Spring 2020

St Mary’s Woodford
Parish Magazine

Volume 11 number 1 www.stmaryswoodford.org.uk

Spring 2020

Welcome

We recently had our last Ministry Team meeting with Ian. And he had so
thoroughly thought through everything that we and the Churchwardens
would have to do in the next months that it was a long meeting. Memory
dims but I think Item 47 was Introduction to the Magazine. We all gazed at
the table for a while. I was the last to glance up, and everyone was looking
at me. So here I am. And other members of the team will provide the
introduction until we have a new Rector.
What's great about this is that you're spared a photo of the writer. When I
look in the mirror in the morning I see a dark-haired slim sort of person
who's only just stopped playing Rugby at quite a high level. But recent
photos show that a much fatter and older bloke is in the place where I
thought I was.
Which is perhaps a helpful image for the Parish's search for a new Rector. I
had the privilege of writing the final draft of the last two Parish Profiles.
It's so easy to think that we're still as we used to be: that slim dark-haired
person, for example. But I remember all the submissions from the
congregation when Bob Birchnall retired, and all the ones from when
Geoffrey Smith moved to Loughton. Some of them are still so relevant now
but some of the anxieties expressed are now non-issues.
Change is gradual – and we don't always notice it as it happens. In the last
20 years there has, I think, been no shift in Faith – though maybe fewer
literal takes on the Bible - but changes in the ways in which we express it.
There are so many examples but perhaps I could pick one. There is rather
more Lay involvement in major aspects of St Mary's:, something I
Our front cover: Our rector Ian Tarrant at his last service on 1st March

2

Parish Register

Baptism
13th February Bryony Bennett (adult
baptism)
Funeral
16th December Nicola Wood
Wedding
23rd December Andrew Smith and
Samantha McCarthy

personally see as a huge privilege, Message from the Foodbank:
particularly in taking Home Our services are more in
Communions and preaching. And also demand than ever. In the last
an extension of this, the commitment of financial year we gave out over
many people to the aspects of Church 4,000 three-day food and
life that used to be the exclusive world toiletry parcels for those most in
of the Clergy. need around our borough. This
The Churchwardens and the PCC will was over 1,000 more than in the
soon be asking all of us to say what we previous year. We are seeing a
think are important things to look at significant rise in the number of
when drawing up the new Parish clients coming to us which we
Profile. And Parish Profile is what it believe is, in part, due to the
will be: not a Congregation Profile rollout of Universal Credit. The
which only looks at those of us who support of St Mary’s enables us
attend St Mary's. The consultation will to make a real difference to
also involve an attempt to gauge what their lives.
the whole Parish
would look to St 3
Mary's to provide.
Mark Spencer Ellis

Life at St Mary’s

A fond farewell to Ian Tarrant in the Memorial
Hall on 1st March

4

Life at St Mary’s

Race Night in the Memorial Hall with some of
the winners

5

Life at St Mary’s

Our Mission Partners Tom and Verity Clare
at the main service on 9th February. See
also page 9

Sam and Andrew Smith at
their wedding on 23rd
December

Celebration of Louisa
Park’s 90th birthday at
the 8th January meeting
of the Woodford Friends

Some goodbyes to Ian Tarrant after his
last service

6

Caring for the environment

An environmental
group at St Mary’s

The climate emergency is real
and undeniable, and there is an
imperative for Christians to
respond and act, as individuals
and within our churches. That
was the message of a Diocesan
conference in January. There
was a huge amount to think
about and many things we can
do; some in partnership with
other churches and with the
many organisations outside the
church already active in this
area. So, there will be a small group with:
within St Mary’s who will be thinking If you change your web browser to
about all the things we can do in the ecosia.org, they will plant a tree for
coming months, and our Lent Groups every web search you do. If you do this
will be focussing on the issue. even for websites you use regularly
Watch this space and let Viveca you will be helping reduce carbon
Dutt ([email protected]) know if footprints. Search for reviews if you
you would like to join the group or are not sure about how genuine they
have any ideas or thoughts. are!
If you are interested in learning Think about supporting, if you can,
more about the Christian response the tree planting projects. Have a look at:
Diocese is organising Lent lectures https://www.mytrees.world or
called Environmental and Climate https://8billiontrees.com
Crisis: a Christian Response. And don’t forget that Marks and
(https:// Spencer at Westfield can take all sorts
www.chelmsford.anglican.org/lent- of plastic that we can’t recycle with
lectures-2020) Redbridge, such as crisp packets,
The nearest series to us will be at St plastic film and even pet food pouches!
Paul’s Stratford starting 5th March.
Meanwhile, if you have any things Viveca Dutt
you do, or tips for helping us all
become more environmentally friendly
please share them through the
magazine. A couple of things to start

