Dear brothers and sisters,

It has been one of the joys of ministry amongst you over the past few years to see our faith at work in our annual contribution to a local cold weather shelter – and I am glad to put before you today a new set of opportunities to help.

Under the auspices of the Camden charity C4WS, the shelter runs from the American International Church on Tottenham Court Road from November to March. Not only does it represent a real act of service to some of our city’s most vulnerable inhabitants, but it has begun to widen our awareness as a parish more broadly of the needs of our community – and begun a process which I hope over time will deepen our engagement with those needs.

There are also the real bonds we have built with our brothers and sisters at the American Church, and the friendships that have grown between volunteers from All Saints’ as we have served alongside each other.

This coming winter we will be covering the shelter as an All Saints’ team on five occasions, involving evening (6-9pm), overnight (9pm-7am) and morning (7am-9am) shifts over a Wednesday and Thursday.

11th – 12th November

16th – 17th December

13th  – 14th January

17th – 18th February

10th – 11th March

For each evening, we need a team lead to oversee the smooth running of the evening, a kitchen lead to cook, five other helpers, and a male and female overnighter. The following morning, we need a team lead and three further volunteers.

There are lots of different ways of taking part, and you don’t need any particular experience. Making beds, preparing food, and just being present, offering welcome, and helping to create a safe and hospitable space. There is a short training video it is necessary to complete, available once you have signed up.

Our group has been praised for its food in past years, and so it would be good to have some offers from the chefs amongst you. We like to sponsor our contributions too, so if you are not able to be present in person, but can help us pay for the food we make, that is also a valuable contribution.

If you would like to volunteer for one of the shifts, or have further questions, please be in touch with me.

It seems an especially appropriate endeavour to commend to you as we prepare to keep the Exaltation of the Holy Cross this Sunday. On one level this feast is a rallying call to Christ’s banner; an invitation to us to exalt the Cross, and to reaffirm our identity as a people saved and empowered by this ‘Tree of beauty, Tree of light’.

On another, more basic level, it is a celebration of what God has already exalted: the lowly; the hungry. By his yet counter-intuitive work of salvation that made of an instrument of torture the means by which God called all people to himself, he has freed and equipped us to pursue our true end.

Our attention is turned to the love of God made known in Christ: a love which gives itself – empties itself – for the life of the world. His Cross is not merely a badge we honour or contemplate from a distance, but something which draws us into a different way of living, as we learn to give of ourselves on the pattern of him who suffered, died, rose again and was exalted – all so that we might truly live. I look forward to seeing many of you on Sunday.

With love,

Fr Alan

 

RIP Harry Bramma

Harry Bramma’s Funeral Mass will take place at Southwark Cathedral on Thursday 8th October at 2.00 pm, and will be followed by a reception.

A special Evensong will take place at All Saints’ in Harry’s memory on Sunday 25th October 2027 at 6.00 pm. The service will include music by Harry and will be followed by a drinks reception in his honour.

In addition, a Low Mass of Requiem will be celebrated for Harry at All Saints’ on Thursday 17th September at 6.30 pm.

 

Gala Fundraising Dinner

A gala dinner will take place at the Savile Club on Thursday 29th October 2026 to raise funds for our Choir and Music Trust. This will be the last great fundraising event of our Music appeal. Tickets are £100 each. Dress is black tie or equivalent for ladies. Book your place here.

 

 

The Lloyd Webber Connection

On a Sunday 4th October, we will be celebrating the music of our former Director of Music William Lloyd Webber by having music by him at all the sung liturgies of the day.

We are exceptionally honoured that his son, Andrew Lloyd Webber has agreed to come and make a short address at a drinks reception in church after Evensong to be held in honour of his father.

 

 

Flowers

The flowers in front of Our Lady are given by Antonietta, in loving memory of David Robin, on the fourth anniversary of his death.

If you would like to make a donation for flowers or the courtyard garden, please contact Shawn directly or via the office.

 

Visiting Confessors

A series of visiting confessors will be available to hear confessions over the coming months at the following times:

Thursday 17th September 5.00 pm – Bishop Lindsay Urwin
Thursday 15th October 5.00 pm – Bishop Lindsay Urwin
Tuesday 24th November 11.00 am – Fr Barry Orford
Saturday 5th December 5.00 pm – Bishop Peter Wheatley
Friday 18th December 5.00 pm – Bishop Peter Wheatley
Saturday 19th December 5.00 pm – Bishop Lindsay Urwin
Tuesday 22nd December 5.00 pm – Bishop Lindsay Urwin
Wednesday 23rd December 5.00 pm – Fr Barry Orford

In addition to these times, the parish clergy hear confessions each Saturday at 6.00 pm and are very happy to hear confessions at other times by appointment.

 

Feast of Our Lady of Walsingham

On Thursday 24th September, there will be a Low Mass with hymns to celebrate the feast day of Our Lady of Walsingham. This will be followed by refreshments in Fr Alan’s house.

