Dear friends,

The first Zoom Theology seminar of the autumn takes place next week on Tuesday 27th Oct at 7.30 pm and will focus on the phenomenon which has been described at “The Quiet Revival.”

This idea is a perception that young adults in their 20s and 30s are much more open to questions of faith and spirituality that their parents’ generation, and have also been returning to practice of their faith or discovering it for the first time. This has often been in the context of relatively traditional expressions of the church’s liturgical and parochial life rather than as part of trendy projects or charismatic worship.

Some of the statistical trends which form part of these assertions are much debated and have been the focus of critical scrutiny. Nonetheless, I would say that we have seen patterns of growth here at All Saints’ that make the notion of a Quiet Revival amongst Gen Z Christians a credible idea worth thinking about and pondering more.

The online seminar next Tuesday will be given by Esmé Partridge. She is a Senior Researcher at the think tank Civitas, and Fellow of Civic Future. Her work focuses on young adults, faith and the contemporary Church of England. She particularly explores the experiences, relationships and questions along the journeys by which young adults are coming to faith.

She will introduce us to some of the basic ideas and statistics which prompt people to think there might be a renewed interest in Christianity amongst younger people. But taking this further, she will ask what this renewal of interest actually looks like. Why do some young adults turn towards faith, and what expressions of the Church of England are attracting them most?

In this session, she will introduce the findings of her recent report for the think-tank Theos, “Understanding Young Adult Journeys to Faith in the Church of England,” and invite us to consider what they might mean for the future of the Church, and the experience of our parish.

Participants are encouraged to read the document before the session. You can download it here, and the Zoom link to join the online seminar is here.

I look forward to exploring this important trend in the life of the church and also pondering how some of these ideas might affect our ministry to young adults at All Saints’.

Fr Peter

 

 

Eve of All Saints’

Please note a few minor changes to the timings of our services next Saturday (31st October) as we celebrate All Saints’ Day. In particular, our Saturday Vigil Mass will take place at 5.15 pm as it will be followed at 6.30 pm by First Evensong and Benediction of All Saints’ Day. Confessions will be heard at 4.30 pm.

 

 

Parish Walk tomorrow CANCELLED

Please note that tomorrow’s proposed parish walk to Paddock Wood and Tonbridge is cancelled due to bad weather. The forecast looks pretty terrible with heavy rain as a result of storms sweeping across the UK over the next 48 hours.

 

Bishop Emma meets parishioners in our courtyard after the High Mass last Sunday.

 

All Saintstide Festival Appeal

Our Festival Appeal this year will form part of our attempts to raise money for our Choir and Music Trust Fund. Please give generously as we seek to close the gap between the amount we have raised and our goal of £1 million by the end of the month.

The total raised over the past year has increased from £967,439.00 to £980,289.00 as a result of a number of significant donations received over the past week. We are hugely to those who have given for their generosity.

You can make a donation here.

 

 

Harry Bramma memorial Evensong

This Sunday’s Evensong and Benediction at 6.00 pm will be offered in memory of our former Director of Music, Harry Bramma. There will be a drinks reception after the liturgy at which James Sherwood and Fr Alan Moses will offer a some brief reflections on Harry’s life and lead us in a tribute to Harry and all he did for our parish.

 

 

Remembrance Sunday

The High Mass on Sunday 8th November will be a Solemn Requiem offered for the repose of the souls of the War Dead, and will include an Act of Remembrance.

Please note, therefore, that the liturgy will begin five minutes earlier than usual, at 10.55 am so we are gathered in time for the Two Minutes’ Silence at 11.00 am.

Please make an effort to arrive at church earlier than usual so that the silence and Act of Remembrance is not disturbed by people arriving late.

 

 

Homeless Shelter Volunteering

Each winter, we seek to show the love of God for our neighbour by staffing the nearby over-night homeless shelter at the American Church on Tottenham Church Road.

We now have the dates of the shelters which All Saints’ will be running:

11th – 12th November 2026
16th – 17th December 2026
13th – 14th January 2027
17th – 18th February 2027
10th – 11th March 2027

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 to run breakfast.

There are lots of different ways of taking part, and you don’t need any particular experience: making beds; preparing food; offering welcome; and helping to create a safe and hospitable space. If you would like to volunteer, please be in touch with Fr Alan (assistantpriest@asms.uk).

 

 

Attendance last Sunday

 

 

For your prayers

The Friends of All Saints Margaret Street

26th – Mark Allan, Martin Amherst Lock, Elizabeth and Robert Austen, Richard Ayling, James Babington Smith, Stephen Barber, Nigel Beanland, Jonathan Beck, Terrence Buckley

27th – Dr William Benefield, Charlotte Black, Fr John Blackburn, David Blunden, William Bonnell, Fr Michael Bowie, John Bristow, Paul Brough

28th – Michael Brown, Dr Graham Burns, Derek Bussey, Katherine Butler, Adrian Carlton-Oatley, Zulette Catir, Kate Charles, Stuart Chillingworth

29th – Sir Robert Chote, Sandy Christian, Roger Clark, Catharine Clarke, Camilla Collins, Graham Colville, Karolyn Cooper, William Cooper Bailey

30th – Peter Coulson, Steven Cox, Dr Yvonne Craig, Julie Cridland, Dr Ryan Nicholas Danker, Kirill Dashkovskiy, Christopher Davies, Keith Day

31st – Peter Dennis, Laura Denton, Dr Michael Duggan, Pamela Edwards, Linda Edwards, Jane Elliston, Dr Terrence Ellsworth, Richard Everton and Fr Philip Bevan

 

Anniversaries of death

25th – Reginald Thompson

26th – Gwendoline Freeman, Joseph Harding

28th – Dorothy Gartside, William Lloyd Webber, Phyllis Richards, John Gaskell Pr, David Trendell

29th – Sister Dorothy Hilda

30th – Tharu Tharakan, John Todd

31st – Marian Ross, Frank Leeman, Dilys Thomas

 

Services this week

Saturday 24th October – Feria

12 pm Low Mass

6.30 pm Vigil Mass of Sunday

 

Sunday 25th October – TRINITY LAST

8.30 am Low Mass

11 am High Mass

5.15 pm Low Mass

6.00 pm Solemn Evensong and Benediction

 

Monday 26th October – Feria

12 pm Low Mass

6.30 pm Low Mass

 

Tuesday 27th October – Feria

12 pm Low Mass

6.30 pm Low Mass

 

Wednesday 28th October – Feria

12 pm Low Mass

6.30 pm Low Mass

 

Thursday 29th October – Feria

12 pm Low Mass

6.30 pm Low Mass

 

Friday 30th October – Feria

12 pm Low Mass

6.30 pm Low Mass

 

Saturday 31st October – EVE OF ALL SAINTS’

12 pm Low Mass

4.30 pm Confessions
5.15 Vigil Mass of All Saints’ Day

6.30 pm First Evensong and Benediction of All Saints’ Day

 

Sunday 1st November – ALL SAINTS’ DAY

8.30 am Low Mass

11 am High Mass

5.15 pm Low Mass

6.00 pm Solemn Evensong and Benediction with Te Deum