All Saints Margaret Street.

Dear all,

It might not quite be ‘Flaming June’, but how welcome the return of the suggestion, at least, of good weather has been as we approach the middle of the year! These few weeks are always a heady time of year socially – and not least this year, with added political and sporting excitement (if that’s the word).

The run up to the Solemnity of the Baptist’s birthday (this Monday) always takes me back to a hot midsummer’s day a few years ago when I was walking in Burgundy. After an overambitious stretch between Vermenton and Vezelay I more or less collapsed in the basilica’s narthex. But it was worth the effort of that final climb to be there on the very day that the clerestory windows pour their pools of light in precise progress down the centre of the nave (probably the most beautiful nave in the world). On the feast of his nativity, St John’s (badly damaged) statue on the trumeau of the west portal is joined, by sunlight and Medieval ingenuity, with the high altar at the east end; the wild harbinger of the kingdom who went ‘before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways’ ever leading the way to Christ.

Mindful of our own call to ‘prepare a way for the Lord’ – in our own hearts, and as examples in the world – my attention also turns again at this time of year to planning our programme of teaching. Over the summer, we will be in touch with a new series of opportunities to grow in knowledge and love of the Lord – a fresh course of Autumn ‘Mystagogy’; a series of trips, and a new line up of Zoom Theology sessions.

More immediately, I’ve sensed a small gap in what we offer to our regular congregation in terms of Bible study, and envisage a series of in-person sessions over the summer focusing on St Mark’s Gospel. On Wednesday evenings in August anyone interested will be welcome gather after the 6.30pm Mass to read and discuss this text, with a view to further such opportunities to grow in our engagement with Scripture in the future, depending on how we feel things work. Mass will be preceded on these Wednesdays by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from 6pm, and I will provide a very simple supper. We will finish no later than 8.30pm. Please be in touch with me with any questions, and if you would like to take part. All are very welcome.

with my love and prayers,

Fr Alan

In the sermon at last Sunday’s High Mass, Fr Alan explored the imagery offered to us in the readings appointed for the liturgy of trees, seeds, shrubs, forests, gardens and plants as signs of the Kingdom. These images each tell us something subtly different about the Kingdom of God and how we can discover, embrace and explore it as we grow in the love of God. You can watch the sermon here.

Walking Trip to Lancing College

Fr Alan will be leading a walking trip to Sussex on Saturday, August 17th. We’ll get the train to Shoreham (likely the 10.16 from Victoria), and take in that town’s very fine churches, before making our way to Lancing College, where we’ve kindly been offered a tour of the chapel.

We’ll then move on towards Steyning, dropping by to see the wall-paintings at Coombes and the church at Botolphs. We’ll get the bus back into Shoreham, with the opportunity for an early supper at a local hostelry. Bring a packed lunch for the route!  Everyone is welcome, just let Fr Alan know if you’re interested.

Assumption 2024

Don’t forget to put the date of our Assumptiontide procession in your diary. This year it will take place on the evening of Sunday 11th August with Evensong, Procession of Our Lady down Oxford Street and Benediction at 6.00 pm. Our preacher will be Fr Andrew Walker, Vicar of St Mary’s Bourne Street. The liturgy will be followed by a parish party in our courtyard.

There will also be a High Mass on the feast day itself, Thursday 15th August, at 6.30 pm. The celebrant and preacher will be Fr Alan Rimmer.

Evensong, Assumptiontide Procession of Our Lady down Oxford Street, and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament – Sunday 11th August at 6.00 pm.

Young Adults Dinner – Friday 5th July

We will be hosting a supper, weather-permitting in the courtyard, for our young adults group on Friday, July 5th, after the 6.30pm Mass. Please be in touch with Fr Alan if you’re able to come, and bring a bottle.

“Hereticatious”

Have you seen the series of videos recently made by the Youtube channel “Hereticatious” about All Saints’, Margaret Street? Despite the slightly curious name, the channel produces fascinating videos about London churches, art and architecture. The two videos about All Saints’ are really excellent and we urge you to have a look. You can find them here and here.

American Friends of All Saints’

The launch of the American Friends of All Saints’, Margaret Street, will take place at a reception at 6.00 pm on Friday 20th September at the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Times Square, New York.

