspicion of holy places far enough. The ‘here’ where we meet God is even closer to us than we imagine. It is the ‘here’ of our hearts, our souls, our spirits – not just the ‘here’ of our present geography.

In fact I think we need to become suspicious of the ‘here’ of our present geography, because more often than not this turns out to be a place we’ve sought out in order to anaesthetise ourselves from the truer ‘here’ of our feelings, our fears, or our shame.

We tell ourselves that we’ve stayed late at the offi ce because jobs need doing, or we’re browsing social media because it’s good to keep up with people. But really we’re avoiding ourselves – and by avoiding ourselves, we’re avoiding God. We meet God where we are – which means we meet God in who we are.

The reason why people have sought out places of encounter – holy places – is that these places bring us face to face with ourselves as we are, and in doing so we encounter God. This happens when the place we inhabit is congruent with our authentic inner self. The outer space converses with our inner self, rather than talking over it.

Some of these meeting places are uncomfortable: the desert refl ects the desolation we feel within. Other places are joyful in a more obvious way: the well becomes a place to discover the inner spring welling up to eternal life. But both are healthy, because they are true.

By contrast, some quite comfortable places might be unhealthy because they are false

– they aid and abet us in avoiding the ‘here’ within.

Recognising and choosing the healthy places – the meeting places – is a key part of following Jesus. Jesus sought out such meeting places. Some of the places he sought led him to deeply painful, even traumatic, feelings – as in Gethsemane. But Jesus’ openness to the reality of God in his life also meant that he was open to the possibility of joy and presence. Refusing to numb ourselves to the pain of life allows us to feel the hope and gladness of living too.

At times we can seek out our own physical meeting places – environments where the people, the landscape, the history, or the architecture open up that conversation with us-as-we-are, where we no longer compulsively ignore truth. Pilgrages, retreats, or places of prayer at home or church can all offer us such meeting places.

But if the real ‘here’ we need to dwell in is within us, then it is possible to journey there without travelling to different physical place. Contemplating meeting places that connect us with who we are is possible in any place.

The refl ections given here – one for each week of Lent – offer suggestions for encountering God and ourselves in these meeting places. Some of you will notice some relationship with the lectionary readings for Lent; this is deliberate, but I’ve only kept the link as far as this seemed helpful.

I would suggest using these refl ections as a basis for prayer. Make sure to settle properly as you begin praying – allowing your heart and mind to choose this one moment, rather than

staying absorbed with other issues. Ask God to enlighten you during your prayer time, so that you perceive his presence. Choose to get into your imagination more than into analysis, into feeling more than thinking: feel the aloneness of the desert or the power of the sea. Speak with and from your truest self; or converse with Jesus in this place; or stop talking and allow God to speak to the real you through your imagination.

Perhaps after you’ve prayed with a meeting place for a while you will allow it to sit in your heart as you go about your daily life. A day or two later, return to that same ‘place’, and notice what more you see there. You might also fi nd it helpful to make a note of what happens in your prayer – and to share it with a trusted friend.

Finally, if God meets us in the here and now, then God is present in whatever happens in our praying. Quite often prayer feels ordinary or disappointing. Imagining that we ‘ought’ to have great feelings is to lay a burden of expectation on ourselves – and probably on God – that will blind us to his actual presence. The ‘ought’ is an avoiding of what ‘is’ – another way of refusing the truth, of rejecting the encounter. In prayer we make ourselves available to God. And whatever happens is God’s gift and grace to us in that moment. Give thanks to God for this.

i The Revd Chris Palmer is Bishop’s Adviser for Spiritual Formation, Chair of the Diocesan Spiritual Formation

Group and Team Rector of Merton Priory Team Ministry.


Week 3: The WellspringThere’s a wonderful story in miniature in Exodus. The grumbling, thirsty Israelites ‘came to Elim, where there are twelve springs and seventy palm trees; and they camped there by the water.’ (Exodus 15.27). It’s as short as that!

The next verse they’re off again. But it’s enough to excite my imagination to picture the gratitude, joy, and celebration of fi nding this oasis in a barren land. Perhaps they relaxed here, told stories, partied, and danced.

Jesus also sought water at a spring (or ‘well’ – the words are the same in Greek). And he meets a Samaritan women and offers her ‘living water’, which quenches all our inner thirst, and becomes a wellspring ‘gushing up to eternal life’ (John 4.14).

As the hymn says: I heard the voice of Jesus say, ‘Behold I freely give

the living water, thirsty one; stoop down and drink and live.’

Taking a cue from how I imagine the scene at Elim, I hear Jesus inviting me to drink – and camp, stop, relax, tell stories, and dance.

Jesus is inviting me to everything that is life-giving for my soul, and to feel the gratitude of my soul being revived.

In order to respond to this invitation, it’s good to identify the ‘wellsprings’ in our life – those things, people, or activities that give life to our souls. They will be as varied as people are: tea with a friend; meditation; a bike ride in the country; volunteering in a night shelter; reading a good book; kicking a football round with children; singing in a choir; and much more.

Some people take time each day to notice the moments when joy, faith, or love grow within. We can then respond to Jesus’ invitation by going to these wellsprings often.

This week, become aware of your wellsprings, and drink from them.

Week 4: The SeaFor people in the ancient world, the sea was a fearful thing. It constantly fought to overwhelm the land with its mighty power. Travel by sea was dangerous; it meant to be at the mercy of the unpredictable and turbulent ‘deep’. Sea travel was only possible in summer; during winter you kept harbour, until spring brought respite from the storms.

