Weekly Email – Trinity 14
Documents
Fr Alan writes:
Friends,
As the season turns and the physical light begins to diminish, I’m very pleased to let you know about our latest Zoom Theology series, which I hope will offer us an opportunity for some spiritual and theological enlightenment over the dark months ahead.
In pulling this series together, I’ve sought to meet a number of criteria. Perhaps most importantly was to offer us a way of addressing some of the topics that seem to provoke most questions, or represent gaps in the experience and knowledge of both newcomers and veterans of All Saints’ alike, in our spiritual, intellectual and practical lives as Christians.
From the Book of Revelation, through Marian Patrology, to the role of the Archbishop of Canterbury, I hope these sessions give us a way into some demanding, intriguing and rewarding study, and growth in our knowledge and love of God.
I’ve sought also to represent the major pillars of ‘theology’ broadly understood – doctrine, the Fathers and Holy Scripture, liturgy and worship, Church history and ecclesiology, ethics and philosophy, and spirituality. I hope that these different facets and angles may interact to give us a fuller sense of the breadth of our calling as Christians.
It has been good, too, to be able to draw on the skills and talents of a number of ‘our own’, as well as addressing the parish priority of our upcoming Music Campaign, with a session on the parish’s contribution to English Church music.
I’m delighted also to develop further our relationship with our sister parish in New York, St Mary the Virgin, Times’ Square, the clergy of which will offer one of the sessions next year. Whether you’ll be joining us as a regular member, or as a friend from further afield, you will be most welcome.
A reminder of each session, and the appropriate Zoom link will be made available nearer the time, but do put the following dates in your diaries. I’m so grateful to all those who have agreed to speak to us. I outline all seven sessions below.
with love,
Fr Alan
The Book of Revelation
7pm, Tuesday 18th November, 2025
Professor Ian Boxall is Senior Fellow in New Testament and Professor of Biblical Studies at the Aquinas Institute of Theology in St Louis, Missouri. He has taught previously at the Catholic University of America, and the University of Oxford, from which he received his Doctorate in the Book of Revelation. He has since published further on the topic, and is considered one of the world’s leading authorities on this complex and enigmatic book of Scripture.
Professor Boxall will introduce us to the history and interpretation of Revelation and its place in the canon. It would be especially useful to have re-read the text itself in preparation for the evening. A number of Professor Boxall’s books are available affordably.
The Theology of Sacred Space in Victorian Britain
7pm, Tuesday 25th November, 2025
The nineteenth century saw the transformation of the Parish Church in England, and a renewed interest in sacred space. One of the leading organisations at the intellectual and aesthetic heart of this movement was the Cambridge Camden, later Ecclesiological, Society, the ideals of which our own building here at Margaret Street perhaps represents the fullest expression.
Professor William Whyte, Professor of Social and Architectural History at St John’s College, Oxford, will lead us in a discussion of the theological elements of this transformation, and more broadly how theology and space interact and inform each other. His 2017 book Unlocking the Church: The lost secrets of Victorian sacred space is widely available.
Blaise Pascal: The Man who Made the Modern World
7pm, Tuesday, 27th January, 2026
Bishop Graham Tomlin, until 2022 Bishop of Kensington, is President of St Mellitus College, and leads the Church of England’s Centre for Cultural Witness. We are delighted that Dr Tomlin will join us to discuss his recent book Blaise Pascal: The Man Who Made the Modern World, which draws on his longstanding interest and extensive academic research in the field.
The seventeenth century polymath’s misunderstood ‘wager’ is only one small aspect of an extraordinary life. Although he died at 39, Pascal’s work covered numerous disciplines, and his writing explores especially movingly topics of faith, reason and human existence.
Primate of All England: The Role of the Archbishop of Canterbury
7pm, Tuesday, 10th February, 2026
In the wake of the appointment of a new Archbishop after a lengthy process, we will have the opportunity to learn more about the peculiarities and changing nature of the role over the years.
