All Saints Margaret Street.

Dear friends,

I want to say a huge thank you to anyone who has contributed to a series of significant events in our parish’s life over the past week.

Not only did we have a wonderful celebration of Corpus Christi on Thursday 4th June, but last Sunday we kept a fascinating Rachmaninoff Festival in which we welcomed Rowan Williams as our preacher.

Both these events have placed significant demands on our parish’s welcome and hospitality team, but they have risen to the occasion and organised a series of splendid drinks parties to welcome those who were visiting us. I want to say a special word of thanks to Kate Hodgetts and Chris Self for their sterling work over the past two weeks.

Corpus Christi was a lovely evening. Although we did not go outside for our procession of the Blessed Sacrament because of the weather, it was moving in a different way to have it indoors. The sound of everyone in church singing their hearts out to Laud O Sion with the accompaniment of choir, organ, and brass band was remarkable!

Last Sunday was a rule memorable day. Bishop Rowan’s wonderful sermon is really worth listening to if you haven’t had the opportunity (or RE-listening to if you have!). You can watch him again here. He wove together a number of complex theological strands as he spoke about the musical tradition of the church as something we immerse ourselves in. Indeed by such immersion, we do not lose our individual identity, but rather learn to discover ourselves more truly as we worship with others and encounter the presence of the living God.

The two short lectures which followed the High Mass last Sunday were a really interesting exploration of the connections between Rachmaninoff and our parish.

Professor Norris revealed the events that led up to Rachmaninoff’s famous visit to All Saints’ in 1924 and particularly described the culture of liturgical music in which Rachmaninoff found himself.

Professor Quinn then explored a little more of the English musical backdrop to Rachmaninoff’s work and the reception of his work in Britain in the early decades of the Twentieth Century.

Many people commented how outstanding our Music Department have been over these several celebrations, and especially on our Rachmaninoff Sunday. I was to thank Stevie Farr, our Director of Music, for the immense amounts of hard work and time that he has put into organising a wide range of complex music. We are grateful for a remarkable couple of weeks which has included his own performance of the Goldberg Variations at our Bach Concert just a fortnight ago!

As you know, this Rachmaninoff Sunday formed part of our year-long fundraising campaign to re-endow our Music and Choir Trust Fund and I can announce that a number of very generous donations were received last Sunday from those who visited us. The day raised a total of £1047.48, which is a splendid achievement. Many thanks to all who contributed.

We have also just undertaken an audit of the donations we have received so far this year with a particular eye to calculating any extra Gift Aid we can claim. This has also added to our running total of the amount we have raised, which, including the Rachmaninoff Sunday donations, now stands at £453,959.02. This should be a great encouragement to us all and a focus of thanksgiving to God for the spirit of generosity he has prompted in so many hearts.

With my best wishes and many thanks for a remarkable couple of weeks in the life of our parish,

Fr Peter

Preacher this Sunday

Our preacher this Sunday will be Petter Kringberg. He is an ordinand on placement at All Saints’ for the next three years as he prepares for ordination. We look forward to his words.

Building work

Please note that whilst some extensive electrical work takes place as part of the installation of a new sound system for the church, our building will only be open during service times over the coming couple of months.

All Saints’ will open at 11.45 am for the 12 noon Mass and at 5.45 pm for Evening Prayer and the 6.30 pm Mass. During this period, church welcomers won’t be needed during weekday afternoons.

Confirmation: Sunday 28th June

Please note that Bishop Jonathan will visit All Saints’ on Sunday 28th June to baptize and confirm our catechumens. There will be a parish lunch after the liturgy. Please be in touch with Kate Hodgetts if you are able to provide a dish of some sort.

Young Adults Group dinner in Chinatown

Our Young Adults Group will be having dinner together in Chinatown on Thursday 2nd July. There will be Mass at 6.30 pm followed by drinks in the Vicarage (or courtyard if the weather is good), and dinner at 8.00 pm at Jinli Restaurant on Newport Place in Chinatown. Cost is £30, which includes all drinks at the restaurant. Sign up via Eventbrite here.

Parish walks

Fr Alan will be leading a number of walks over the coming months, each around 10 miles and involving some climbs. Bring lunch. There will be a short pub stop on each, and the option of an early supper together at the end of the walk. Be in touch with Fr Alan to sign up or ask for details.

Saturday 13th June 2026
Chiltern Hills. 10.27 Marylebone Station. Aylesbury Vale Parkway train to Wendover.

Saturday 25th July 2026
Surrey Hills. 10.23 Waterloo Station. Dorking train to Box Hill & Westhumble.

Saturday 22nd August 2026
Kent Downs. 10.34 Charing Cross Station. Ramsgate train to Wye.

Friends of St George’s Paris Mass

Please note that on Monday 29th June, there will be a Sung Mass at 6.30 pm for the Friends of St George’s Anglican Church, Paris. All are welcome at the Mass. The liturgy is followed by supper in our courtyard for which you have to book a place.

Attendance last Sunday

Flowers

For your prayers

The Friends and Music Patrons of All Saints’ Margaret Street

15th – Fr Michael Maine, Fr David Mason, Robert Mason, Graham Mather, Thomas McBryer, Fr Stephen McClatchie, John McWhinney, Peter Medine, Colin Menzies OBE

16th – Stephen Miller, Clark Mitchell, Thomas Moller, Barry Moore, Grace Morgan, Dr John Morrell, Fr Stephen Morris, Michael Mortensen, Inger Mosbery

17th – Carol Mundell, Brian Newman, Sasha Nixon, Elaine Norman, Fr Paul Ockford, Anna and Fr Peter Oesterby-Joergensen, Amanda Oldman, Daniel Oliver

18th – Fr Barry Orford, Nicholas Page, Malcolm Parr, David Parrott, Bhaven Patel, Alma Pearson, Gladys Pearson, Pat Philips, Dr Colin Podmore

19th – Cecilia and Nicholas Powell, Susan Prain, Huw Pryce, Vasileios Psomas, Michael Readman, Carlos Rendon, Hekki Repo, Fr Steve Rice, Fr Peter Roberts

20th – 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

Kay Benefield, Jean Castledine, Gérard Choley, David Craig, Valerie Mary Foss, Asuncion Gines, Suzanne Goodstein, Fr Harry Hodgetts, Danny Mather, Rebecca Morrison, Daniel Oliver, Ingrid Slaughter, Nanello, Shirley Thompson, Juliet Windham

Recently departed

Judith Craemer, Robert Flanagan, Agatha Hunt, Martin Wright

Anniversaries of death

Mass times this week

Monday 15th June – Feria
12 pm Low Mass
6.30 pm Low Mass

Tuesday 16th June – Feria
12 pm Low Mass
6.30 pm Low Mass

Wednesday 17th June – Feria
12 pm Low Mass
6.30 pm Low Mass

Thursday 18th June – Feria
12 pm Low Mass
6.30 pm Low Mass

Friday 19th June – Feria
12 pm Low Mass
6.30 pm Low Mass

Saturday 20th June – Feria
12 pm Monthly Requiem
6.30 pm Vigil Mass of Sunday

Sunday 21st June – TRINITY III
8.30 am Low Mass
11 am High Mass
5.15 pm Low Mass
6.00 pm Solemn Evensong and Benediction