But for the Israelites escaping Egypt, the sea became the place of salvation, as waters parted and they walked on dry land. Jesus’ disciples, caught in a storm at sea, also discovered God’s salvation there. Jesus commanded the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’, and there was a ‘dead calm’ (Mark 4.39).

Life is like the sea. It is unpredictable and turbulent. At time we are overwhelmed – an experience of mental illness; a redundancy notice; violence or other abuse. It would be lovely to think that Jesus says ‘Peace! Be Still!’ and all our problems

go away. But it’s not like that. However, I do believe that

Jesus meets us in the storms within us. When we listen, we hear him speaking peace to our inner turmoil. And with his peace, we can encounter our outer storms in a new way – still seeking healing or confronting injustice, but with our souls trusting that deep down all is well.

Horatio Spafford lost four daughters when their boat sank on a transatlantic voyage; only his wife survived. Travelling to meet her, he penned these words at the place they drowned: When peace like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to know it is well, it is well, with my soul.

We are better equipped to hear Jesus speaking in the storm if we attune ourselves to his voice in calmer times. Take time this week to encounter Jesus in the boat on the sea. Enjoy his company, talk with him, hear his words; build a friendship ready for when the storm comes.

Week 5: The TombLent is a journey to the tomb. Life is a journey to the tomb.

Death is an inescapable encounter for everyone born – and often a milestone too, as we mourn the death of loved ones.

Jesus had a signifi cant encounter at the tomb, when his friend Lazarus died. He wept. His sorrow found expression in tears – one of the gifts of the spiritual life. Jesus shows us that we can weep. Tears are vulnerability, openness to God.

Jesus also refused to respect the protocols of the tomb. He demanded that Lazarus’ tomb be open, despite Martha’s protests; and he gave orders to a dead man. And ‘the dead man came out’ (John 11.43)

The women who went to Jesus’ tomb on Easter morning wanted to observe the burial protocols, to offer service to the dead Jesus.

But their service was not needed, because the dead one was alive.

The emptied tomb smashes open our thinking about death. Death is a defeated foe; the tomb is a place of life; and our presumptions of service are laughable beside the splendour of the risen Christ. Death speaks a penultimate word; God has the last laugh.

So laughter is another spiritual gift unleashed at the tomb.

Laughter punctures our pomposity, our seriousness, our grasping at infl uence, and the pretension that everything depends on us.

By laughing we take ourselves less seriously – and so make room for God. Laughter even allows us to take our death less seriously. At the empty tomb we fi nd that death robs us of nothing in our relationship with God.

The tomb invites us to both tears and laughter. These aren’t gifts we exercise to order – but we can ask God for them.

Be open to them this week. Resist impulses to suppress them. Cry, smile, weep, and laugh – these are close to the heart of God.

eflections for Lent

Photo by Neogeolegend (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons


Bryan Harris’s

PARISH PROFILEAircraft use the light on the spire of All Saint’s Church, Blackheath, as a landmark when landing at Heathrow and whether you are driving across the heath on the A2 or jogging up from Greenwich Park, it’s impossible to imagine Blackheath without it.

But before the 1850s there was no church on the heath. Then in 1849 along came the railway and the few houses rapidly grew to a village, whose residents had to walk to Greenwich or Lewisham to church - even to bury their dead. They petitioned the Bishop of London, in whose Diocese Blackheath then stood, for a church. The Earl of Dartmouth (who owned the heath) offered some land - assuring Parliament that he wasn’t ‘enclosing the heath’ because the Anglican church was ‘open to all’. In 1858 after a lot of argument (and three possible locations) All Saints was consecrated - but ironically, with no graveyard so parishioners still walked miles to bury their dead!

Still standing alone on one side of the heath, with hotels and shops as its nearest neighbours, it’s hardly surprising that the parish still only has a population of under 2,500. That it draws congregations of 120 or more every Sunday – plus 40 or so children - owes much to the traditional Anglican-Catholic worship which it has maintained across its 160 years. Blackheath is served by fi ve Anglican churches, with a variety of worship traditions - so people choose a church which suits them, which seems to work because all fi ve appear to be thriving.

The Revd Dr Nicholas Cranfi eld (Fr Nicholas) has been All Saints’ Vicar for 17 years. A historian with a Doctorate in Ecclesiastical History, he was a teaching Fellow and Dean of Chapel at Selwyn College, Cambridge before accepting Bishop Tom Butler’s invitation to come to Blackheath in 1999. He has an Assistant Priest, the Revd William Chatterton, who has served All Saints since 1999 except for a three year gap when he ‘covered’ at Thamesmead.

Asked for a phrase to sum up All Saints, Fr Nicholas described it as “a place to live with God” – and to quote their website that means ‘traditional catholic worship, with a long-standing fi ne choral tradition and an emphasis on liturgy’ and ‘opportunities for regular members of the church to explore their faith and to deepen their knowledge’.

Worship, and especially the Mass, is central to life at All Saints. There are three services every Sunday – 8am ‘said’ Holy Communion and 10.30 Parish Mass, a sung communion

service with a full robed choir- with Evensong at 6.30 (choral once a month). There is a Mass every weekday, with varying times to suit people’s different schedules. There are regular healing Masses and sung Mass on major feast days. In addition, Morning and Evening Prayer are said daily according to the 1662 Book of Common Prayer in the church – which is well publicised and Fr Nicholas told me often attracts people who might be reluctant to go to the Vicarage but will ‘pop in’ then to speak to him or seek his help.

