Weekly Email – Trinity 7
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Dear friends,
I am pleased to announce a fascinating parish outing to the Fitzrovia Chapel which will take place in the evening of Tuesday 10th September 2024.
You may never have heard about this intriguing architectural jewel that lies hidden at the heart of our local community just north of Oxford Street. The building itself used to be chapel of the Middlesex Hospital and is a two minute walk from All Saints’.
[The stunning jewel-box interior of the Fitzrovia chapel.]
It was designed by that great master of the Gothic revival, John Pearson (who also constructed St Augustine’s, Kilburn), and contains remarkable examples of 19th century mosaic work highly inspired by the treasures of Ravenna. The interior of the tiny chapel is a glittering jewel box of extraordinary beauty.
[The golden ceiling of the Fitzrovia Chapel.]
The mosaic work was undertaken by Maurice Josey, who also contributed to the finishing of the mosaics of St Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Cathedral. Of particular note is the baptistry of the chapel, which is strongly inspired by the church of Sant’Apollinare in Classe, Ravenna.
The history of the chapel is an inspiringly heartening story of the value of historic preservation and the re-use of our architectural heritage. The site where the old hospital was found was bulldozed about fifteen years ago to make room for a new housing and offices development. The chapel, however, was preserved and the new flats built around it with enormous care.
[The extraordinary sight of the Fitzrovia Chapel carefully preserved from destruction 15 years ago as the Middlesex Hospital was demolished around it.]
Although the chapel is now a secular exhibition and wedding space, it is open to visitors, and nobody with love of Anglo-Catholic architecture or of the Gothic Revival could fail to be moved and fascinated by it.
We are so pleased that Dr James Thompson will be leading out visit. He remembers the chapel from its time as a hospital chapel and is an expert on its history.
[The Fitzrovia Chapel, preserved from destruction, now surrounded by flats and modern buildings at the heart of Pearson Square, names after the Chapel’s architect.]
The planned evening visit will begin after the evening Mass here at All Saints’ on Tuesday 10th September. There will be a brief talk given by me at All Saints’ with an aperitif at 7.00 pm to explain some of the mosaics and their relationship to the work we find in Ravenna. We will then make our way to the chapel for a guided tour given by Dr Thompson at 7.45 pm. The evening will finish with dinner together at Sergio’s Italian restaurant on Great Titchfield Street (main course and pudding plus wine). The cost of the evening – including dinner – is £35. You can sign up for this event through the following Eventbrite link here.
I have no doubt that it will be a fascinating evening of historical discovery, theological reflection, and architectural delight!
Fr Peter
Synod selfie!!! The All Saints’ Margaret Street delegation return home from Deanery Synod last night. We were able to meet the new Archdeacon of Charing Cross, the Ven Katherine Hedderly, who will be preaching for us on All Saints’ Sunday. Thank you to Sam and Keir for all they do as our parish’s elected lay representatives on the Deanery Synod!
Confessions: Fr Philip Barnes
Fr Philip Barnes will be available to hear confessions at 11.00 am on Wednesday 17th July. This forms part of a scheme in which a visiting confessor will be present at All Saints’ once a month through the rest of the summer.
A member of our parish clergy team is always available to hear confessions before or after every weekday Mass, and on Saturdays at 6.00 pm.
Every Sunday morning, our sacristy is a hive of holy activity. We are so grateful to our wonderful serving team for their hard work and for all they contribute to the liturgical life of our parish!
Prints of All Saints’ available.
Photographer Peter Li has recently taken some breathtaking shots of the interior of All Saints’, Margaret Street. They are fascinating images and give a completely new sense of the space in our church building.
You can purchase copies of his images as high quality, high resolution prints at the cost of £70. Peter has kindly agreed that 20% of all he raises selling prints of our building will be donated to All Saints’. You can order his prints and see his other work here.
The three beautiful images of All Saints’ Church, which can be ordered from Peter Li’s website.
August Bible Study
A weekly Bible Study, led by Fr Alan, will be on offer throughout August. Our plan is to work through the Gospel of St Mark.
