All Saints Margaret Street.

Dear brothers and sisters,

It has been one of the joys of ministry amongst you over the past few years to see our faith at work in our annual contribution to a local cold weather shelter – and I am glad to put before you today a new set of opportunities to help.

Under the auspices of the Camden charity C4WS, the shelter runs from the American International Church on Tottenham Court Road from November to March. Not only does it represent a real act of service to some of our city’s most vulnerable inhabitants, but it has begun to widen our awareness as a parish more broadly of the needs of our community – and begun a process which I hope over time will deepen our engagement with those needs.

There are also the real bonds we have built with our brothers and sisters at the American Church, and the friendships that have grown between volunteers from All Saints’ as we have served alongside each other.

This coming winter we will be covering the shelter as an All Saints’ team on five occasions, involving evening (6-9pm), overnight (9pm-7am) and morning (7am-9am) shifts over a Wednesday and Thursday.

11th – 12th November

16th – 17th December

13th  – 14th January

17th – 18th February

10th – 11th March

For each evening, we need a team lead to oversee the smooth running of the evening, a kitchen lead to cook, five other helpers, and a male and female overnighter. The following morning, we need a team lead and three further volunteers.

There are lots of different ways of taking part, and you don’t need any particular experience. Making beds, preparing food, and just being present, offering welcome, and helping to create a safe and hospitable space. There is a short training video it is necessary to complete, available once you have signed up.

Our group has been praised for its food in past years, and so it would be good to have some offers from the chefs amongst you. We like to sponsor our contributions too, so if you are not able to be present in person, but can help us pay for the food we make, that is also a valuable contribution.

If you would like to volunteer for one of the shifts, or have further questions, please be in touch with me.

It seems an especially appropriate endeavour to commend to you as we prepare to keep the Exaltation of the Holy Cross this Sunday. On one level this feast is a rallying call to Christ’s banner; an invitation to us to exalt the Cross, and to reaffirm our identity as a people saved and empowered by this ‘Tree of beauty, Tree of light’.

On another, more basic level, it is a celebration of what God has already exalted: the lowly; the hungry. By his yet counter-intuitive work of salvation that made of an instrument of torture the means by which God called all people to himself, he has freed and equipped us to pursue our true end.

Our attention is turned to the love of God made known in Christ: a love which gives itself – empties itself – for the life of the world. His Cross is not merely a badge we honour or contemplate from a distance, but something which draws us into a different way of living, as we learn to give of ourselves on the pattern of him who suffered, died, rose again and was exalted – all so that we might truly live. I look forward to seeing many of you on Sunday.

With love,

Fr Alan

RIP Harry Bramma

Harry Bramma’s Funeral Mass will take place at Southwark Cathedral on Thursday 8th October at 2.00 pm, and will be followed by a reception.

A special Evensong will take place at All Saints’ in Harry’s memory on Sunday 25th October 2027 at 6.00 pm. The service will include music by Harry and will be followed by a drinks reception in his honour.

In addition, a Low Mass of Requiem will be celebrated for Harry at All Saints’ on Thursday 17th September at 6.30 pm.

Gala Fundraising Dinner

A gala dinner will take place at the Savile Club on Thursday 29th October 2026 to raise funds for our Choir and Music Trust. This will be the last great fundraising event of our Music appeal. Tickets are £100 each. Dress is black tie or equivalent for ladies. Book your place here.

The Lloyd Webber Connection

On a Sunday 4th October, we will be celebrating the music of our former Director of Music William Lloyd Webber by having music by him at all the sung liturgies of the day.

We are exceptionally honoured that his son, Andrew Lloyd Webber has agreed to come and make a short address at a drinks reception in church after Evensong to be held in honour of his father.

Flowers

The flowers in front of Our Lady are given by Antonietta, in loving memory of David Robin, on the fourth anniversary of his death.

If you would like to make a donation for flowers or the courtyard garden, please contact Shawn directly or via the office.