7

The Bible Society call to develop green fingers

Garden at
Chelsea Flower
Show 2020 set to
inspire

Getting the nation creating
community gardens using the
world’s most famous Bible The Psalm 23 garden

verses – that is the intention of
Bible Society’s garden at the RHS Head Gardener at the Sir Harold
Chelsea Flower Show 2020. Hillier Gardens, and videos of
The Psalm 23 Garden, designed by churches that have developed their
multi-award-winning designer Sarah grounds, will be available to get
Eberle, brings the famous text of 'The people started in the Spring, from the
Lord is my shepherd' to life. psalm23garden.co.uk website.
It is hoped that churches will be There will also be special resources
among those who work with keen for schools, including an assembly and
gardeners from their local tips on how to create a schools’ garden
communities to create shared, encouraging children to get their
beautiful spaces in churchyards. hands dirty and learn about the beauty
An estimated two-thirds of the of nature. This is particularly
Church of England’s 16,000 churches important for children who live in
have churchyards, which collectively cities and may not have had the
cover the area of a small national park. chance to get involved in gardening
Churches in many other before.
denominations have spaces they can Churches that have already
use as well. developed their outdoor spaces have
According to Christian Research, already welcomed the scheme. St
65 per cent of churches have grounds James’ Church in Finchampstead, near
that could be used for gardening. One Reading, won The Church Times’
in four of churches surveyed said that Green Church Award for its
they were keen to use their outdoor churchyard in 2017.
space, but needed advice about what
to do.
Videos and downloadable Hazel Southam
resources showing how to create your
own garden featuring Fran Clifton,

8

Mission
Our new mission
partners in
Uganda

Tom and Verity Clare will be
flying out to Uganda, along
with their 4 boys Ezra, Eli,
Simeon and Joel, on March 4th
as they start out in their new
roles as mission partners with
Church Mission Society. They
will be living in Arua, North
West Uganda, where Tom will
be using his skills and training
as a GP to join the local
church's community health
team. He will be ministering to
the local population primarily,
with the potential for some
work with the large local refu-
gee population from South Su-
dan. Verity will be looking after the 4 children, initially homeschooling them as
they look into other local schooling options. Verity has a background in teaching
English as a foreign language as well as some training in peacebuilding, both of
which she hopes may come in handy at some stage during their stay.
Please pray for Ezra (6) and Eli (5) as they adjust to the reality of leaving their
local schools in Abingdon, Oxfordshire (which they love) and starting out on a
new way of life. Pray for peace for Simeon (2) and Joel (1) during the long plane
journeys and the long subsequent 7 hour drive up to Arua from the capital. Please
pray for all the children as they say goodbye to their families in early March, par-
ticularly to their grandparents with whom they are very close. Pray also for their
family in the UK as they adjust to life without them living so close. Pray for Tom
in his new medical role and for Verity and she takes on the mantle of both Mum
and teacher and pray for safety, good health and the blessing of early friendships
as they settle.

9

St Mary’s Mission Giving

During the year, the Mission Manna Centre (Harvest)
Committee undertook a review of the Send a Cow (Advent)
Charities supported by the Children’s society (Advent
congregation through the Annual Christingle)
Bazaar, and special events as well as Makatano (Christmas)
retiring collections. There were several Christian Aid (Christmas)
reasons for this:- Crisis (Christmas)
(i) The list of charities had not been Our link Parish of Muchunguri in
Kenya
added to for over ten years During the year there will be two
(ii) There had been a request to take specific fund raising events to fund
Mission and two speakers with a
on an environmental charity retiring collection. This means ten of
(iii) The large number of charities has our charities are supported each year
by these additional fundraising events.
meant that it is hard to maintain a The other charities: eight come
worthwhile support for each out of the bazaar fundraising and four
organisation. rotate into the special events each
(iv) Some charities we support are year. These charities are:-
small or specific and are heavily CMS (Mission partner)
reliant upon on the Church’s A Rocha (Christian Environmental
mission giving. Others are more Charity)
universally supported either Muheza Hospice Care
locally or nationally. ELHAP
We asked the congregation to Matheson Music School
consider whether it would be better to Essex Clergy
support fewer charities, so that we can Church Urban Fund
give each greater commitment and Leprosy Mission
whether we should give explicitly This means that we propose not to
Christian organisations priority over support USPG, Bible Society, Church
others? Mark Spencer Ellis helped Army, Macmillan Cancer Support,
by looking at the Charity commission Sightsavers, Samaritans, Royal
reporting site to see the support for the Association for the Deaf, Marie Curie.
charities and 47 people responded to Not because they are any less worthy
the survey. Where there were over 20 or close to many people’s hearts, but
people in favour of continuing with a because we recognise there are other
charity we determined to continue routes to support their work.
with those charities. This led to the Linda Wiskin (on behalf of the
following recommendations:- Mission Committee.)
‘Stand alone’ donations specific
to a time of year and event are:

