2019 Summer version 3

St Mary’s Woodford
Parish Magazine

Volume 10 number 2 www.stmaryswoodford.org.uk

Summer 2019

Welcome

When I was a science student, an important part of my life was a Christian
fellowship group that I happened to join in the first week of my first term. We
met weekly and discussed various aspects of our faith, how faith affected our
lives, and how faith might influence us in our future careers. Discussion did not
always end in agreement, but it brought mutual understanding, care and prayer.
Occasionally we would go out for a meal together, or undertake some practical
project. Forty years on, I am still in touch with a few people from that group -
and still remember the issues that united and divided us.

In the late twentieth century churches of all denominations re-discovered the
value of members meeting in small groups to share their Christian lives:
- for learning, including growth in the ability to talk about matters of faith
- for prayer, whether formal or informal
- for fellowship and mutual support.

Our parish was noted for having numerous groups in the past, but many
closed as people moved away (or passed away), so that we now have only three,
which meet monthly. These groups are full, but it would be great to open some
new ones, so that more people can benefit. It’s often good to share responsibility
by having one person opening their home, and another to lead the meetings. If
you are interested in helping in this way, or you would simply like to be a
member of a new group, then do get in touch with me.

Revd Canon Ian Tarrant, email: [email protected]
Our front cover: the baptism of Alastair & Hugo Sales

2

Parish Register

Baptisms
16th June - Hugo & Alastair Sales

Confirmations - 7th July
Layla Badowska
Sophie Dirda-Green
Verity Kay

Funerals
20th March - Margaret Clark
8th April - Denis Cook
22nd April - Annette Billings
31st May - Linda Benson
21st June - Edna Smart
27th June - Elaine Rigelsford
5th July - Colin Rainbow

Flowers in St Mary’s on 7th July Message from the Foodbank:
in memory of Mike Phillips Our services are more in
from Sally Phillips demand than ever. In the last
financial year we gave out over
4,000 three-day food and
toiletry parcels for those most
in need around our borough.
This was over 1,000 more than
in the previous year. We are
seeing a significant rise in the
number of clients coming to us
which we believe is, in part,
due to the rollout of Universal
Credit. The support of St
Mary’s enables us to make a
real difference to their lives.

3

Life at St Mary’s
Food and
Fun Day

18th May 2019

4

Two joint services

Our joint confirmation service with other churches in the West Roding Mission
Partnership, at Christ Church Wanstead, on 7th July.

Our joint service in contemporary style with other churches in the West Roding
Mission Partnership, at St Gabriel’s Aldersbrook, on 21st July.

5

Interfaith ccftsotaoMhDhhninotoeeedhcsamteone,rirwlebntenbwaeenetrrrhscodigsmeet,fehosriataro.feengmmorddisunowwNaresneeecqtrdwhhuaeauessZmtrsiksceyateyhaoetmoleuraaussbna,twtedriomreeosaraefocelpoclfheeftyohpoporeptruralomriefyuiooeberwrrdee.innbAygs

Solidarity

After the mosque shootings
in Christchurch, New
Zealand, when believers
were at prayers on Friday
15th March, I wrote a letter, strffuoWeeapalwiietprgho.owiWortraoknte.n,fgaotranerttojhdbeeaecerfttnftfaiceorlormlruvmprtiroahuagleteyuenreamicrlgeuwheinmtintdobhtfeheorareuslslttnapohanefimdnoaidplenlrlogfeaafnaoitncfhedsor
with the interim minister at RRWeevivtddhCCoaaunnroopnnraIPayanetrTMsaaornsrsadonbptest wishes,
Holy Trinity Hermon Hill,
to the members of our local
mosque. This was
delivered by a small
deputation of lay people on
the following Friday. They
were made most welcome
and brought back the
thanks of the mosque.
A month later, on
Easter Day, came
news of the DOoaEscenrntWesaaSatodcHrocastturrAueeWeehthttliciiMsoiiDvnAneslsokiaLdaoleostardlraMsgtltantalooshlhi.lihehSyanrnsmytnMedaaeueieiakiGntrotfvcnpnpwtfoyoawTcofoSoiaejadohynrurodwotancmoaadrhaugcrrnou’dcrtoysiameisesaMetnldtlel,nhldtdohPhin.lsmremetoooisWeiotedipehosWnsstnuanecmdsuuhpeqonescodieotarreeeauf,eidofdhpioynrrFtnbCetncelepyrssdhdbiadriehgpsafsrnfuhesiwyheneraoeyenwtti.aittuvhrnevrhmastfhMSvotdpsirvaeodtloeceri,raieesiartntadMildsthgheroCiyhgntLhmeiyasaphohcteGaiatvobtrpslerssihnadeoeourqrive.eesstk,ldouWlciusrstyptnsoatctabsiuieAehneilaaeaaclcfoeaeselenecnfpknemanntetddderdsdalalccrSserys.loicnateegmoembp&iiftrlddthmureiocresyianattsnnaooicekybhntitydcdoncssioeesneival.tdfeehetrogerothstor,rrylasseeyw.pimnnioeencafrecse
bombings in Sri
Lanka, when lives
were lost in
churches and
hotels. We then
received a letter of
condolence from the
mosque.