Every Wednesday in August there will be exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from 6.00 pm, Mass at 6.30 pm, followed by a period of Bible Study with a simple supper provided. The evening will end no later than 8.30 pm. Please let Fr Alan know if you want to attend.
Everyone at All Saints’ was very excited that our parish received last Sunday a beautiful gift from Genevieve Gomi – the first printed version of Dr Pusey’s corporal to be made by Maris Stella Vestments. It’s fashioned in a wonderfully fine linen, and will make a splendid addition to our sacristy. We will use it next Sunday!
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.
You can watch last Sunday’s High Mass for Trinity 6 here. Fr Julian preached and explored the question of how we learn to love God. Sunday’s Gospel contains a large part of the answer – travelling through life light, as Jesus instructs his disciples, in order to rely more fully on God is one of the first steps in that process.
Attendance last Sunday
Flowers
The flowers are given in loving memory of David Robin, by Antonietta.
If you would like to make a donation for flowers or the courtyard garden, please contact Shawn via the office.
Last Friday’s young adults’ supper should have been a sun-kissed summer evening in our courtyard had the rain not been pelting down – so we repaired to the parish room to keep dry! A lovely time was had by all in the end. Many thanks to Chef de Cuisine Fr Alan Rimmer!
Prayer List
The Friends of All Saints’ Margaret Street:
July 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, Suzanna Eaton
16th – Linda Edwards, Pamela Edwards, Terrence Ellsworth, Sue Enoch, Carolyn Farrar
17th – Sue Feakin, Adrian Felaar, Daniel Fielden, Janice Fielden, Julia Fielden, Nigel Fisher, Mark Fleming
18th – Stuart Fletcher, Christopher Forman, Antony Fox, Dr Ralph Donald Fram, Dr Jason Frost, Charlotte Gauthier, Dr Rebecca Gibbs, Margaret Goddard, Paul Golding, John Goldsmith
19th – Genevieve Gomi, The Ven Thomas M. Greene, Jack de Gruiter, Canon Michael Gudgeon, Sheelagh Gudgeon, Ginger and Del Hall, Monica Joan Hall
20th – Roger Hancock, Canon Richard Hanford, Paul Hannah, Jillian Hargreaves, Christopher Harrison, Patrick Hartley, The Rev’d Canon Jeremy Haselock
The sick:
Martin Berka, David Craig, Tony Hawkins, Fr Harry Hodgetts, Katherine Lee, Lesley Lee, Elizabeth Lyon, James Rodger, Bruce Ross-Smith, Graham Snow, T. Bradford Willis
The faithful departed:
Trudy Cormack, Bill Dennis, Isaac Hall, Donald Theodore McWhinney, Mossman Roueché, Sr Julie SLG, Michael Sullivan, Terry West
Those whose anniversaries of death fall at this time:
July 14th – Sheila Duggan, James Wheen
15th – Richard Young, Gladys Gibbs, George Smith, Kathleen Rodger
17th – Doris Thrift, Kathleen Wait, Bill Scott Pr
18th – William Hewelson, Isabel Bruxner, Kathleen Gardner
19th – Mark Williams, Muriel Latter
20th – Lucy Heales
Service times this week
Saturday 13th July – of BVM
11.30 Rosary
12.00 noon Mass
6.00 pm Confessions
6.30 pm Vigil Mass
Sunday 14th July – TRINITY VII
11.00 am High Mass
5.15 pm Low Mass
6.00 pm Evensong and Benediction
Monday 15th July – St Bonaventure, B and Dr
12.00 noon Mass
6.30 pm Mass
Tuesday 16th July – Feria
12.00 noon Mass
6.30 pm Mass
Wednesday 17th July – Feria
12.00 noon Mass
6.30 pm Mass
Thursday 18th July – Feria
12.00 noon Mass
6.30 pm Mass
Friday 19th July – Feria
12.00 noon Mass
6.30 pm Mass
Saturday 20th July – of Requiem
12.00 noon Mass
6.00 pm Confessions
6.30 pm Vigil Mass
Sunday 21st July – TRINITY VIII
11.00 am High Mass
5.15 pm Low Mass
6.00 pm Evensong and Benediction