Visiting Confessors

A series of visiting confessors will be available to hear confessions over the coming months at the following times:

Thursday 17th September 5.00 pm – Bishop Lindsay Urwin
Thursday 15th October 5.00 pm – Bishop Lindsay Urwin
Tuesday 24th November 11.00 am – Fr Barry Orford
Saturday 5th December 5.00 pm – Bishop Peter Wheatley
Friday 18th December 5.00 pm – Bishop Peter Wheatley
Saturday 19th December 5.00 pm – Bishop Lindsay Urwin
Tuesday 22nd December 5.00 pm – Bishop Lindsay Urwin
Wednesday 23rd December 5.00 pm – Fr Barry Orford

In addition to these times, the parish clergy hear confessions each Saturday at 6.00 pm and are very happy to hear confessions at other times by appointment.

Feast of Our Lady of Walsingham

On Thursday 24th September, there will be a Low Mass with hymns to celebrate the feast day of Our Lady of Walsingham. This will be followed by refreshments in Fr Alan’s house.

Parish Walk

Our next parish walk will take place on Saturday 24th October 2026. It will be around 8 miles long, mostly flat, between Paddock Wood and Tonbridge, taking in the Marc Chagall windows at All Saints’, Tudeley. Meet at Charing Cross Station for the 10.04 Dover Priory train to Paddock Wood. Be in touch with Fr Alan for further details.

Music sponsorship

The music at High Mass this Sunday is sponsored by Simon Rainey KC in memory of his friend Lucy Georghiou Cummings, who died on 20th August.

May she rest in peace, and may God comfort her young family.

Attendance last week

For your prayers

The Friends of All Saints’ Margaret Street

14th – Fr Michael Maine, Fr David Mason, Robert Mason, Graham Mather, Thomas McBryer, Fr Stephen McClatchie, John McWhinney, Peter Medine, Colin Menzies OBE

15th – Stephen Miller, Clark Mitchell, Thomas Moller, Barry Moore, Grace Morgan, Dr John Morrell, Fr Stephen Morris, Michael Mortensen, Inger Mosbery

16th – Carol Mundell, Brian Newman, Sasha Nixon, Elaine Norman, Fr Paul Ockford, Anna and Fr Peter Oesterby-Joergensen, Amanda Oldman

17th – Fr Barry Orford, Nicholas Page, Malcolm Parr, David Parrott, Bhaven Patel, Alma Pearson, Gladys Pearson, Pat Philips, Dr Colin Podmore

18th – Cecilia and Nicholas Powell, Susan Prain, Huw Pryce, Vasileios Psomas, Michael Readman, Carlos Rendon, Hekki Repo, Fr Steve Rice, Fr Peter Roberts

19th – Hilary Rodger, Charlotte Roueche, Greg Round, Jamie Rundle, Gianluca Ryan Smith, Mary Sherred, James Shrimpton, The All Saints’ Sisters of the Poor, Ingrid Slaughter, Paul Sorensen

The sick

Fr George Bush, Jean Castledine, David Craig, Fr Luke Demetri, Winifred Haws, Danny Mather, Ingrid Slaughter, Fr Howard Such, Juliet Windham, Martin Woods

The recently departed

Sister Catherine SLG, Harry Hodgetts Pr, Harry Bramma

Anniversaries of death

Services this week

Tuesday 15th September – Our Lady of Sorrows
12 pm Low Mass
6.30 pm Low Mass

Wednesday 16th September – Ss. Cornelius and Cyprian
12 pm Low Mass
6.30 pm Low Mass

Thursday 17th September – Feria
12 pm Low Mass
6.30 pm Low Mass

Friday 18th September – Feria
12 pm Low Mass
6.30 pm Low Mass

Saturday 19th September – Feria
12 pm Low Mass
6.30 pm Vigil Mass of Sunday

Sunday 20th September – TRINITY XVI
8.30 am Low Mass
11 am High Mass
5.15 pm Low Mass
6.00 pm Solemn Evensong and Benediction