Anyone who
attends meetings of
the East London
Three Faiths Forum
will know that
Christians and
Muslims have
different beliefs - but
we have many values
in common, and we
can live in peace.
Ian Tarrant

6

Life at St Mary’s: contemplative prayer

Vigil for the Diocese of Mbeere in Kenya

One of the strategy groups in our good government, including protection
parish forum in January was on the from terrorism and that the money
topic of the work of Chelmsford raised by Bishop Stephen’s Lenten
Diocese in Kenya, work in which Appeal be spent wisely. More
David and Wendy Littlejohns have specifically, we prayed for Bishop
played such a prominent part. Wendy Moses and his staff, for St Michael’s
led this group and said, among other and All Angels as for the Church of
things, how those in Kenya wanted us the Good Shepherd, for the dispensary
to pray for them and wanted to know and the Mothers’ Union and for the
that we were doing so. With this in education of the young, particularly
mind, the Contemplative Prayer Group after their time in main stream
devoted its May meeting to our work schooling is over.
there. Wendy came to lead us by
giving us information on which to Each of us spoke on the aspect
focus our prayers, which she which had touched us most, lit a
illustrated with a display stand of candle and between the lighting of
photographs and these were each candle was a period of silent
complemented by a poster of the prayer.
Kenyan flag and the national flower of
Kenya… an orchid. We also gave thanks for the work
of Wendy and David who have given
Members of the group lit candles so much of their time, effort and
with prayers for various aspects of the money to this work on our behalf.
work in Kenya, some of which had
been provided but, mostly, these from Wendy will send a photograph of
their own thoughts. Subjects of our the vigil to Kenya and it is planned to
prayer were the need for good rains, work this theme into the yearly pattern
of the Contemplative Prayer Group.
Rowena Rudkin

7

An historical European missionary

Saint Boniface may Europe spreading the word of God. He
become Patron Saint was made Archbishop of Mainz by
of Devon Pope Gregory III.

At the time of writing many of us are In his later years he remained
giving a lot of consideration to what passionate about pioneer evangelism.
Britain’s future role in Europe may be. When he was about eighty years old,
while on a mission journey, Boniface
It is, I think, particularly exciting to was killed by a mob on Pentecost
read at this time that St Boniface may Sunday in the town of Dokkum, which
become patron saint of Devon. is in what is now The Netherlands.
Saint Boniface is buried in Fulda in
Saint Boniface was a monk who the abbey which he founded in
was born in the town of Crediton in Northern Germany and which is a
Devon in the 7th century. He crossed place of pilgrimage for Christians.
the Channel and travelled around in
A local county councillor has put
The statue of Saint Boniface in Fulda forward the idea that St Boniface may
8 become the patron saint of Devon.
This idea is supported by the Anglican
Bishop of Exeter and the Roman
Catholic Bishop of Plymouth. Saint
Boniface is currently the patron saint
of Germany and the Netherlands. He
was appointed Archbishop of Mainz in
745AD.

There is also a suggestion that
St Boniface’s feast day, 5th June,
might also be celebrated as
Devonshire Day. St Boniface has been
described by historians as ‘the greatest
Englishman of all times’ and ‘the first
European’ because of his missionary
work across a large part of Europe. His
Anglo Saxon name was Wynfrith from
the Anglo Saxon words for ‘friend’
and ‘peace’. When he entered the
monastery in Exeter he took the Latin
name ‘Boniface’, which means ‘doer
of good’.

St Boniface may become Patron
saint of Devon. Some of us may go on
pilgrimage to Crediton and / or to
Fulda.
Cheryl Corney

Lent course at St Mary’s

Christians and Muslims 500AD - 1204AD

We were very pleased to host one of policy of the East Roman Emperors
the Chelmsford Diocese Lent and the controversies within the
Modules here at St Mary’s again this Church as well as about the life of
year. It was the module on Church Mohammed, the Arab expansion and
History. Our tutor was Miss Rowena the Golden Age of Islam from
Rudkin. The sessions took place on Bhagdad to Spain. We were told about
Thursday evenings during Lent in the conversion of the Slavs to
the Gwinnell Room and were Christianity including Grand Duke
attended by about twenty people, Vladimir of Kiev, leader of the
some of whom travelled some Russians, and about the Great Schism
distance to attend the course. between the Catholic and Orthodox
Members of St Mary’s congregation Churches. Later in the course we
particularly liked the proximity of found out about the Turks entering the
the location. The refreshments were Middle East, the Battle of Manzikert
very welcome too.
and the fall of Jerusalem to the
The subject is of course huge and Turks and about the four main
one is not going to learn everything, Crusades.
but we were given a very good Those of you have visited the
introduction to the topic and were well Church of the Holy Sepulchre may
provided with maps, notes, diagrams have noticed that the key has been
and recommendations for further looked after by a Muslim family for
reading. All members of the group about five hundred years. Surely
were interested in the subject and many this is part of what makes the Old
had travelled to countries about whose City’s cultural and religious history
history we were learning. so special.