The style is fi rmly ‘High Church’ but equally fi rmly rooted in Common Worship (Rite A). It is structured, ‘by the book’ and formal, but without being ‘stiff’ – witness a ‘Ship of Fools’ Mystery Worshipper who remarked on ‘seeing the vicar, whilst solemnly and reverently censing the Gospel book, winking and smiling at a nearby baby who was absolutely transfi xed by the whole scene’.

All Saints was always clergy-centred (Father does all!) but today there is a great deal of lay participation in worship - reading, intercessions, leading the children’s church and the crèche on Sundays. Lay people also run weekday Morning Play Groups and the fortnightly Youth Group – and lead Prayer and Study Groups including a monthly Living Prayer meeting, Advent and Lent Groups.

And, of course, there is the choir, which not only leads the singing of hymns (all very traditional, of course) but also sings much of the liturgy. All Saints has a strong musical tradition backed by a fi ne three-manual organ, originally built by Hill and Sons, improved and extended over the years including a major restoration 2 years ago at a cost of £350,000. The organ has been played by many leading musicians past and present including the composer and conductor Alfred Cellier who came to All Saints’ in 1860, when he was only sixteen.

All Saints has a very close relationship with its church primary school where it was clear that Fr Nicholas is a familiar fi gure, going into the school at least 3 days every week. The school also holds ‘all-school’ collective worship in the church every Friday and three school Masses are held every year. On 10 March Bishop Christopher will be at the school to rededicate the building after a major new-build to extend and modernise the facilities. The school is Ofsted rated as ‘outstanding’ and there is competition for places – but parents will need three years regular worship before their child will get Fr Nicholas’s backing!

The church is also in contact with three other local schools and, as part of the English Heritage involvement in funding the organ restoration, has opened up to schools across London, for history projects etc. Some 91 schools were invited to ‘come and see’ and in the fi rst year over 1,000 children accepted the invitation.

All Saints take an active part in Churches Together in Blackheath which includes a Good Friday walk of witness where worshippers process from 10 churches to converge on the heath. There is also a Christmas Eve procession from the local Roman Catholic Church through the village to All Saints complete with Mary, Joseph and a donkey and some 1700 people with a collection for Crisis at Christmas. On the fi rst Saturday in December Fr Nicholas also turns on the

village Christmas lights and speaks on the importance of Christmas.

I had the impression that Blackheath was an affl uent area so fi nance was probably no problem for All Saints. But Fr Nicholas disabused me. “Surveys show that we have more residents in the lower income ranges than higher”. Nevertheless they have pledged £140,000 to the Parish Support Fund; they also raise funds for a ‘parish charity’ every year, alternating between home and abroad (this year it is children orphaned by ebola in Sierra Leone). They also support the local Emmaus unit and have established close links with them. “In the course of the year we raise up to £10,000 for charity, but while people are generous, it gets harder every year” said Fr Nicholas.

When I visited All Saints at the beginning of February, it was a Parish Mass with Baptism and the regular congregation was swelled by family and friends. The welcome was warm but not intrusive, with a very attentive young man showing people to vacant seats.

Whilst there was a general hubbub before the service, you could have heard a pin drop once the crucifer-led procession of choir, servers and clergy entered.

The only noise was the front door opening and closing, as ‘latecomers’ entered – most of them late because All Saints has a parking problem. By 10am every Sunday, all the roads surrounding the church are fi lled with cars parked (many very badly) by people running, walking or playing football on the heath!

The service was led by Fr Nicholas who launched straight into the liturgy with no ‘preamble’ – the notices were given immediately before the sermon. The choir sang the Psalm, the Gloria etc. Incense was generously used – though unlike the Ship of Fools worshipper, I heard no ‘frenzy’ of bells. The service was formal, the atmosphere reverent.

I admit it’s not my tradition but I can only agree with the Mystery Worshipper that it ‘helped me to appreciate the beauty of the liturgy afresh’.

All Saints, Blackheath

Baptism at All Saints ornate font Fr Nicholas at All Saints School

Blackheath, All SaintsEpiscopal Area: WoolwichArchdeaconry: Lewisham & GreenwichDeanery: East LewishamPatron: Vicar of St Mary, LewishamPopulation: (2001 census):2,477Urban Priority AreaChurch: All Saints Drive SE3 0THBuilt: 1857-67Architect: Benjamin FerreyListing: grade 2Contact: Revd Dr Nicholas Cranfi eld, All Saints Vicarage, 10 Duke Humphrey Road, Blackheath London SE3 0TY Tel: 020-8852 4280 E-mail: [email protected]: www.allsaintsblackheath.org


Sohrab is living his life in darkness. A simple 45-minute operation, costing just £95, could restore a child’s sight. Will you help a child see the wonder of God’s creation?Dear Southwark Bridge reader,

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“ Open my eyes, that I may see wonderful things.”- Psalm 119:18

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North Lambeth Parish has a nursery that meets in St Anselm’s church hall, and a Church primary school, Archbishop Sumner. I decided that for the whole Autumn term, I would be a Lollipop Deacon two days a week – mornings outside the nursery and afternoons at the school.