Fr Peter will be present with a small group of All Saints’ parishioners from London to speak about the life, work, and ministry of All Saints’. The newly inaugurated American Friends of All Saints’ will aim to connect us better with our North American friends and supporters, deepen friendship and fellowship across the Atlantic, and make financial support of All Saints’ easier and more tax efficient for American tax payers.

Fr Peter will also have the honour of preaching at the 11.00 am Solemn Mass on Sunday 22nd September at St Mary the Virgin.

We are hugely grateful for the generosity of Fr Sammy Wood and the people of St Mary the Virgin for allowing us to use St Joseph’s Hall for this event. If you live near the New York area and would like to attend, please sign up (tickets are free) on eventbrite here.

Parish Mission – St Timothy’s, Winston-Salem

In the week before the New York launch of the American Friends, Fr Peter will also be visiting St Timothy’s, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, (the home of Fr Steve Rice) to preach and offer some parish teaching as part of a weekend mission. He will offer two teaching evenings on Sunday 15th September and on Monday 16th September.

You are most welcome to join the St Timothy’s mission weekend if you live near Winston-Salem and can signal your intention here on eventbrite.

There will also be opportunities during Fr Peter’s time in Winston-Salem for people to learn more about the life of All Saints’, Margaret Street, and our new American Friends scheme. Do be in touch if you live near Winston-Salem and would like to know more.

Attendance last Sunday

Prayer List

The Friends of All Saints’ Margaret Street:

June 23rd – Alan Kimbrough, Brenda Koupis, The Very Rev’d Harry Krauss, Deirdre Laing, Graham Last, Christopher Laws
24th – Cornelius Logue, Frau Dr Christiane Loidl-Rainey, Nigel Lynn, Henry Macey, Bishop Michael Marshall, Robert Mason, Graham Mather
25th – Judith Mather, The Ven Fr Stephen McClatchie, The Rev’d Peter McGeary, Nigel McNeill, John McWhinney, Colin Menzies, Anne Merritt
26th – Thomas Moller, Barry Moore, Deacon Christopher Morash, Grace Morgan, Dr John Morrell, Fr. Stephen Morris, Inger Mosbery, Lachlan Moyle, Carol Mundell
27th – Christopher Naylor, Brian Newman, Elaine Norman, Graham Norman, Richard North, Fr. Paul Ockford
28th – Fr. Peter and Anna Oesterby-Joergensen, Fr. Barry Orford, Samantha Parker, Malcolm Parr, Bhaven Patel, Alma Pearson
29th – Pat Philips, Colin Podmore, Nick and Cecilia Powell, Vasileios Psomas, Simon Pusey, Simon Rainey, Gordon Reid, Heikki Repo

The sick:

Martin Berka, David Craig, Tony Hawkins, Fr Harry Hodgetts, Katherine Lee, Lesley Lee, Elizabeth Lyon, James Rodger, Bruce Ross-Smith, Graham Snow

The faithful departed:

Bill Dennis, Isaac Hall, Mossman Roueché, Sr Julie SLG

Those whose anniversaries of death fall at this time:

June 23rd – Alfred Webb Pr, Henry Ewer, Arthur Golightly Pr, Andrew O’Connor Dn
24th – John Allcock, Jean-Paul Myers, Friedemann Golka
25th – Tony Mason, Tedd McWhinney
26th – Dorothy Jordan, Leslie Moses, Margaret Jervis, Sandra Allan, Hugo Gralka
27th – John Slater Pr, Barbara Thrift
29th – Edith Taylor, Freida Bailey, Edward Roberts Bp, John Hughes Pr, Peggy Leeman
30th – Harry Lye, William Roberts, Andrew Barker, Gladys Dare

Wednesday 26th June – Feria
12.00 noon Mass
6.30 pm Mass

Thursday 27th June – S. Cyril of Alexandria, B, Dr
12.00 noon Mass
6.30 pm Mass

Friday 28th June – S. Irenaeus, B and M
12.00 noon Mass
6.30 pm Mass

Saturday 29th June – Feria
12.00 noon Mass
6.00 pm Confessions
6.30 pm Vigil Mass