10

A brick off the old block

St. Mary's - A part of
the history

In 1904 Marsh Street Congregational and much enjoyment came from the
Church opened in Walthamstow. Part events which were organised. One
of the fundraising had entailed the sale Saturday the Rector, curate and both
of bricks bearing the donor's initial churchwardens manned a stall in the
which was enthusiastically supported High Road selling bricks which gave
by the local families. The church was passers-by the opportunity to
very popular and over the years contribute towards their new parish
provided not only a centre for worship church. Although these bricks were
but also activities which included all not personalised I imagine many
age groups. sharp eyes have spotted a 'W' in-
corporated, with permission, into the
However, into the 20s and 30s new frontage.
families gradually moved away and Needless to say, this does not refer
congregation numbers fell. In l960 the to anything to do with the water sup-
area was developed and Marsh Street ply!
Church was demolished. David Ward
had fond memories of being taken to
Marsh Street as a child to look for their
family 'W'. By chance he spoke to a Eileen Ward

workman on the site and they managed
to retrieve the 'W' brick.
In 1969 David was a churchwarden
at St. Mary's Parish Church
when arsonists caused a
disastrous fire which
completely gutted the church
building. The tower was
untouched and most of the
outer walls survived but every-
thing else was gone. This
period is all part of St. Mary's
history and has been well
documented.
Over the next three years a
new church building arose
from the rubble. The
congregation united in their Marsh Street Congregational Church

ideas for fund raising events

11

Prayer

When I say, ‘I am a Christian’

When I say, ‘I am a Christian’ Used by Permission
I'm not shouting, ‘I’ve been saved!’ ©1988 Carol Wimmer
I'm whispering, ‘I get lost sometimes
All Rights Reserved
That's why I chose this way’ www.carolwimmer.com
When I say, ‘I am a Christian’ www.whenisayiamachristian.com
I don't speak with human pride
I'm confessing that I stumble www.facebook.com/
Needing God to be my guide whenisayiamachristi

When I say, ‘I am a Christian’
I'm not trying to be strong

I'm professing that I'm weak
And pray for strength to carry on

When I say, ‘I am a Christian’
I'm not bragging of success
I'm admitting that I've failed
And cannot ever pay the debt

When I say, ‘I am a Christian’ O Father, give us the spirit power to
I don't think I know it all climb
I submit to my confusion To the fountain of all light, and be
purified.
Asking humbly to be taught Break through the mists of earth,
When I say, ‘I am a Christian’ the weight of the cold,
I'm not claiming to be perfect Shine forth in splendour, thou that
art calm weather,
My flaws are all too visible And quiet resting place for faithful
But God believes I'm worth it souls.
When I say, ‘I am a Christian’ To see thee is the end and the
beginning,
I still feel the sting of pain Thou carriest us, and thou dost go
I have my share of heartache before,
That’s why I seek God’s name Thou art the journey, and the
When I say, ‘I am a Christian’ journey’s end.
Boethius 480-524AD
I do not wish to judge
I have no authority