Initially the conversations I had - mainly with parents - were those of surprise or bemusement. Lambeth Council hasn’t funded crossing patrols for many years, so my being there was odd.

I received a lot of smiles, stares, and exclamations, such as “It’s great to see the lollipop ladies are back!” or “You’re the youngest lollipop lady I’ve ever seen!” I was also asked “what are you doing and what is the point?!”

I was asked for directions and local information. I also had plenty of “thank-yous”, since the crossings were notorious, especially that

outside the nursery. The ‘green man’ would last for only 4 seconds, not enough time for anyone to cross the road, let alone little people. Whether the traffi c paid attention to the lights at all was another question: one dad said, “we come here three days a week, and each morning a cyclist tries to kill us.” Many people had stories of ‘that time when we were nearly run over here’. The fl ashing orange light was often understood by drivers as green, rather than as a more time for pedestrians.

As the parents and children got to know me better, and became used to my presence, conversations became more detailed. After leading an assembly in the school dressed in my lollipopping outfi t where I had said “If I can be a lollipop lady, you can be whatever you want,” the children not only remembered my name but would repeat back the message: “If you can be a lollipop lady, I can be whatever I want!”

Parents became more trusting, with some letting their children walk home from school alone the afternoons they knew I would be there. Older children began to ask me questions – about me, about the church. Some were playful and silly. Others were more serious. I asked a secondary school pupil who passed me regularly why he was crying one day. He did not want to talk to me, but some weeks later got off the bus a few stops early just to talk to me about why he was sad.

Negative reactions were few. A taxi driver shouted out of the window one afternoon: “Stick to being a priest!”. I wanted to say, “I’m not a priest, I’m a deacon, and this is exactly what deacons do!” but I am not sure he was looking for a theological discussion of the diaconate.

Positive reactions were much more common. Drivers

of buses and other works vehicles would toot their horns and wave. Cyclists’ faces would change from confusion to recognition to smiles. PCSOs would stop to chat.

I spoke to shy children, waving children, chatty children, singing children, sleepy children, crying children, screaming children, children in fancy-dress or carrying school art projects, children on cycles, balance bikes, scooters, roller blades, in buggies.

Wearing the collar while standing on the roadside for four hours a week also unsurprisingly led to questions about the church, about services, about baptisms, and then later about Christmas services. And about God.

These things I expected.What I hadn’t expected so

much, came about through being a guest in other people’s space. The pelican crossings were a safe environment for engagement and questioning. Just standing in public, being available without being pushy or approaching people, I gave people an opportunity. Waiting for the ‘green man’ also made it time limited – someone could choose whether to miss this one and wait for the next one, but that was their choice. One cold morning, someone I did not recognise bought me a coffee. Another day, somebody said “see, there is a community here”. By allowing myself to be hosted by the community, to let others choose if or how to engage, I was able to demonstrate the church’s presence in the community, and God’s interest in their lives, without forcing the issue. Many brief encounters drew out more than some hour-long pastoral visits. People got to know me and told others about me. One child introduced me to his mate as “my friend Jenny”, and one parent told another that I was “the coolest thing around.”

I had not anticipated the effect that all this would have on me. I don’t like mornings and lollipopping meant having to get up at 6.15am, made even worse as the days grew shorter and colder.

I would arrive at the crossing grumpy and tired. Yet I would

start to notice the sky changing colour and point it out to people who stopped to chat. I would force myself to smile, and soon I was smiling for real. It seems there is something counter-cultural to smiling at strangers. By Morning Prayer, I had been doing this for an hour and my cheeks often hurt. Soon I felt this was the best way to start the day, smiling at passers-by, and it infl uenced how I felt for the rest of the day. In the afternoon, I often had to drag myself from admin or sermon writing. But again, every day, I was so pleased to be there. I realised that this was in many ways the heart of my ministry, the most important place I could be at that time. Lollipopping was the best thing I could be doing - the pelican crossing was where God was, I just needed to catch up.

In mid-December, a devastating and unexpected event shifted the whole mood of the school and the nursery, and so changed the lollipopping. After the death of a young boy at the school, tears at the pelican crossing were common. As were questions. After talking with one small boy, his mum said “Thanks for talking with him, I don’t know what to say to him.” Brief but meaningful chats became even more commonplace – “You’re allowed to be sad”, “Is it ok that I still play?”, “He was my friend,” “Where is he now?”, “Will he have a funeral like Nan?” These were not easy conversations, and lollipopping took on a different meaning – and also took a different toll on me. I was so grateful for the hours I had already spent earning the trust of the community and just being available and known.

One priest I know uses the analogy that strangers in British culture don’t talk to one another unless there’s something out of the ordinary like extreme weather, yet ordained people can behave as if it’s snowing all the time.

What did I learn from being a Lollipop Deacon? I learnt that people are longing for snow, and that pelican crossings can be snowy places.

What are the snowy places in your parish?

The ‘Lollipop’ Deacon

Arriving as a new curate in North Lambeth Parish, I was challenged by my training incumbent to come up with an interesting and quirky way to get to know and serve the community. When I decided to be a lollipop lady for a term, I had little idea of what I was letting myself in for.

Revd Jenny Morgans writes:


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‘Visit my Mosque’ day Sunday 5 February was national ‘Visit my Mosque’ day. In Lambeth, the South London Islamic Centre in Mitcham Lane and the Hyderi (Shi’a) Islamic Centre in Elstree Road, both opened their doors for several hours. Sarah Thorley

A steady stream of visitors - some established friends and many newcomers both old and young, religious or not, who had never been inside a mosque before, were warmly welcomed.