We learnt about the Eastern
Mediterranean in 500AD, the religious

Cheryl Corney

9

Life at St Mary’s

Getting to know you: Jean Russell

We invited Jean Russell, a long-
standing member of our congregation,
to be interviewed as she celebrated her
80th birthday earlier this year.
Jean has been worshipping regularly at
St Mary’s for about 45 years. Jean and
her late husband, Philip, moved to
Woodford when their older daughter
Philippa was one year old. At first they
attended St Barnabas Church but then
moved across to St Mary’s.
Jean was born in Stepney shortly
before the outbreak of the Second
Wold War. She was an only child and
attended Sunday School (sometimes
being held in air raid shelters!) at
St Dunstan’s, and fondly recalls its
High Anglican traditions from that era.
When Jean was about eight years of
age she remembers spending Saturday
mornings dusting the Children’s
Corner. By the time she was twelve
she had become a Sunday School
their back garden during the War
teacher; that was to continue until she years! During that time Jean recalls a
started college. Jean and Philip were birthday party, cake included, moving
married at St Dunstan’s, and Jean ran a down to the air-raid shelter in her back
Cub pack there. garden and bombs wreaking havoc on
Jean’s grandmother was a Roman the neighbourhood. She was evacuated
Catholic; her grandfather was Jewish twice, once to East Farleigh, near
and her father’s family were Maidstone, to stay with her
Presbyterians. However, Jean was
grandmother. Jean was one of only
baptised into the Church of England at about seven non-Jewish pupils in the
just three weeks (her Roman Catholic school and went on to study at the
grandmother thought it would stop her Central Foundation Grammar School
crying!), and confirmed at age eleven. for Girls in Spital Square. From there
Jean attended a Jewish Day School – Jean went on to train to be a teacher for
her parents’ preference being due to the two years at Bishop Otter College,
fact that the school could be seen from Chichester. Having studied academic

10

subjects at school, Jean took up
weaving as a main subject in addition
to Education studies at college. Her
teaching career began at a Junior
school in West Ham. Jean taught full-
time for eleven years including time
spent teaching English, both as a
second language and to Special Needs
children.
When Jean’s husband Philip died
prematurely she gave up part-time widowed in her late 40s.
teaching to support her daughters. Jean chose For all the Saints as a
Philippa was then sixteen, and Maria favourite hymn and St John as a
six years old. favourite gospel. Musical choices
Jean was a long-standing Sunday included Three Kings from Persian
School teacher at St Mary’s – she was Lands Afar and Handel’s Messiah.
asked to stand in for a couple of If Jean were asked, ‘With whom
months and stayed on for thirteen would you choose to spend the night,
years! Her colleagues included the late locked inside a church?’ (a question
Jean Morgans, Shirley Lealman and Pat often used in interviews) she would
Smith. Since then Jean has been active reply: CS Lewis, ‘to get another story
on the PCC, Deanery Synod and the out of him!’
Mission Committee. She completed the Now she has reached a special
Christian Studies Course and has birthday, Jean considers one of the best
regularly attended Lent Study groups things about growing older is ‘getting a
and house groups. seat on the bus’ but expresses a down-
Over the years Jean has noticed side of ageing as ‘Deep down you
many changes at St Mary’s especially know you know something, or you
the fall in numbers in both know you can do something, but you
congregation and Seekers. On average, are no longer able to do it.’
Jean taught 14 pupils in her class at Jean is an avid reader and enjoys
Sunday School, and the Nine Lessons detective novels, in particular those by
and Carols Service attracted so many Agatha Christie, Ian Rankin and Susan
people that some even sat on the altar Hill. She says she enjoys re-reading
steps of the Lady Chapel. It was usual them all over again now because she
for those attending church to dress less can’t remember them!
casually; women wore hats and gloves Many thanks to Jean for sharing her
– no trousers in those days! thoughts and memories with us. Do let
However, Jean considers that the magazine team know if you
nowadays members of the congregation would be willing to be interviewed
are more friendly and helpful to each for our ‘Getting to Know You’ series.
other. She recalls Revd. Derek Newton
being very supportive when she was Penny Freeston

