All Saints Margaret Street.

Dear friends,

Our programme of online Zoom Theology seminars goes from strength to strength and has become a really fascinating part of the regular patterns of formation and teaching in our parish since we began it three years ago. Our latest seminar took place on Tuesday and was focussed on the questions raised by the recent British Library exhibition entitled, “Medieval Women: in their own words.”

A group from All Saints’ went to see the exhibition two weeks ago, and the Zoom seminar was an attempt to give people the opportunity to reflect at greater length on what they had seen. It was, however, made plain that you didn’t have to have seen the exhibition to participate in the Zoom seminar and many people tuned in from all over the country and from overseas to contribute to conversation.

We were joined by two scholars of the Medieval period: Dr Mark Philpott, a medievalist and historiographer at Keble College, Oxford; and Dr Charlotte Gauthier, a historian of Church and State in the Medieval and Early Modern period (who also spoke earlier in the autumn at our in person formation session on the C14th Poem “Pearl”).

Questions raised included discussion of the difference between influence, authority, power and jurisdiction on the part of women. “Influence” is much less difficult to detect and quantify in the historical record than other kinds of more direct legal power that more frequently leave clear traces in letters, books and archives. It was also interesting to discuss how we go about judging just how typical or exceptional the figures were that we had learned about from Medieval history.

Discussion ranged around questions of literacy and the intriguing degree to which more people could read than write in the Medieval world, as these two separately taught as two distinct skills. Literacy as power was a fascinating and complex idea to consider.

It was also interesting to learn of the areas in which women exercised significant economic influence. I did not know, for example, that most brewers were women in Medieval England, and that the silk trade was almost entirely dominated by women.

It was also interesting to consider ways in which women exercised greater freedom and authority than we sometimes imagine: for example, in the managing of great estates and businesses by women of aristocratic birth or from the merchant classes, often on behalf of their husbands or when their husbands were absent. Being a wealthy widow past child bearing age was also one of the most advantageous positions a woman could have as she would be under less pressure to re-marry if she didn’t want to, and could lead a life of some independence.

I am hugely grateful to all who contributed both to the success of the trip to British Library two weeks ago and also to the Zoom Theology seminar on Tuesday.

Our next Zoom Theology session will be an interesting one. We are hoping to run it as a joint session with our friends and partners at St Mary the Virgin, Times Square, New York. It will take place on Saturday, 22nd March 2025 at 3pm GMT (which will be 11am New York time). Please note that for most of March, there will only be a four hour time difference between the East Coast of America and London as our clocks will not have changed yet.

The idea of this session will be to consider what it means to be an Anglo-Catholic parish by reflecting on the history of our two churches. I will be presenting some thoughts on Fr Bernard Clements and Fr Sammy Wood will be reflecting on some of the most famous and influential rectors of St Mary the Virgin. What can these histories tell us about the future of Anglo-Catholic parishes like All Saints’ and St Mary’s, and what do our parishes’ witness and traditions have to contribute to the life of the Church in our two cities?

Please make time to tune in, and note the slightly different time at which this next Zoom Theology Seminar will take place. I look forward to it as a good example of how St Mary’s and All Saints’ can learn form each other and support each other as they seek to bear witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Fr Peter

Music Sponsorship Campaign

Thank you to everyone who has so generously contributed to our Music Sponsorship campaign this year. Donations have continued to pour in and we are delighted to reveal that the total raised so far stands at £11,400. We are now within £3500 of the target we set ourselves two weeks ago of raising £15,000. If you want to contribute to this crucial campaign, please be in touch with the parish office. You can send funds via our CAF account if you live in the UK, or via our US dollar account if you live in America. Both accounts allow tax back to be claimed. Thank you for your generosity!

Volunteers needed this Sunday

We need some help after the High Mass this Sunday to deconstruct and put away our parish’s Christmas crib in the cellar. It is a tricky job but with half a dozen people can be accomplished in no time.

Homeless Shelter: huge thanks!

A huge thank you goes to everyone who has volunteered for the two evenings over the past few months in which we have staffed the C4WS homeless shelter at the American International Church on Tottenham Court Road.

The second night shift took place on Wednesday and the team from All Saints’ prepared beds and cooked dinner for 11 homeless guests. Two members of our group slot over night with the guests, and then organised breakfast the next morning.

Our participation in the homeless work at the C4WS shelter is an immense achievement and the fruit of many people giving generously of their time to help those in need. Many who have volunteered have said they would be happy to next year. We have already been in touch with the staff at the American Church and indicated would be willing to take on more shifts next winter. Watch this space in the autumn as the dates for the next shelter season are published.