“We saw it on Twitter this morning and thought why not? It might be interesting.”

“We often walk past here. Today we saw the notice and said now’s our chance - it’s much more spacious than we’d expected.”

“I’m from the local Baptist church. I’ve known of this mosque, so close by, and often wanted to make contact, so I’m very glad to be here.”

“We wanted to bring our children with us to see what a mosque is like. They are having a great time playing with the

Muslim children and getting their hands painted with a henna pattern.”

In both Centres, there were tables of samosas, bhajis and sandwiches and publications about Islam and information about the charities they support. At Hyderi a young woman was demonstrating how to tie on the head covering (hijab) and visitors were having a go themselves.

At Mitcham Lane, a doctor was available and taking pulses. Both places have their own mortuaries and explanations of the procedure was given to visitors. There were plenty of friendly people to show visitors around and answer questions. At the prayer times, visitors were invited to be present, sitting quietly at the back.

At the end of a short talk, one of the listening visitors expresses our thanks for the welcome and friendliness we have received and how important this initiative is for harmony and peace and understanding of each other in our communities.

What about a national ‘Visit my Church’ day? The suggestion was enthusiastically welcomed - many of the Muslims have not been into a church, nor had some of the ‘secular’ visitors. It seems like a good and challenging idea to be extended.

The Croydon Area Study Day was held on Tuesday, 21 February at Carshalton Beeches, The Good Shepherd, focusing on Ministerial Ethics.The keynote address was given by the Very Revd Dr Francis Bridger, Dean of Brechin Diocese in the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Venerable Moira Astin, Archdeacon of Reigate led the afternoon sessions.


Let us prayMarch

The Very Revd Andrew Nunn, Dean of SouthwarkPlease follow me on Twitter as I off er a prayer each morning so that you can join me in Morning Prayer. Go to @deansouthwark

One of the great things about living in a multi-cultural, multi-faith society, such as in the Diocese of Southwark, is that we get to see how sisters and brothers of other traditions live out their faith.

One of the challenges to me is the seriousness with which our Muslim friends keep their fast of Ramadan compared with my, frankly, half-hearted Lenten fast.

The prayer I’ve chosen for this month uses an unpopular word, ‘discipline’, but that is a reminder to me as I pray this prayer that accepting discipline is a way of entering into the experience of Jesus.

In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed ‘‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.” (Matthew 26.39)

The Lord recognised the costliness of what was being asked and yet accepted the discipline. Can I do the same? Can I stop fi nding excuses which let me off the hook and get in the way of Lenten discipline? May we have the courage and strength to keep a good Lent.

Almighty God,by the prayer and discipline of Lentmay we enter into the mystery of Christ’s suff erings,and by following in his Waycome to share in his glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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A Violent Beauty Six Lent talks on the Art of the Passion, looking at beauty, violence, suff ering, the erotic, and idolatry. Wednesdays 11 am at St John the Baptist, Catford, SE6 2RP1 March - Jonathon Brown (Artist)8 March - The Rt Revd Martin Warner (Bishop of Chichester) 15 March - Dr Alison Milbank (University of Nottingham) 22 March - Fr Charles Pickstone (Vicar, St Laurence, Catford) 29 March - Fr Martin Thomas (Rector, Catford and Downham) 5 April - Mark Cazalet (Artist)

The talks accompany an installation of Jonathon Brown’s Stations of the Cross ‘From the Eyes of Jesus’ Mass at lOam, refreshments from 10.30am Q & A with speaker after each talk. All welcome. Free

St Matthew by candle lightActor George Dillon will present an intense, human and occasionally humorous solo staging of his own translation of St Matthew’s Gospel by candlelight, at fi ve

Southwark churches as part of a tour of London and the south-east. 25% of the sales income will go to local homeless charities.

SOUTHWARK VENUES:Monday 6 March @ 7pmCROYDON, St Matthew’s Church offi ce - 020 8681 3147. 25% of sales to Croydon Churches Floating Shelter

Saturday 11 March @ 7pmSTREATHAM, St Leonard’s Church offi ce - 020 8769 5374. 25% of sales will go to Spires.

Saturday 18 March @ 7:30pmKINGSTON UPON THAMES, St Peter’s (Norbiton) - Church offi ce - 020 8546 3212. 25% of sales to Joel Community Services

Sunday 26 March @ 7pmKENNINGTON, St Mark’s Church offi ce - 020 7582 1801. 25% of sales to Robes Saturday 1 April @ 7pmSOUTHFIELDS, St Barnabas - Church offi ce - 020 8480 2290. 25% of sales to Glass Door.Tickets at all venues are £10 (concs £5) on the door or in advance from the appropriate church offi ce.For more details visit: www.georgedillon.com/matthew

Local charity expands service for older peopleLink Age Southwark (formerly Dulwich Helpline & Southwark Churches Care) has started 2017 with a recruitment drive to expand its volunteer team.

This follows the charity securing funding to increase its provision of social activities for older people in the north and centre of Southwark.

The charity, which has been working in Southwark for 23 years, currently has

a team of 380 volunteers supporting over 500 older people in the Borough. All services are volunteer-led and include a range of social groups, weekly befriending visits, and transport to social engagements provided by volunteer drivers. These free services allow older people to stay socially active and combat loneliness.