11

Life at St Mary’s

Jean Bonnick’s
wedding
at St Mary’s

I was born and lived in Grove Hill,
next to St Phillip’s and St James’
Church. It’s no longer there as it
was sold to the Evangelical Church
when the M11 was planned. My
former home is still there though.
My mother Eva Hartland was the
caretaker for the Church and Hall
for many years and on its closure
she worked as a cleaner at
St Mary’s until she left in 1976 to
care for my daughter when I
returned to work.
Mum died at Christmas and on
the 30th March we brought her
ashes to be interred in the garden at
St Mary’s where my father’s ashes
were scattered. This was a very all the articles, especially the one
nostalgic visit as I had not returned written by Chris Whitfield. His wife
there since 1986. I was married in was my doctor, Chris was my sister’s
St Mary’s on 3rd June 1972. It was a doctor. He also mention the Reverend
late wedding because the Church was Birchnall. Bob was the Vicar who
dedicated on that day after the carried out my marriage ceremony.
rebuilding following the fire in 1969. Peter Marshall was the Vicar at
So my wedding was the first in the new St Phillip’s and St James’.
church. One of the articles also mentions the
My daughter Carli and my nephew current plans and double glazing the
Paul were both Christened in the Gwinnell Room. I can remember Mr
church in May 1986. She was nine Gwinnell, but from St Phillip’s and
years old and she wanted to be St James’ Church. Was he a Church
Christened, my nephew was nine Warden there? Maybe someone can let
months old. me know?
Whilst at the church this weekend
we bought a copy of the Spring Jean Bonnick
Magazine, commemorating the Fire, 50
years ago in 1969. I read with interest

12

Poem Welcome back to
The Night Nurse Geraldine and
Graham

And when the lamp is turned low, It was a great
when the tired world pleasure to
at last surrenders, sleeps, welcome
when peacefulness tenderly Geraldine
over pain keeps Spearman and
vigil, the quiet nurses go; her husband
more like ethereal spirits, Graham from
lovelier though, Wickham
for they, when twilight creeps, Bishops to our
drift not from unknown ways Easter service.
in unstained deeps Geraldine was a
but from the earth itself member of St Mary’s congregation in
their message know. the 1960s and 70s and presented us
Dear one in cap of white with a framed fragment of an original
and apron neat stained glass window, salvaged from
I think of you now the fire fifty years ago, depicting a little
at your work in the dim lit ward monk that used to be on the bottom
quite practical right of the East window (see photo on
- so would I deem you, sweet back page).
not only for the healing you afford,
but that your soul, Geraldine was present on the day of
in rapture most discreet, the fire as a 13-year-old and helped
so schooled in the service of the Lord. retrieve some of the artefacts. Her
Catharine Colver (in tribute to her father, Ken Haskell, produced a little
sister, Elizabeth, a nurse) red leaflet with the story of the fire at
that time. Geraldine contacted
St Mary’s last December, knowing that
it would be 50 years since the fire in
February, but it was the Notre Dame
fire that brought back memories
of 1969.

Thank you again to Geraldine for
such a special gift.
Penny Freeston

13

Travel

Trip to Jerusalem

In March Gwen and I took a short communion was celebrated on Sunday
break in the Holy Land. We had been morning; after communion one of the
there before on group visits, but where Americans said to me ‘I’m sorry we
possible we prefer to travel took over your service’ to which I
independently, and since one can book replied that as we were all Anglicans
anything online these days we decided they were more than welcome.
to go it alone. On the first full day of our visit we
gave up our independence and joined
an organized tour of the Old City,
including the main holy sites. For
Christians a visit to Jerusalem is bound
to give rise to all sorts of emotions, not
all of them of a positive nature, and
faith, tourism and commercialism can
sit unhappily together today just as they
did when Jesus cleansed the Temple. It
is often said that Jerusalem is anything
but a city of peace, and this is as true
now as in times of earlier conflicts,
St George’s Anglican Cathedral although our brief stay was entirely
Jerusalem peaceful. The historic centre seemed to

be full of people from every nation,
A good place to stay in Jerusalem is many of whom proclaim their
St George’s pilgrim hostel adjoining nationality and religious allegiance by
the Anglican cathedral with its tower their dress and the symbols they wear;
which would not look out of place in one encouraging sight was that of
an English suburb. Today the cathedral Muslim and Jewish women sharing a
has services in English and Arabic (a joke together. Unfortunately the
significant number of Palestinians are timetable for our tour overran so we
Christian). The cathedral compound is missed visiting the historic Armenian
something of a haven, with its secluded quarter although we saw posters
courtyards and gardens. A large group commemorating the 1915 genocide
from the Episcopal Church of the which almost destroyed the Armenian
United States was in residence when community in the Turkish empire. We
we arrived, including a young woman did not go to Bethlehem having been
priest with hair that would have done there on a previous visit; it can easily
credit to a pop star. The Americans be reached from Jerusalem like most
filled the side chapel where holy other Biblical sites, and day tours and