 

Parish Walk

Our next parish walk will take place on Saturday 24th October 2026. It will be around 8 miles long, mostly flat, between Paddock Wood and Tonbridge, taking in the Marc Chagall windows at All Saints’, Tudeley. Meet at Charing Cross Station for the 10.04 Dover Priory train to Paddock Wood. Be in touch with Fr Alan for further details.

 

Music sponsorship

The music at High Mass this Sunday is sponsored by Simon Rainey KC in memory of his friend Lucy Georghiou Cummings, who died on 20th August.

May she rest in peace, and may God comfort her young family.

 

Attendance last week

 

For your prayers

The Friends of All Saints’ Margaret Street

14th – Fr Michael Maine, Fr David Mason, Robert Mason, Graham Mather, Thomas McBryer, Fr Stephen McClatchie, John McWhinney, Peter Medine, Colin Menzies OBE

15th – Stephen Miller, Clark Mitchell, Thomas Moller, Barry Moore, Grace Morgan, Dr John Morrell, Fr Stephen Morris, Michael Mortensen, Inger Mosbery

16th – Carol Mundell, Brian Newman, Sasha Nixon, Elaine Norman, Fr Paul Ockford, Anna and Fr Peter Oesterby-Joergensen, Amanda Oldman

17th – Fr Barry Orford, Nicholas Page, Malcolm Parr, David Parrott, Bhaven Patel, Alma Pearson, Gladys Pearson, Pat Philips, Dr Colin Podmore

18th – Cecilia and Nicholas Powell, Susan Prain, Huw Pryce, Vasileios Psomas, Michael Readman, Carlos Rendon, Hekki Repo, Fr Steve Rice, Fr Peter Roberts

19th – 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

Fr George Bush, Jean Castledine, David Craig, Fr Luke Demetri, Winifred Haws, Danny Mather, Ingrid Slaughter, Fr Howard Such, Juliet Windham, Martin Woods

The recently departed

Sister Catherine SLG, Harry Hodgetts Pr, Harry Bramma

Anniversaries of death

Services this week

Tuesday 15th September – Our Lady of Sorrows
12 pm Low Mass
6.30 pm Low Mass

Wednesday 16th September – Ss. Cornelius and Cyprian
12 pm Low Mass
6.30 pm Low Mass

Thursday 17th September – Feria
12 pm Low Mass
6.30 pm Low Mass

Friday 18th September – Feria
12 pm Low Mass
6.30 pm Low Mass

Saturday 19th September – Feria
12 pm Low Mass
6.30 pm Vigil Mass of Sunday

Sunday 20th September – TRINITY XVI
8.30 am Low Mass
11 am High Mass
5.15 pm Low Mass
6.00 pm Solemn Evensong and Benediction

 

Dear friends,

I am pleased to announce this year’s plans for the programme of catechesis classes which lead up to our confirmation next summer.

Bishop Jonathan will be visiting All Saints’ next year for the feast of Pentecost, Sunday 16th May 2027, to administer the sacraments of baptism and confirmation.

If you have been baptized and want to be confirmed, or if you have never been baptized or confirmed and would like to be, please be in touch with Fr Alan (assistantpriest@asms.uk).

If you have already been baptized and confirmed but have returned to practicing your Christian faith, or would like to be formally received into the Church of England from another church, you can also join our catechesis group and publicly profess your faith in the presence of our bishop on the day of the confirmation. Again, please be in touch with Fr Alan if you would like to explore this option.

A programme of teaching and formation will take place to prepare candidates to receive these sacraments. The confirmation classes will be in person and take place in two blocks of teaching.

The first block of teaching will involve classes every other Tuesday evening from 6th October onwards (i.e 6th Oct; 20th Oct; 3rd Nov; 17th Nov). There will then be a second block of teaching sessions in the New Year every other Wednesday (with a break for Easter) from Lent onwards (i.e. 17th Feb; 3rd March; 17th March; 21st April; 5th May).

Our programme of preparation involves a thorough introduction to the Christian faith, exploring questions such as how we know God exists and what the purpose of human life is, through to who we believe Jesus Christ to be, how we should read the scriptures, understand the sacraments, and live a Christian life.

Please be in touch with the clergy if you want to discuss in any way how you feel God is drawing you into a closer sacramental relationship with him. The journey of preparation for the sacraments of initiation is a rich and joyful one, and offers the opportunity for people to explore what they believe as well and receiving teaching and formation about the riches of the Christian faith.

I pray God will prompt many to seek him in these sacraments, and that hearts will be moved publicly to profess their faith and trust in Christ.

Fr Peter

 

 

The Lloyd Webber Connection

On a Sunday 4th October, we will be celebrating the music of our former Director of Music William Lloyd Webber by having music by him at all the sung liturgies of the day.

We are exceptionally honoured that his son, Andrew Lloyd Webber has agreed to come and make a short address as part of our music fundraising campaign at a drinks reception in church after Evensong to be held in honour of his father.