The need for these services is only increasing, as statutory services are increasingly strained by lack of funding, the population ages and the link between loneliness and poor health is better understood.

Indeed, research suggests that loneliness can be as harmful for our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

May, 98, who has been using the charity’s services for 13 years, says, “Before I joined Link Age Southwark I was lonely and bored. I’m so grateful to the charity’s volunteers for bringing joy to my life.”

For more information about volunteering for as little as an hour a week to support an older person, please telephone 020 8299 2623, email [email protected] or visit www.linkagesouthwark.org

Don’t forget the laity

The current Diocesan focus on building up and empowering

the laity is welcome. Please therefore ensure that

Parish Profi les also include the name and work of the SPAs and Readers.

Too often there are glowing accounts of what the clergy are

doing and the SPAs andother lay people seem to be added as an afterthought.

This way the loving and sometimes undervalued ministry of SPAs, Readers and other laity may grow to be better recognised.

Marion Marples, Heather SmithSPAs, Southwark Cathedral

Point taken.I do try to acknowledge the part played by laity (which, of course, is not only SPAs and Readers) in a parish’s life and ministry, - see this month for example. But (promise) I’ll try harder in future.Bryan Harris

Something to say? Drop us a line - the postal and e-mail addresses are on page 2. Publication of a letter does not imply that it refl ects the views of the Diocese and letters may be edited.

the bridge postbagthe bridge postbag

On Sunday 19 February the Mothers’ Union Branch at St Stephen’s, Lewisham celebrated their fi rst anniversary together. During the Mass thanksgiving prayers were said and members made a thanksgiving offering to the parish to help further mission work with families.


Please send details of your events for APRIL ONWARDS to Trinity House

BY MONDAY 27 MARCH

MarchThy Kingdom ComeNine days of prayer between Ascension and Pentecost

Join the Archbishop of Canterbury’s global call to prayer this Pentecost

Pledge2Pray at www.thykingdomcome.global

Find out what’s happening in the Diocese of Southwark at www.southwark.anglican.org/thykingdomcome

25 May — 4 June 2017

Sunday 12 March

DULWICH – Organ Recital at Christ’s Chapel 7.45pm – Norman Harper (St George’s Cathedral, Southwark).

Wednesday 15 March

WESTMINSTER - Westminster Cathedral Interfaith Group in the Hinsley Room, Morpeth Terrace, 4 - 5 pm. All welcome. Spkr: Dr Susy Brouard (theological advisor to CAFOD) on ‘Laudato Si’ and ‘Amoris laetita’

Saturday 18 March

✽ SANDERSTEAD - Exhibition and Sale of Pictures by Local Artists in aid of Chirden’s Society 10am – 4.30pm. United Reformed Church Hall, Sanderstead Hill

WEST DULWICH - Concordia Chamber Choir Spring concert. 7:30 pm at All Saints’ Church. Tickets £12 at the door, or £11 in advance from www.concordiachamberchoir.co.uk. Concs. half price

ELTHAM - Eltham Choral Society concert 7.30pm at Holy Trinity Church Tickets £10 (advance), £12 on the door Box offi ce: 020 8850 3532 or www.elthamchoral.org.uk

WATERLOO - The SARX Creature Conference at the Oasis Auditorium. Speeches, workshops, discussion, interactive stations and opportunities to network For further information visit http://sarx.org.uk/events/creature-conference

CHEAM - Sutton Symphony Orchestra Concert at St Andrew’s Church, 7.30pm. Programme includes Grieg Piano Concerto Tickets £10. Contact: Sue White 020 8644 4053

Sunday 19 March

DORMANSLAND - Hit Music from Stage, Film and TV - St John’s League of Friends Spring concert with the Slinfold Concert Band at 3pm. Tickets: £10 for adults and £5 for under 10s. Contact Wendy Rose on 01342 870681

Saturday 25 March

REDHILL - Come and Sing Haydn’s Creation - Reigate & Redhill Choral Society 75th Anniversary Event at the Harlequin Theatre. Workshop 10am-6.15pm. Concert 7.30pm. Singers £20 (u/18 £10) from 01285 644845; Audience £18.50 from Box Offi ce 01737 276500

Monday 27 March

LONDON SE1 - Lewisham Choral Society and Hackney Singers, with the London Mozart Players at Royal Festival Hall. 7.30pm. Tickets £12 -£32 from www.southbankcentre.co.uk or 020 7960 420

Saturday 1 April

ADDISCOMBE – Croydon Bach Choir Spring Concert 7.30 pm at St Midred's Church, Tickets £15 from croydonbachchoir.org

WIMBLEDON - Wimbledon Chamber Choir concert at St Matthew's Church, 7.30pm. Monteverdi and Schutz. £10 / £7 at the door.

