All Saints Margaret Street.

Dear All,

I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who contributed in any way to the splendid celebrations we had last Sunday for the feast of the Assumption. The whole day was a wonderful proclamation of our faith in Jesus Christ, and of our trust in the power of the communion we share with his mother Mary.

The music was, of course, magnificent. Our choir and musicians excelled themselves. Huge thanks go to Stevie, Tilly, Hamish and our whole choir. I want to say a specific thank you to Chris Self for sponsoring the cost of the music during the liturgy and the band during the procession. We are very grateful for his generosity, which will make a huge difference to our annual music budget. It is so encouraging to know the musical tradition of our parish is cherished and valued by such generous benefactors. Thank you, Chris!

The many people who worked together to pull off the procession in such an organised, joyful, and safe way also deserve our thanks. We are grateful to our servers, stewards, and sidesmen for all they did to manage the crowd and ensure the safety of all. We also owe a big debt of gratitude to all who organised the livestream of the procession, which is no mean feat!

The party after the evening procession was a splendid occasion. Our thanks go to everyone who helped organise drinks and tidy up afterwards. We should particularly mention Chris Self, Jacinda Wheatley, and so many of our younger parishioners who took responsibility for the refreshments table on this occasion. It was a wonderful evening and so good to be able to catch up with friends and visitors after the liturgy.

We should also thank the Chelsea Pensioners who joined us on Sunday night. It was such an honour and privilege for us to have them with us accompanied by their chaplain, Fr Seven Brookes. They were a fine sight forming the guard of honour around the image of Our Lady as the procession made its way along. We are grateful to them for joining us and also for their service to our country in the Armed Forces of the Crown.

I pray we can take the joy, confidence, and energy which we saw our parish exhibiting on Sunday with us into the coming weeks, and that our trust in the efficacious prayers of Our Lady will be renewed and re-doubled. May she who was assumed body and soul into the glory of heaven pray for us as we seek to follow her example of obedience and grace-filled joy!

Fr Peter

Thank you, Tilly!

This Sunday marks the last Sunday that our current Organ Scholar, Matilda Johnson, will be with us. She has served our parish in this capacity with great dedication, talent, and energy over the past two years. We are hugely grateful for all she has contributed to the musical and liturgical life of our parish. She will be much missed.

Tilly is leaving us to take up the prestigious post of Organ Scholar at the Royal Hospital Chelsea. We wish her well and assure her of our prayers as she takes up this new role.

There will be an opportunity on Sunday formally to thank Tilly after the High Mass and to wish her God’s speed as she moves on from All Saints’, so please do stay behind after the service on Sunday morning in the courtyard so we can thank Tilly together.

Our next parish walk will take place on Saturday 22nd August 2026 on the Kent Downs. Our rambling group will take the 10.34 Ramsgate train to Wye from Charing Cross Station. The walk will be around nine miles with some ascents. All are welcome. Please be in touch with Fr Alan to sign up or for more information.

Fidelium

The Young Adults Group Fidelium will be meeting at All Saints’ on Tuesday 1st September for its monthly Mass and Pub evening. Mass at 6.30 pm will be followed by social time at a local pub.

In addition, a series of talks and lectures has been announced by Fidelium on the topic of the historical, theological and aesthetic significance ecclesiastical vestments.

There will be a lecture at All Saints’ on Wednesday 30th September given by Revd Dr Lyanne Beckerson, drawing on and examining some of the vestments in our sacristy at All Saints’. This will then be followed by a visit to the V&A Museum on Saturday 17th October which will be jointly led by Mother Lyanne and Fr Peter to examine their historic collection of Medieval vestments.

Please be in touch with Charlotte Choley or Jacinda Wheatley if you would like to come to any of these events.

Two more pilgrimages to Walsingham will take place this year. Places are free on both trips, but only a few days are left to book for the weekend pilgrimage:

Annual parish weekend pilgrimage
Friday 18th – 21st September 2026
Our weekend pilgrimage to Walsingham involves staying in Shrine accommodation and spending the weekend there. This pilgrimage involves: a Pilgrimage Mass on the Saturday at the Shrine Church; evening processions; sacraments of healing; sprinkling at the holy well and finishing with procession of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction.

The cost is £240 Friday pm to Sunday evening – including full board plus mini-coach from Kings Lynn. Please note that we travel up to Kings Lynn by train and pilgrims need to book their own train ticket.

Please book your place and pay via Eventbrite here.

Walsingham Advent Retreat
Friday 4th – Sunday 6th December 2026
This pilgrimage is more reflective in character and takes the form of a silent retreat. All those who take part go into silence on Friday evening after supper. Silence is then kept in the Shrine grounds through the whole of Saturday until after the Solemn Mass on Sunday morning which takes place at St Mary’s parish church. This year’s retreat leader will be Bishop Peter Eagles.

The cost is £240 – including full board plus mini-coach from Kings Lynn. Please note that we travel up to Kings Lynn by train and pilgrims need to book their own train ticket. We will set off around midday on Friday 4th December and return to Kings Cross on Sunday evening around 7.00 pm.

Please book your place and pay via Eventbrite here.

Flowers

The flowers in church this week are given by Aiden and Ashley Hargreaves-Smith in ever-grateful memory of their beloved mother Valerie and grandmother Irene, whose anniversaries fall at this time.

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

Attendance last Sunday

For your prayers

The Friends of All Saints’ Margaret Street

24th – Naomi Slippe, Vaughan Snook, Jonathan Spelman, Louise and Richard Smallwood, Ian Stewart, Robert Stoltz

25th – Madeleine Storer, Veronica and Ian Summers, Colin Symes, Ann Tacchi, Sebastian Taite-Ellis, Michael Taylor, Kitty Thompson

26th – Dr James Thomson, Charles Thomson, Jeremy Thorp, Michael Traynor, Fr Roger Turner, Dr Christine Vaughn Lillie, Christopher Walsh

27th – Philip Wayne, Mats Wendt, Michael Westcott, Sandra Wheen, All Departed Friends and Benefactors

28th – Matthew Whittaker, Tim Widdowfield, David Wilcox, T. Bradford Willis, Ian Wilson

29th – Fr Michael Witcombe, Martin Woods, Martin Woolley, William Tale, Michael Young, All Friends and Music Patrons in Need

The sick

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

The recently departed

Nicholas Clark, Jim Carson, Philip Shaker, Harry Hodgetts Pr, Joe Kendall Pr

Anniversaries of death

Services this week