14

longer excursions to all these places Negev desert where in the British
can easily be arranged. military cemetery we visited the grave
Before leaving Jerusalem we of Gwen’s great-uncle who served
visited Yad Vashem, the Jewish with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and
Holocaust museum, where the terrible died fighting the Turks in 1917. As a
events of the 20th century and earlier chapel-goer from what was then an
persecutions are vividly described in intensely religious part of North Wales
visual displays and in written and he must have been acutely aware of the
recorded words, showing how significance of the Holy Land;
demonisation and persecution of the ironically he died just a month before
Jews began centuries ago. The British forces entered Jerusalem. The
museum leaves non-Jewish visitors British occupation of Palestine led to
with profound feelings of unease, and all sorts of turbulent events, and some
should not be missed by any pilgrims still blame Britain for the situation
to the Holy Land. today in the Middle East, although our
After leaving Jerusalem we headed colonial past has been largely
for Tel Aviv, an entirely modern city overshadowed by more recent
adjoining the historic port of Jaffa, or tragedies.
Joppa, which is mentioned several Any feelings of guilt should not
times in the Bible. Our hotel was run prevent us from going on pilgrimages,
by Messianic Jews, a sect who accept if we feel moved to do so. A visit to
Christianity while retaining Jewish the Holy Land is a wonderful
traditions. No holiday would be experience; both Israelis and
complete for me without a train trip, Palestinians are friendly to visitors,
and on seeking information before we and anyone you meet is likely to have
left home I found myself taking part in a fascinating story to tell. If you are
email exchanges with Jewish railway sensible and take heed of security
enthusiasts, including a helpful Rabbi advice the risks should not be too
who seemed to be the equivalent of our great. Just remember that Jerusalem
numerous Anglican clergy train- can be hot in summer and cold and wet
spotters. The object of our train ride in spring and winter!
was Beersheba on the edge of the
Stephen Wiggs

15

Book reviews

Two autobiographies national service, two years as personal
assistant to the Bishop of Accra in
Leaving Alexandria: a memoir of Ghana, and a year of study in
faith and doubt Edinburgh. The story begins in depth
Richard Holloway again when he is a curate in the
Canongate 2012 £9.99 Gorbals area of Glasgow.
ISBN 978-0857860743
- A one-month scholarship in the
God’s upgrades… my adventures: USA was formative, and he met his
learning to accept and download future wife there, before returning to
John Leach parish ministry in Glasgow and then
Authentic Media 2014 Edinburgh. Here he was touched by
£7.99
ISBN 978-1860249129 the charismatic
These two revival of the
autobiographies by 1970s. Then to a
Anglican clergymen parish in Boston,
chart contrasting USA, which he
journeys in ministry, and found difficult
contrasting spiritual because of an
developments. argumentative
church council -
Richard Holloway which he saw as
grew up in Alexandria, a reflecting a
small town north of cultural difference
Edinburgh. between Britain
and the United
Encountering the States. He was also
Rector of the local spiritually
Scottish Episcopal challenged when
Church after the death of ministering to
a cousin, he was invited many suffering
to join the church choir. from AIDS. He
From choir he moved to serving at the returned to England, to minister in an
altar, and then at the age of fourteen a Oxford parish, but after just a few
vocation to the priesthood took him to years was invited to become Bishop of
Kelham, a monastic institution in Edinburgh. However, after some
England where young men were controversial publications, questioning
prepared for ordination. the stance of the Church on sexual
issues, and the very existence of God,
The book details some of the Holloway was forced to resign. The
spiritual trials and temptations of that final chapter includes these words:
period of his life, and then quickly ‘I no longer believe in religion, but
passes over two years spent on I want it around: weakened, bruised

16

and bemused, less sure of itself, and not go well. John came to realise that
purged of everything except the the problem was a mis-match of
miracle of pity. I know that the people understandings about the nature of the
who keep it going will have to believe local church: his church members saw
in it more than I do.’ their congregation as a cosy family,
but he was longing for it to be an army
By contrast, John Leach was an of Christian soldiers. An opportunity
Essex lad from Dagenham. When he then arose for his dream job, teaching
was five years old, his father became a in a theological college; but he was
Christian, and the family started diagnosed with cancer of the jaw.
attending a Baptist church. At
university however, After surgery and
John ceased active radiotherapy he
involvement in church made a good
life - until a spiritual recovery, and laid
encounter next to a plans to take up the
Henry Moore statue, college job, but
which turned him disappointingly the
around. Involved in offer was withdrawn
churches of different because of financial
denominations, he was problems at the
influenced by the college.
charismatic movement
of the 1970s, and Throughout the
eventually followed a book John notes
call to ordination in the points of learning
Church of England. and growth, which
he likens to the
After two curacies, upgrades of
he became vicar of a computer software.
parish in Coventry Despite diverse
diocese, and then suffering and
Director of Anglican Renewal setbacks, he does not lose his faith.
Ministries, an organisation which Towards the end of the book he writes
encouraged and supported charismatic this: ‘Here I am, recovering from
parishes. When this closed, a time of serious illness, job-hunting but with no
uncertainty followed, including six enthusiasm to put myself through
months as a truck driver for IKEA, parish ministry yet again, afraid of
and a year as interim Rector of a another spell of homelessness, but
parish in Jersey. He then became fortunately with a God who has never
parish development advisor in a Welsh let me down, and who will one day
diocese. make sense of it all - not with answers
but with himself.’
After this he was appointed to a Ian Tarrant
parish ‘in Dorset’, where things did