Friday 7 & Sunday 9 April

WATERLOO - La Gioconda (Ponchielli) - Midsummer Opera at St John's Church with Orchestra and Chorus - Advance bookings 020 7652 0070. Friday:7pm £23 & £21 Sunday 5pm £23. At the door: Friday £27 & £25, Sunday £27. Children £10

Sunday 9 April

OXTED - Palm Sunday Concert – ‘The Saviour’ by William Lloyd Webber. Oxted & Limpsfi eld Choral Society at the United Reform Church 7pm. Tickets £10 from 01959 577749 or on the door

Friday 14 April

BETCHWORTH - Music and Readings for Passiontide - 8pm St Michael’s Church

Wednesday 19 April

WESTMINSTER - Cathedral Interfaith Group in the Hinsley Room, Morpeth Terrace, 4 - 5 pm. All welcome. Spkr: Revd Dr Ashley Beck (St Mary's University Twickenham)

Saturday 22 April

BETCHWORTH - A Celebration of Weddings in Word and Music in St Michael’s Church. Music and readings. 7.30pm - £12.50 inc. refreshments from 01737 843498

Saturday 29 April

✽ BATTERSEA/CLAPHAM – ‘Unlock’ annual sponsored walk. Details - 0114 293906 or www.unlock-urban.org.uk

Sunday 30 April

ADDINGTON – Sponsored performance of Schubert’s Piano Sonatas, by Edward Forman at St Mary’s 11.15am - 9 pm.

Saturday 6 May

WEST WICKHAM - 'Let there be light' - Concert at St Francis of Assisi Church to celebrate new church lighting 7.30pm. Free admission & refreshments.

REDHILL - Music at St Matthew’s 1.10pm 2 March - Song Recital - Emma Stannard (Soprano) w Keval Shah (Piano)9 March - Charterhouse School Brass Ensemble 16 March - Guitar Recital - Paul Gregory23 March - Oboe Recital - Amy Roberts30 March - Chalumeaux Quartet – (Clarinets/Saxophones)Free but donations welcome.

April/May

✽ BEDDINGTON - Quiet @ St Mary’s on the third Thursday of each month 11am - 2pm from 20 April.Various tools for quiet including the new canvas labyrinth.

✽ BOROUGH – St George the Martyr Community Cafe and TimeBank every Thursday 2pm to 4.30 pm. Meet people, get advice, help one another. Free admission

✽ CHALDON - Sunday teas in church 3 pm to 4.30pm from 2 April to 29 October

✽ ELTHAM - Playful Pilgrims. Prayer and play at Holy Trinity Church. Thursday mornings. Contact: [email protected]

✽ ELTHAM - Sing with a full orchestra. Hymns, light classics and popular standards last Sunday each month except Aug and Dec. 3pm Eltham Park Methodist Church

✝ HACKBRIDGE - Taizé at All Saints at 7pm First Sunday every month

✽ TATSFIELD - Teas served at St Mary’s from 3-5pm every Sunday from 30

April until the end of September

✽ WARLINGHAM – Water Aid lunches in St Ambrose Church Hall -12-1pm fi rst Wednesday each month

✝ ZIMBABWE ANGLICAN COMMUNITY in Southwark at St Mary, Newington – Shona Mass Second Sunday at 2pm. Mothers’ Union last Saturday 2pm

Ongoing

REDHILL - Music at St Matthew’s 1.10pm 6 April - Cello Recital - Frantisek Brikcius 20 April - Violin Recital - Eleanor Percy w Irina Lyakhorskaya (Piano)27 April - Clarinet Recital - Hannah Hever w Tereza Stachova (Piano)Donations welcome. Refreshments available.

UPPER MOLE GROUP LENT COURSE:

“Another Story must begin” by Jonathan Meyer based on Les Miserables. 7.30pm

7 & 14 March - Brockham Community Hall;

21 March - Reading Room, Buckland;

28 March - Emmanuel Church, Sidlow Bridge;

3 April - Brockham Community Hall

ALL WELCOME

QUESTIONS FACING CHRISTIANS TODAY: a series of four Lent Lectures on Thursday evenings, 7.30pm at St Augustine’s Church, South Croydon CR2 6BA

9 March - Christians and Climate Change Rt Rev’d Dr David Atkinson

16 March - A fair future for Croydon? Rt Rev’d Jonathan Clark

23 March - Why does a good and loving God allow evil and suffering? Rt Rev’d Lord Richard Harries of Pentregarth

30 March - Christians and Public Policy Rev’d Canon Dr Rosemarie Mallett

Admission: free Tea/coffee from 7 pm

LENT LUNCHTIME RECITALS AT CROYDON MINSTER @ 1.10pm

10 March – Simon Lane (Piano) & Grig Cuciuc (Violin)

17 March – Julie Beaumont & Gail Winter (Soprano),Jack Oades (Organ/Piano)

24 March – William Ford (Baritone), Jack Oades (Piano)

31 March – Jack Oades (Piano)

7 April – Pamela Hall & Victoria Winter (Soprano), Tom Little (Organ/Piano)

Bring a Packed Lunch


Dean Andrew writes:As we now keep the season of Lent and approach the great days of Holy Week you may want to think about travelling to the Holy Land with Bishop Christopher and me in 2018.

I had the real privilege of spending half of my recent sabbatical in Jerusalem, staying at St George’s College, an Anglican foundation in the close of St George’s Cathedral in the city. I was there, after leading many pilgrimages, to

see what things I had missed. There was plenty to occupy me and to give me food for thought. But what those weeks reminded me of so powerfully was how time in the Holy Land can bring the scriptures alive for each of us.

Each day I walked where Jesus walked and saw the places that from the earliest days of the Church have been revered and celebrated as the sites of the events in his life and in our faith.

There are some of the experiences that I had in those

weeks that I hope to share with pilgrims on this occasion, as a further enrichment of our experience together.