In the meantime, a huge thank you goes to all who have participated in this tremendous work. Through it, we have put our faith into action and revealed our love for God and neighbour through visible, practical action. Many thanks indeed!

Chinese New Year

After our Candlemas Carol Service last Sunday, a group from All Saints’ paid a visit to our neighbours at the Fo Guang Shan temple opposite us on Margaret Street to wish them a Happy New Lunar Year. We took with us a basket of fruit, which is an auspicious gift in China, as a sign of our esteem and friendship.

We received in return a beautiful framed motto which will be our neighbours’ inspiration over the coming year. Each visitor from All Saints’ also received a lucky bag – with fascinating objects and treats symbolising prayers and wishes for a peaceful and harmonious New Year.

Many thanks indeed to our neighbours at the Fo Guang Shan Temple for a lovely visit. We assure them of our prayers for their community of faith.

Easter Flowers: sponsorship needed!

If you would like to sponsor an arrangement for the Altar of Repose on Maundy Thursday and for Easter, please contact Shawn directly or via the office. So far, only one arrangement has been sponsored.

Our Candlemas Carol Service last Sunday.

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Party

Fr Alan will be hosting a pancake party for our young adults after the 6.30 pm Mass on Shrove Tuesday (4th March). Please be in touch with him if you would like to attend.

Attendance last Sunday

For your prayers

The Friends of All Saints’ Margaret Street:

9th – Mark Allan, Martin Amherst-Lock, Robert Austen, Richard Ayling, James Babington Smith, Ruth Baker
10th – Stephen Baldwin, Stephen Barber, Jonathan Beck, Dr William Benefield, William Bonnell
11th – John Bristow, Paul Brough, Michael Brown, David Blunden, Fr. Michael Bowie, Dr Graham Burns
12th – Derek Bussey, Katherine Butler, Maureen Cambrey, David Caplowe, Adrian Carlton-Oatley, Timothy Cassady, Norman and Zulette Catir, Kate Charles, Stuart Chillingworth, Sir Robert Chote, Sandy Christian
13th – Roger Clark, Catharine Clarke, David and Mavis Cleggett, Graham Colville
14th – Karolyn Cooper, William Cooper Bailey, Peter Coulson, Steven Cox, Dr Yvonne Craig, Juliet Cridland
15th – Kirill Dashkovskiy, Christopher Davies, Peter Dennis, Laura Denton, Joshua Dolphin

The sick:

David Craig, Magdalena and Eckhart Grimm, Tony Hawkins, Fr Harry Hodgetts, Michael Lamprell, Elizabeth Lyon, James Rodger

The recently departed:

Joan Cooper, Fr Tony Coulson

The faithful departed:

9th – Joan Adams, Pamela Brett, Hazel Otway, Eileen Mann
10th – Margaret Booker, Diana Juniper, Caroline Farrer
11th – Phyllis Woodcock, Frank Walker Pr, Winifred Bloomer, Victoria Nettey
12th – Charlotte Druitt, Helen Buck, Sister Barbara of All Saints
13th – Charles Lethbridge, Nellie Chapman
14th – Margaret McWilliam, Mary Dick, John Knight Pr, Charles Forker
15th – Marion Clark, Constance Rivington, Henry Hewetson, John Bartle, Alec Rodger, Margaret Menzies, Doris Sanders

Services this Week

Saturday 8th February – Walsingham Devotion
11.30 am Rosary
12pm Low Mass
6.00 pm Confessions
6.30 pm Vigil Mass of Sunday

Sunday 9th February – FOURTH BEFORE LENT
8.30 am Low Mass
11 am High Mass
5.15 pm Low Mass
6.00 pm Evensong and Benediction

Monday 10th February – St Scholastica, V.
12 noon Low Mass
6.30 pm Low Mass

Monday 11th February – Our Lady of Lourdes
12 noon Low Mass
6.30 pm Low Mass

Wednesday 12th February – Feria
12 noon Low Mass
5.30 pm Holy Hour
6.30 pm Low Mass

Thursday 13th February – Feria
12 noon Low Mass
6.30 pm Low Mass

Friday 14th February – Ss. Cyril and Methodius
12 noon Low Mass
6.30 pm Low Mass

Saturday 8th February – Monthly Requiem
12pm Low Mass of Requiem
6.00 pm Confessions
6.30 pm Vigil Mass of Sunday

Sunday 9th February – THIRD BEFORE LENT
8.30 am Low Mass
11 am High Mass
5.15 pm Low Mass
6.00 pm Evensong and Benediction