17

Book review

Reimagining Britain considers what is necessary to put
these values into action in a post
Brexit, multicultural Britain. He
by Justin Welby reviews the state of affairs chapter by
Published by Bloomsbury
ISBN 978-1-4729-4607-2 chapter across the spheres of family,
education, health, housing and
In Reimagining Britain, Foundations for finance.
Hope, Justin Welby, the Archbishop of As you would expect, the tone of
Canterbury, sets out a vision for Britain the book is civilised. When referring
in response both to growing social to Lord Lawson’s view that
inequality and to the divisions brought generations yet unborn have no right
about by Brexit. The book was to determine our actions now on
published in 2018. climate change (!!!) Justin Welby
Some might raise an eyebrow that disagrees oh so politely. He also notes
Justin Welby has written Nigel Lawson’s point
about this contentious that significant actions
subject. Those aware of his to address climate
previous book, Dethroning change would
Mammon, and of his particularly bear down
actions generally will not on the poor. Justin
be surprised that we have Welby, I sense and
an Archbishop who is not certainly hope, has the
afraid to put his head wherewithal to take
above the parapet. Lawson’s point head on
Justin Welby has an – but this wide ranging
unusual background for an book is not the place for
Archbishop of Canterbury. this.
He became ordained Much of the book is a
relatively late after a fairly brief survey over a
varied and challenging wide range of areas. At
career, including working times, as with Justin
for eleven years in the oil industry and Welby’s comments about Sharia law,
becoming the group treasurer of a large it didn’t seem clear to me what
British exploration and production exactly he is advocating. There isn’t a
company. He has always had an interest great deal of ‘re-imagining’. Here is
in ethics, finance and a desire to address someone who surely must have a
social injustice; a combination of good deal more to say. I have to admit
interests that might strike some as being that, mindful of his previous
unusual. outspoken comments such as his
In Reimagining Britain Justin Welby criticism of Wonga, I was a touch
draws on our Britain’s history and disappointed that the book seemed a
Christian tradition to identify our bit cautious. Others who read the
book with me were more positive.
country’s foundational values. He

18

Perhaps the fault is mine. After all, the strikes me as being
book’s subtitle is ‘Foundations for particularly
Hope’. We await more. suitable for youth
Who should read this book? I and other
recommend that you tap into Justin discussion forum
Welby’s thinking, even if you have not groups.
been in the habit of doing this with past
archbishops. Reimagining Britain, with Peter Wall
its chapter by chapter summaries,

A little bit for sent off, paid for and the
money raised given to
charity.
the planet I discovered that you can
We all want to recycle
more don’t we? Not an recycle pet food pouches (I
take mine to Romford), air
easy thing to do if you live fresheners, bread and sweet
in Redbridge as they are so
restricted in what they take. wrappers and much more.
Have a look at the website
And what about all those to see what you might be
odds and ends we
accumulate – pet food able to recycle rather than
pouches, air fresheners, bread throw away. But be
prepared to spend some time battling
wrappers, and of course crisp packets! with it!
When Walkers announced that they Having fought my way through all
were starting a recycling scheme for the difficulties of the website I have
their packets, I thought there would be managed to end up as a local collector
some easy way of leaving them in a of crisps packets and bread wrapping
store – a bit like the plastic bag (the type sliced bread ends up in – not
recycling you can now do at many
supermarkets. However, in researching the ones for fresh bread). I am hoping
to increase the items I can collect in
how to get rid of the occasional packet due course but please do let me have
of crisps, I was drawn into the world of your crisp packets (any brand) and
www.terracycle.com. An organisation bread wrapping. Either give them to
with a great purpose but possibly the me in church or drop them round to
world’s worst website! 1b Eastwood Road; there is a box
There I discovered a huge range of outside the front door. Any money
items that can be recycled by taking raised will go to Dimbleby Cancer
them to various collection points. Care.
These range from private houses to
schools and scout huts. When enough Happy recycling.

items have been collected they can be Viveca Dutt

19

Quiz

Who or what are we? We are all part of the
Christian story and we all begin with ‘F’.

1 Christians believe in God the F________ almighty, maker of heaven and
earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

2 Many Christians fast or refrain from eating meat on this day of the
week.

3 My name is F______. During evening services I often sit near the choir.
4 My name is F______ de Sales. I was Bishop of Geneva and a teacher of

the faith. Christians particularly remember me on 24th January.
5 I am the clause added by the western church to the Nicene Creed,

saying that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.
6 I am the receptacle used for the water in Baptism.
7 I am a necessary requirement when members of a church wish to make

alterations or additions to consecrated buildings.
8 I am a male member, not necessarily ordained, of the Franciscan

religious order established by St Francis of Assisi in AD 1209.
9 I am the story presented in the Old Testament book of Genesis by the

story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
10 ‘F________ us our trespasses as we f_________ those who trespass

against us’.
11 I am a service which takes place on the occasion of the burial of the

dead.
12 The disciples James and Andrew were f__________.
13 We are the animals that Jesus says have holes to live in.
14 My name is Jane F______. I am church treasurer at St Mary’s.
15 Two mites make one of me.