 

 

Visiting Confessors

A series of visiting confessors will be available to hear confessions over the coming months at the following times:

Thursday 17th September 5.00 pm – Bishop Lindsay Urwin
Thursday 15th October 5.00 pm – Bishop Lindsay Urwin
Tuesday 24th November 11.00 am – Fr Barry Orford
Saturday 5th December 5.00 pm – Bishop Peter Wheatley
Friday 18th December 5.00 pm – Bishop Peter Wheatley
Saturday 19th December 5.00 pm – Bishop Lindsay Urwin
Tuesday 22nd December 5.00 pm – Bishop Lindsay Urwin
Wednesday 23rd December 5.00 pm – Fr Barry Orford

In addition to these times, the parish clergy hear confessions each Saturday at 6.00 pm and are very happy to hear confessions at other times by appointment.

 

 

Gala Fundraising Dinner

A gala dinner will take place at the Savile Club on Thursday 29th October 2026 to raise funds for our Choir and Music Trust. This will be the last great fundraising event of our Music appeal. Tickets are £100 each. Dress is black tie or equivalent for ladies. Book your place here.

 

 

Gifts in memory of Daniel Oliver

Last week’s parish email mentioned the total gifts given to the All Saints’ Music Appeal in memory of Daniel Oliver. Since writing, a further significant donation of $5000 has been received in his memory through our American account. This brings the total donated as his memorial to $6,677.50.  We are very grateful indeed to all who have contributed so generously.

 

 

RIP Harry Bramma

It was with deep sadness that we heard last week that Harry Bramma, our former Director of Music, died recently at his home.

Harry’s Funeral Mass will take place at Southwark Cathedral on Thursday 8th October at 2.00 pm, and will be followed by a reception.

 

 

Feast of Our Lady of Walsingham

On Thursday 24th September, there will be a Low Mass with hymns to celebrate the feast day of Our Lady of Walsingham. This will be followed by refreshments in Fr Alan’s house.

 

 

Parish Walk

Our next parish walk will take place on Saturday 24th October 2026. It will be around 8 miles long, mostly flat, between Paddock Wood and Tonbridge, taking in the Marc Chagall windows at All Saints’, Tudeley. Meet at Charing Cross Station for the 10.04 Dover Priory train to Paddock Wood. Be in touch with Fr Alan for further details.

 

 

Flowers

The music for High Mass and the flowers before Our Lady this week have been given by Roger Clark in memory of his parents, Jack and Molly who were married in September 1926 and his brother Nicholas who died in July 2026. We are very grateful indeed to Roger for his generosity and assure him of our prayers.

If you would like to make a donation for flowers or the courtyard garden, please contact Shawn directly or via the office.

 

Attendance last Sunday

 

For your prayers

The Friends of All Saints’ Margaret Street

7th – Carolyn Farrar, Dr Martin Faulkner, Sue Feakin, Adrian Feller, Daniel Fielden, Janice Fielden, Julia Fielden, Nigel Fisher, Mark Fleming

8th – Stuart Fletcher, Christopher Forman, Daniel Formston, Derrick French, Jason Frost, Carole and Christopher Gabriel, Revd Canon Graham Holcombe, R. Alan Kimbrough, Amanda Miller

9th – Derek and Cecilia Gatherer, Dr Rebecca Gibbs and Sam Wildy, Margaret Goddard, Paul Golding, John Goldsmith, Genevieve Gomi, Fr Michael Gudgeon, Sheelagh Gudgeon

10th – Monica Joan Hall, Paul Hannah, Jullian Hargreaves’s, Julie Harland, Christopher Harlow-Jennings, Patrick Hartley and Rebecca Hirst, Fr Jeremy Havelock, Sandra Hill, Timothy Hill, Martin Hime

11th – Fr David Hobden, Edwin Holmes, Rosy Holt, Elizabeth Hunter, Fr David Hutt, Andrew Jervis, Powell Johann, Frau Dr Christiane Loidl-Rainey and Simon Rainey KC, Stephen Jury

12th – Stanislav Kudryashov, Christopher Laws, Katherine Lee, Margaret Leggett, Cornelius Logue, Nigel Lynn, Henry Macey, Hilary Rodger

The sick

Jean Castledine, David Craig, Fr Luke Demetri, Winifred Haws, Danny Mather, Ingrid Slaughter, Fr Howard Such, Juliet Windham, Martin Woods, Dorothy Cruse

The recently departed

Sister Catherine SLG, Harry Hodgetts Pr, Harry Bramma

Anniversaries of death

 

Services this week

Tuesday 8th September – Nativity of the BVM
12 pm Low Mass
6.30 pm Low Mass

Wednesday 9th September – Feria
12 pm Low Mass
6.30 pm Low Mass

Thursday 10th September – Feria
12 pm Low Mass
6.30 pm Low Mass

Friday 11th September – Feria
12 pm Low Mass
6.30 pm Low Mass

Saturday 12th September – Feria
12 pm Low Mass
6.30 pm Vigil Mass of Sunday

Sunday 13th September – HOLY CROSS
8.30 am Low Mass
11 am High Mass
5.15 pm Low Mass
6.00 pm Solemn Evensong and Benediction