Bishop Christopher is a regular visitor to the Holy Land and in particular as one of a group of bishops organised by the Vatican who monitor life for Palestinians in Gaza.

He has his own fascinating refl ections of life now and not just then and especially for the small but faithful Christian community in Israel and Palestine. Our pilgrims

also get to meet some of the ‘Living Stones’ (the living church on the Holy Land) as well as some of the projects that the local church runs to help local people.

There are places still available on next year’s Diocesan Pilgrimage and I hope that as you walk these weeks with Jesus to the cross and stand with Mary and the apostles at the empty tomb you will think about being part of a life-changing and faith-enhancing group.

The Bridge - in print, in your parish... and on line at www.southwark.anglican.org/thebridge

New Ecumenical Canons installedBishop Christopher has appointed six new Ecumenical Canons to Southwark Cathedral.

His Grace Bishop Angaelos OBE General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom was instituted and installed at Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve (photo inset).

At Evensong on Sunday 19 February the remaining fi ve Canons were installed. They are (l-r above)(Bishop Richard)• The Revd Steve Chalke

MBE Baptist Minister, broadcaster, author and Founder and Leader of Oasis Trust. He serves as Senior Minister of Oasis Church, Waterloo and as Chair of South Bank Churches – an

ecumenical partnership • The Revd Les Isaac OBE,

Founder and CEO at Ascension Trust and Co-Founder Street Pastors. He is also a member of the Pastoral Team at the Church of God of Prophecy in Battersea

(Bishop Christopher)• The Rt Revd Apostle

Dr Donnett Thomas, founder and Senior Pastor, Power of the Living Word Ministries International. She is currently one of the Presidents of the Christian Muslim Forum.

(Dean Andrew)

• The Revd Anthony Currer, (Roman Catholic) Offi cial for Relations with Anglicans and Methodists in Rome. He is co-secretary to the ARCIC (the Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission) and the Methodist Catholic dialogue.

• The Rt Revd Paul Hendricks, Auxiliary Bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark. He is a Trustee of Churches Together in Britain and

Ireland and a member of English ARC (Anglican Roman Catholic dialogue) since 2008. He is also Co-Chair of the Christian-Muslim Forum. They join the Rt Revd Halvor

Nordhaug, Bishop of Bergen installed in September 2015.

Commenting on the appointment Bishop Christopher says: “I am delighted that these very distinguished church leaders from other denominations have

felt able to accept my offer to become Ecumenical Canons of Southwark Cathedral. We are privileged to welcome them to the heart of the Diocese of Southwark and we are proud to be associated with their important ministries”.

The Very Revd Andrew Nunn, Dean of Southwark says: “I am so pleased that our new Statutes allow for the appointment of Ecumenical Canons to share in our life. They will bring with them a breadth of knowledge and experience which will be very valuable to the Cathedral and

I hope that they will each see their appointment as a sign of the willingness of the Cathedral community to stand beside their communities in all they do”.

Images from the service can be found on Flickr at: https://fl ic.kr/s/aHskPtQUAV

The Parish Support Fund - Save the date and please come! The Parish Support Fund in its fi rst year of paying pledges has been generously supported. There are many exciting stories of mission and ministry in our parishes which have been funded by this new scheme.Please come and hear good news stories and also about new initiatives being developed for parishes, schools, Deaneries and wider communities. The Diocese is also keen to hear about your experience of the Fund, so please bring your views and questions so that we can work together to generously support our Diocesan family. Incumbents, PCC Secretaries, Treasurers, Churchwardens and anyone else interested are very welcome to attend. All meetings start at 7:30pm (with refreshments from 7:00pm) and will fi nish by 9:00pm. If you can’t attend the meeting in your Archdeaconry, you will be welcome on any of the other dates.Tues 14 Mar Lewisham & Greenwich Archdeaconry St Laurence, Catford; Bromley Road London SE6 2TSWed 15 Mar Wandsworth Archdeaconry All Saints, Kingston upon Thames;

The Market Square Kingston-upon Thames, Surrey KT1 1JPMon 27 Mar Southwark Archdeaconry St George the Martyr, Southwark; Borough High Street, London SE1 1JDIt would be very helpful if could you let us know if you are attending by email to [email protected] or by phone to the Parish Giving Communications Offi cer, Gabby Parikh on 020 7939 9438.

Looking for diamondsChristian Aid is looking for volunteer ‘diamonds’ to celebrate during their Diamond Anniversary Christian Aid Week.

Frances Reynolds, Christian Aid London Region Church Coordinator says: “We’re celebrating 60 years of Christian Aid Week (14-20 May 2017) by celebrating the amazing work of

our volunteers. We are asking all Bridge readers and website viewers to help us celebrate our Diamond Anniversary by nominating a volunteer for a Diamond Award at www.caweek.org/diamond”.

“A Lenten Holy Land Pilgrimage is such a special opportunity to learn more about where Jesus’ ministry took place and to see the sites that he knew. I hope you will want to join the Dean and me for this wonderful experience.” Bishop Christopher

Southwark Diocesan Pilgrimage Monday 19 - Monday 26 February 2018 For further information contact the Pilgrimage Administrator at Trinity House. Tel: 020 7939 9428 or e-mail: [email protected]

Next Year in Jerusalem...

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The Diocese of Southwark Newspaper of the Anglican Diocese of … Bridge... · 2018-07-31 · The Bridge is full of the stories of our Diocese, our discipleship, our mission amongst