Answers: page 23

20

For reflection

Change

Despite our long cultural history, the way in
which we live changes through the impact of
war and peace, economics, climate change,
demographics and many other factors. As a result, the truth of Jesus Christ has
been re-expressed in different circumstances. It is an ever-growing story of how
the great virtues and benefits of gracious love are lived out in the hard pounding
of a changing world. When changes are especially dramatic, they call for
re-imagining on a grand scale.
Justin Welby in Reimagining Britain
When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change
ourselves. Victor Frankl
The job of a leader in ministry wanting to help people to change is first of all to
make them unhappy. While everything is fine and working well no-one sees any
need for change. So, given the helpful definition of a leader as one who defines
reality it is often our task to help people see that in fact things could be so much
better. John Leach in God’s upgrades
Be the change that you wish to see in the world. Mahatma Ghandi
Adaptable as human beings are and have to be, I sometimes sympathise with the
chameleon who had a nervous breakdown on a patchwork quilt. John Strange
To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating
oneself endlessly. Henri Bergson
Continuity gives us roots; change gives us branches, letting us stretch and grow
and reach new heights. Pauline Kezer
You change people by delight, by pleasure. Thomas Aquinas
All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy, for what we leave
behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter into
another. Anatole France
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to
change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.
Reinhold Niebuhr

21

Travel

India

India has always held a special place
in my heart and I was thrilled to return
there recently. Although my father
served in the Middle East during the
War, his twin brother spent his time in
India so I grew up hearing all about
this extraordinary place. Similarly, my
mother’s brother was decorated for
bravery at the Battle of Kohima in
1944 and only last week ‘popped up’ In Ranthanbore National Park

on a Pathé Newsreel shown on a Rajahsthan again, although we still
documentary featuring Lord
Mountbatten. saw many cows and camels on the
The first time we visited India was road, I missed the snake charmers and
33 years ago, although we might have gypsies with their travelling bears, and
gone sooner had life not ‘got in the hundreds of bicycles had been
way’. I was captivated by India then: replaced by motorbikes. And where
such a mysterious land of contrasts were all the white Ambassador cars we
and extremities. Our older daughter travelled in? In nearly a month we
was 12 years old when we travelled to only found one parked in a side street
Delhi, Jaipur and Agra. She in Kerala.
This was our fourth long trip to
remembers being taken aback as a
beggar suffering from leprosy passed India - over the years Martin and I
his withered arm through our open taxi have travelled across the north on
window in Delhi. Thankfully, those trains to Shimla, Varanasi, Darjeeling
days are gone, but travelling through and Kolkata and extensively across
nearby Nepal and Sri Lanka. This
time, after revisiting Delhi and Jaipur
and exploring Udaipur for the first
time, we decided to head south and
travel on to Mumbai, Goa and Kerala
where we stayed on a houseboat. It
was, as always, fascinating and
thought-provoking. On safari at
Ranthambore we were fortunate to
come across two tigers in the wild on
separate occasions, seen from a short
distance away.
Hands deformed by leprosy

22

Then and now: Penny and Martin in India 1986and 2019

I have only one regret that we have expectancy is nearer the Biblical three
not visited Kashmir, but I pray that one score and ten, and 280 million people
day the situation there may improve have been pulled out of poverty in the
and my dream will be fulfilled. 21st century. Although the slums of
I read recently that the British left a Mumbai are heartbreaking, overall we
society with 16 per cent literacy, a life saw far less poverty and deprivation
expectancy of 27, and over 90 per cent than we experienced even seven years
living below what today we would call ago. India continues to move forward
the poverty line. Today the literacy rate at a pace in its own inimitable way.
is up at 72 per cent, average life Penny Freeston

Quiz Answers from p20

1 Father 8 friar
2 Friday 9 Fall
3 Fin 10 Forgive, forgive
4 Francis 11 funeral
5 filioque 12 fishermen
6 font 13 foxes
7 faculty 14 Fone
15 farthing

23

focusFamily Summer
puzzles

Find your way through
the maze, travelling
through each event in
Jesus’s life
in the right order.
1. Born at Bethlehem
2. Learning carpentry
3. Healing a sick child
4. Crucified
5. Risen from the tomb
6. Ascended to heaven

Can you match the
places on the map with
the Bible verses below?

