Study Days and Lectures
All Saints’ provides a range of in person study days, lectures, quiet days, outings and retreats throughout the year as a way of helping people to grow in their knowledge of the Christian faith, and to make time and space for reflection on the Gospel.
We frequently invite a range of interesting speakers to explore with us a particular area of their expertise or knowledge. Sometimes we visit places of cultural interest and museums. We hope that by experiencing the ideas and perspectives of others we are enabled to grow in our own understanding of the horizons of God’s love for us and in our own relationship with him. Details can be found below of forthcoming events.
A parish outing to the Royal Academy:
Spain and the Hispanic World – Sunday 19th March 2023
There will be a mid-Lent parish trip to the Royal Academy to see their latest exhibition focussed on the treasures of Spanish art from the Hispanic Society of America in New York.
The visit will take place as a mid-Lent Laetare treat on Sunday 19th March at 3.00 pm. The idea is that there should be time enough for parishioners to grab a quick bite to eat for lunch, and then make their way to the Royal Academy from Margaret Street after the High Mass, but with enough time to return for Evensong for those who wish to be back for that.
The exhibition costs £20. Please be in touch with our parish office to book a place.
The Royal Academy exhibition contains the treasures of the Hispanic Society of America’s Museum on loan to the Royal Academy and includes a host of religious images, statues, vestments, and devotional objects. Seeing this remarkable collection, and exploring the creativity of Christian art in so many different Spanish-speaking contexts will be a fascinating and rewarding experience.
Lent Lecture 2023: Fruits of the Spirit
The Revd Dr Ayla Lepine – Thurs 23rd March 2023.
A new virtual exhibition devised by the National Gallery and curated by the Revd Dr Ayla Lepine called, “Fruits of the Spirit: Art From the Heart” will form the focus of our Lent Lecture on Thursday 23rd March 2023 at 7.30 pm. This will be an in person event, but will also be live-streamed for those unable to join us.
The exhibition pairs nine pictures from the National Gallery’s collection with nine from partner institutions. The exhibition is inspired by Saint Paul’s description of the effects and fruits of the Spirit described in his Letter to the Galatians: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
We are very pleased that the exhibition’s curator, the Revd Dr Ayla Lepine, who also works as the Associate Rector at St James’, Piccadilly, has agreed to give our Lent Lecture in March on the topic of this interesting exhibit. Ayla will explore the themes the artwork bring up, and the theological questions they prompt, and the difference that online interaction with works of art makes.
Participating organisations come from a range of new and established partnerships from locations and venues as varied as Canterbury Cathedral, The McManus Art Gallery and Museum in Dundee and The Box in Plymouth. You can read more about the exhibition in the Gallery’s press release here.
You “visit” the exhibition by clicking on the link here to enter a virtual gallery in the comfort of your own home wherever you are in the world.
Here is the extraordinary virtual gallery you enter and “walk” around in order to view the Fruits of the Spirit exhibition from wherever you are in the world. Each room explores a different Fruit through two juxtaposed images.
Parish outing to the National Gallery:
St Francis of Assisi – Friday 26th May 2023
On Friday 26th May 2023 at 5.30 pm, there will be a parish visit to the National Gallery to see their forthcoming exhibition on the figure of St Francis.
We are thrilled that the Director of the Gallery himself, Dr Gabriele Finaldi, has agreed to speak to our parish group about the exhibition, which he has personally curated.
As usual, the visit will be followed by dinner at Le Beaujolais restaurant for those who wish to stay on for supper.
The exhibition will bring together some the earliest devotional images of St Francis with manuscripts, relics, and modern depiction of him. Extensive loans of pictures from major collections will allow us to see a wealth of art, telling the story of the way in which St Francis has been depicted, his life received, and his reputation developed and moulded throughout the ages. You can read more on the Gallery’s website here.
The exhibition is absolutely free, and we will meet at the Gallery at 6.00 pm. Please be in touch with the parish office to book a place. The cost of dinner at Le Beaujolais will be £50. The total number we can take is capped at 20, so book early!
Director of the National Gallery, Dr Gabriele Finaldi, who has kindly agreed to address our parish group on the topic of the exhibition which he has personally curated.