We are grateful that our own Dr Colin Podmore, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society who served in several senior roles in the Church of England, including as Clerk to the General Synod, will talk to us from his own extensive experience and study of the topic.
What has All Saints’ contributed to English Church Music?
Date to be confirmed
As part of our ongoing Music Fundraising Campaign, we will be joined by Dr Serenhedd James to explore the musical patrimony of All Saints’, Margaret Street, and its impact on the wider Church of England.
St Catherine of Siena: Theology and Spirituality
7pm, Saturday, 23rd May, 2026
The Revd Dr Matt Jacobson, Associate Priest at our sister parish in New York, will offer us an insight into the theology and spirituality of Saint Catherine of Siena, 1347-1380. We will look at Catherine’s writings as well as the historical context of life in fourteenth-century Italy.
The primary interest in studying Catherine of Siena will be to see how this mystic and Doctor of the Church can help us to reflect upon and develop a theological understanding of service. This session will draw on Fr Matt’s own research, and on the and on the experience of his leadership of a series of in-person classes on the subject in New York earlier in the month.
Theotokos: The Fathers on Mary
7pm, Tuesday, 16th June, 2026
We are grateful to the Revd Dr Robin Ward for leading us in the study of the development in the early Church of the understanding of Mary. Fr Robin has talked to us on patristics before, and will this time explore how closely bound up are the Church’s doctrines on Mary and Jesus Christ.
We gave thanks last Sunday for the vocation and service of our serving team, as we marked the retirement from he sanctuary of Joe Musah and David Cruse.
Visiting Preacher
This Sunday, we welcome Fr Thomas Crowley as our preacher at the 11.00 am High Mass. He is the Rector of Christ Church, St Leonards-on-Sea.
It was good to welcome Fr Michael Bowie back to our parish as our preacher on Sunday. We are grateful for his excellent sermon. You can watch his homily again here.
Feast of Our Lady of Walsingham
The feast of Our Lady of Walsingham will take place on Wednesday 24th September. There will be a Low Mass with hymns at the High Altar at 6.30 pm, followed by drinks at Fr Alan’s. All welcome.
Drinks in our parish courtyard after the High Mass in honour of several celebrations: the feast of the Holy Cross; the visit by Fr Michael Bowie; and our gratitude for the serving team.
Parish Walk
Our next parish walk will take place on St Luke Day, Saturday 18th October. We’ll take the 9.45 am from Victoria to Lewes, and walk up to 10 miles, with some ascents. All welcome – pease be in touch with Fr Alan.
Our servers enjoyed a special lunch after the High Mass to celebrate a number of changes, retirements and appointments amongst the serving team. We thank them for their sterling work and all they contribute to the liturgical life of our parish.
Fundraising Launch Concert
The fundraising campaign for our Choir and Music Trust Fund will be launched at a concert given by our choir on the Saturday 1st November at 7.00 pm.
This will be a concert of sacred music including a number of substantial items which the choir often doesn’t have the opportunity to sing because of time or liturgical constraints. The programme will include Bairstow’s Blessed City, Heavenly Salem, Macdowell’s Annunciation, Macmillan’s A special Appeal, Finzi’s Lo the full and final sacrifice, Holst’s Nunc Dimittis, and Parry’s Songs of Farewell.
Tickets are £25 per head and all funds raised will go to our our Choir and Music Trust. You can book your tickets via the Eventbrite link here. It will be a splendid evening and we need as many people present as possible. Please bring your friends.
Drinks in our parish courtyard after the High Mass in honour of several celebrations: the feast of the Holy Cross; the visit by Fr Michael Bowie; and our gratitude for the serving team.
All Saints’ Festival 2025
Saturday 1st November
5.15 pm Vigil Low Mass of All Saints’ Day
7.00 pm Choir Concert
Sunday 2nd November – All Saints’ Day & Festival Sunday
11.00 am High Mass of All Saints’ Day
Preacher: The Ven Luke Miller, Archdeacon of London.