Acts 1:4
Acts 15:39
Acts 17:15
Acts 18:24
Acts 28:1
Acts 28:14

24

Humour

Church Bulletin Board (from St Somewhere)

The following appeared in church bulletins or were announced at church
services:
The sermon this morning: ‘Jesus walks on the water.’ The sermon tonight:
‘Searching for Jesus.’
Ladies, don’t forget the rummage sale. It’s a chance to get rid of those things
not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.
Don’t let worry kill you off – let the Church help you.
Miss Marlene Mason sang, ‘I will not pass this way again,’ giving obvious
pleasure to the congregation.
For those of you who have children and don’t know it, we have a nursery
downstairs.
Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24th in the church.
So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
Potluck supper Sunday at 5pm – prayer and medication to follow.
The church will host an evening of fine dining, supper entertainment and
gracious hostility.
At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be ‘What is Hell?’ Come
early and listen to our choir practice.
The ladies of the Church have cast off
clothing of every kind. They may be seen
in the basement on Friday afternoon.

That Associate Minister unveiled the
church’s new tithing pledge last Sunday:
‘I upped my pledge – Up Yours!’
The Low Self Esteem group will meet
Thursday at 7pm. Please use the back door.

25

Woodford and District National Trust Talks

Woodford and District
National Trust talks

These talks take place at All Saints Waddesdon Manor
church hall, Woodford Green or at
the Memorial Hall, St Mary’s
church, South Woodford.

11th September, 2.30pm 13th November, 2.30pm
All Saints church hall All Saints church hall
‘Waddesdon Manor, National ‘Medieval churches of East Anglia’
Trust’ by Peter Lawrence.
by Godfrey Thorpe. Peter is well known in this area for his
Godfrey is a very experienced guide at expert knowledge. He now lives in
Waddesdon Manor and so is the ideal East Anglia but is kindly returning to
person to talk about this magnificent speak about the vast variety of
manor, built in 1874 by Baron wonderful churches there, dating back
Ferdinand de Rothschild in the style of to medieval times. We look forward as
a French chateau and its elegant always to hearing an excellent speaker
interiors and paintings plus of course and seeing Peter’s superb
the Rothschild family. photographs.
15th October, 10.30am
Memorial Hall 16th December, 10.30am
‘Tower Hamlets: an ever-changing Memorial Hall
borough' ‘Chingford and Loughton railway’
by Grahame Williams. by Dr Chris Pond.
Grahame was head of administration Chris is an equally well-known
at Queen Mary, University of London speaker in this area. He will share his
and he will share with us his detailed detailed knowledge of the history of
knowledge of this area and its past, the building and changes to two local
including the prominent people but very different railways: the
connected with it. Its buildings range overground from Chingford to
from 21st century Canary Wharf to Liverpool Street and the Central Line,
11th century Tower of London. the longest railway on the
underground, which goes as far as
West Ruislip.

26

Travel

Taking off our shoes in a holy place

Like many travellers, I have
been used to taking my shoes
off in mosques and Hindu
temples both at home and
abroad. Martin recalls a temple
in Bali where visitors’ shoes
were stored in cages to prevent
monkeys stealing them! But
recently in south India, on
visiting the Anglican Church of
Saint Francis in Kochi, it was
the custom there to do so. I was
fascinated to see the way little
children had slipped off their
shoes and left them with such
gay abandon in their
enthusiasm to enter church.
Built in 1502, the Church of
St Francis is one of the oldest practice has been abandoned by
European churches in India. Rabbinic Jews. However, in ancient
Similarly, everyone is required Israel, setting your shoe on a property
to remove their shoes on entering the was seen as a symbolic proclamation
historical Paradesi Synagogue in of ownership. Removing one’s shoes
Kochi, recalling Moses’ instruction in signified the opposite - Moses had to
Exodus 3:5 to remove his sandals as remove his shoes to symbolically
he came close to the burning bush and assent to the fact that he was entering
encountered God’s presence ‘on holy God’s property or special domain.
ground’.
Research on the internet reveals Penny Freeston
that the Japanese custom of removing
shoes when entering a house came
about because historically most Prayer of
houses had sacred shrines, but one
person commented that traditional the tired athlete
Japanese rush matting would have
been easily damaged by the wearing
of outdoor shoes. You pick ’em up, Lord;
I’ll put ’em down.
In Middle Eastern Jewish
tradition although many Karaite
communities pray barefoot the Anon.

27

Mystery
monk

A fragment from
the east window

of the church
before the 1969 fire.
It is thought that the

drawing of a monk
was the ‘signature’

of the Maker.
Approx ¾ actual size.
The fragment will be

on public display
soon.

(See p13)

A big
thank you

to everyone submitting contributions
and photographs to this edition

Please keep them coming, as without them we wouldn’t have a parish
magazine. Articles, prayers, book reviews, favourite music,
recipes, gardening tips etc.

We would love some children’s drawings as well: the choice is yours!
Email directly using a subject heading to:
[email protected]

or pass to Penny Freeston who will type up your handwritten copy.
Our next copy date is 26th August 2019

Magazine team: Penny Freeston, Cheryl Corney,
Ian Tarrant, Sam McCarthy, Peter Wall.

28