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, as well as fellowship one with another.
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.
This autumn, we are offering four in person formation events through October and November. Each evening of study will begin at after the 6.30 pm Mass with a light meal followed by a time of teaching and discussion
Wednesday, 16th October, 7pm
Pearl, with Dr Charlotte Gauthier
Pearl is one of the most important literary survivals of the 14th century: a beautiful meditation on love, loss, death, and grief that still possesses the power to move the modern reader. Together we’ll explore some of the major theological themes and images of Pearl – including grace, sanctification, and the Eucharist – which the anonymous author has drawn largely from the Gospel of Matthew. Dr Charlotte Gauthier is an historian of church and state in late medieval/early modern England. She is also Assistant Director of Discipleship – overseeing lay training – for the Diocese of Southwark.
Wednesday, 30th October, 7pm
Epistle of James, with The Rev’d Dr Andrew Adam
Fr AKMA is a tutor in New Testament and Greek at the University of Oxford, who also ministers at St Helen’s Parish Church in Abingdon. He will lead us in an introduction to the Epistle of James, a particular area of interest in his studies and writing.
Tuesday, 12th November, 7pm
Aspects of Anglican Liturgy – The Prayer Book Controversy of 1928, with The Rev’d Canon Jeremy Haselock
Fr Jeremy will introduce us to aspects of the debate over revisions to the Book of Common Prayer in the 1920s. What can this controversy tell us about Anglicans’ relationship to liturgical texts, the importance of the liturgy for Anglican spirituality, the relationship between Church and State, and the shifts of opinion and outlook brought about by the Oxford Movement in the life of the Church of England? Texts will be available from Fr Alan.
Wednesday, 20th November, 7pm
The Power and the Glory, Graham Greene
Sin and salvation in Greene’s most celebrated work. The evening will be led by Fr Alan, but will take the form of a Book Club, so it will be absolutely necessary to have read the novel.