6.00 pm Festal Evensong and Benediction with Te Deum
Monday 3rd November – All Souls’ Day
6.30 pm High Mass of Requiem
Preacher: The Rt Revd Lindsay Urwin, O.G.S.
Sunday 9th November – Remembrance Sunday
11.00 am High Mass of Requiem with Act of Remembrance
Drinks in our parish courtyard after the High Mass in honour of several celebrations: the feast of the Holy Cross; the visit by Fr Michael Bowie; and our gratitude for the serving team.
Flowers & Wedding Bells
We congratulate Tom Sexton and Amelia Graham on the occasion of their marriage which will take place here at All Saints’ on Saturday. The flowers decorating church on Sunday are donated by them. We are grateful to them for their gift and wish assure them of our prayers for their new life together.
Drinks in our parish courtyard after the High Mass in honour of several celebrations: the feast of the Holy Cross; the visit by Fr Michael Bowie; and our gratitude for the serving team.
Attendance last Week
For your prayers
The Friends of All Saints’ Margaret Street:
22nd – Richard Hoskinson, Marissa Howard-McNatt, Fr David Hutt, Alfred Imhoff, David James, Andrew Jervis, Powell Johann, Stephen Jury, Malcolm Kemp
23rd – Alan Kimbrough, Brenda Koupis, Stanislav Kudryashov, Christopher Laws, Margaret Leggett
24th – Cornelius Logue, Frau Dr Christiane Loidl-Rainey, Nigel Lynn, Henry Macey, Bishop Michael Marshall, David Mason, Robert Mason, Graham Mather
25th – Judith Mather, The Ven Fr Stephen McClatchie, John McWhinney, Colin Menzies, Amanda Miller
26th – Thomas Moller, Michael Mortensen, Barry Moore, Deacon Christopher Morash, Grace Morgan, Heather Morgan, Dr John Morrell, Fr Stephen Morris, Inger Mosbery, Lachlan Moyle, Carol Mundell
27th – Christopher Naylor, Brian Newman, Barry Newsome, Letitia Nicholl, Elaine Norman, Richard North, Fr Paul Ockford
The sick:
Jean Castledine, David Craig, Fr Michael Gudgeon, Catherine Hobden, Fr Harry Hodgetts, Carol Lyman-Price, Daniel Oliver, James Rodger, Oskar Rodriguez-Lopez, Ingrid Slaughter, Juliet Windham
The recently departed:
David Lodge
Anniversaries of death:
22nd – Anthony Alsopp, Andrew Braybrooke
23rd – Jean Hobbs, David Shearer, Pamela Herbertson
25th – Eric King, Irene Bevan
26th – Evelyne Steele, Mickaël Charbonneau, Lilian Exten, Lynn Evans
27th – Sister Mary OHP
Services this week
Saturday 20 September – St Andrew Kim Taegon
12pm Low Mass
6.00 pm Confessions
6.30 pm Vigil Mass of Sunday
Sunday 21 September – TRINITY 14
8.30 am Low Mass
11 am High Mass
5.15 pm Low Mass
6.00 pm Solemn Evensong and Benediction
Monday 22 September – Feria
12 noon Low Mass
6.30 pm Low Mass
Tuesday 23 September – St Pius of Pietrelcina
12 noon Low Mass
6.30 pm Low Mass
Wednesday 24 September – Our Lady of Walsingham
12 noon Low Mass
5.30 Holy Hour
6.30 pm Low Mass with hymns
Thursday 25 September – Feria
12 noon Low Mass
6.30 pm Low Mass
Friday 26 September – Ss. Cosmas and Damian
12 noon Low Mass
6.30 pm Low Mass
Saturday 20 September – St Vincent de Paul
12pm Low Mass
6.00 pm Confessions
6.30 pm Vigil Mass of Sunday
Sunday 21 September – MICHAELMAS
8.30 am Low Mass
11 am High Mass
5.15 pm Low Mass
6.00 pm Solemn Evensong and Benediction