I only know I'm loved

12

Parting and remembering

The Christian Journey

‘Travel on, travel on to the kingdom Maker, despite the companionship and
that is coming, the kingdom will be fellow-feeling we encounter on the
with you all the way’ (Sydney road. ‘Thou art the journey and the
Carter) journey’s end.’
Over ten years ago I went to Iona on a
week’s retreat and was fortunate to stay At St Mary’s we have been
at the Catholic House of Prayer with fortunate to have had only three full-
five other Anglicans, all unknown, in- time rectors in over fifty years. So
cluding the former Archbishop of York, when they retire or move on we feel
David Hope. At the end of our stay I understandably sad and rather lost. It
mentioned how well we had all got to takes time to build relationships; a
know each other during our time on the Parish Priest will remember those he
island, but, most likely, would probably has married, baptised, confirmed, the
not meet-up again. I remember David families he has supported in illness,
Hope saying that it is all part of the bereavement and in other ways known
Christian journey; we travel on, like only to him. And from the
pilgrims, resting awhile, then going our parishioner’s point of view, there is a
separate ways. wrench that cannot be underestimated.
Nothing lasts forever, even though it
Over the years that has come to seemed it might. Yet our faith leads us
pass; our faith continues, but those we on, encouraging us to draw strength
encounter do not always stay with us. from all we have received during Ian’s
We remember them fondly through ministry, with thanks, courage and
inspiring words and texts, books and resilience. We travel on, trusting we
music, fellowship, acts of kindness, shall be shepherded again as
support and encouragement along the distinctively and conscientiously as we
way. But essentially it is a solitary have been in the past.
journey we are making, back to our
To paraphrase both a quote from
Mahatma Gandhi and a Celtic
Blessing. There are no goodbyes for
us. Wherever you are you will always
be in our hearts.

Dear Ian and Sally, may the
Gibraltar sun shine warm upon your
faces, and until we meet again, may
God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Penny Freeston

13

A helping hand

Community
Sponsorship

On Sunday 12th January Margaret
and I went along to the first
meeting of our local community
sponsorship group. We are five
churches: St Mary’s, St Mary with
Christ Church Wanstead, Our Lady of
Lourdes Wanstead, St Gabriel’s
Aldersbrook and St Peter’s in the
Forest, who have come together to
work out a way to sponsor, support and
absorb a refugee family into our
community. Our group is hoping to
work together to come up with a plan
to support a new Syrian family settle
into our area.
In 2015 Bishop Stephen launched Four years on, several communities in
an appeal calling on all “Christian East London and Essex have come
people in East London and Essex to together and successfully housed a
give generously, to pray for peace in refugee family in their communities
the Middle East, and to work in with the support of Chelmsford,
partnership with others so that we can RESETUK and the Home Office.
give a heartfelt and generous welcome The planning process is very
to those who are fleeing persecution exciting - we are guided by Fr Gareth
and who come to us in great need.” Jones (Chelmsford’s Refugee
Coordinator) from St Mary’s
Ilford, but have autonomy in
searching out what works
best for us. There are
thirteen of us in the core
group and we bring a variety
of skills and experiences
which we hope will cover all
the various needs of a
family!
Our first requirement is a
house for the family and
Wanstead Parish has

14

generously provided us with a small Learning the crowned
family home. Our second need is heads of England
funding; between the five churches we from 1066; a poem
need to raise at least £9000 to show the from about 70 years
Home Office that we can financially ago
assist the new family and provide
essentials that we may not have within Willy, Willy, Harry, Ste
our churches – for example an Harry, Dick, John, Harry 3,
experienced translator, or winter One , two three Neds, Richard 2,
clothes perhaps. We also need funds to Henry 4,5,6 then who?
refurbish the house, which needs a new Edward 4,5, Dick the Bad,
bathroom as well as clearing, painting, Harrys twain and Ted the Lad.
decorating, and furnishing. And our Mary, Bessy, James the Vain,
ongoing need will be for volunteers Charley, Charley, James again.
who either have particular skills or who William and Mary, Annagloria,
would like to get involved with a warm Four Georges, William and
welcome and assistance once the Victoria.
family arrives! Edward the 7th, George 5,
Edward the 8th and George
Margaret and I would love to hear who’s alive.
your ideas for fundraising, and we’d
love to know if you have skills you’d
like to share (perhaps to help get the
house ready), or if you have ideas
you’d like raised by us at one of our
planning meetings. Don't hesitate to
come to talk to us.!

If you can, please donate
through www.crowdfunder.co.uk/
wanstead

Sheba Lockley
Margaret Goldsmith

15

Sharing

Study Days at Chelmsford

Sharing Faith 1Peter 3:15 reads ‘Always be ready
to make your defence to anyone who
On Monday, 3rd February, Ian, Becca demands from you an accounting of the
and I attended a study day led by Revd hope that is in you; yet do it with gen-
Canon Imogen Nay. It was open to tleness and reverence’. When I reflect-
everyone and we met up with people ed on this, I realised that this happens
from Wanstead and Aldersbrook as to me; ‘How can you believe in a God
well as some from
Chelmsford. that allows such sadness
in the world?’ How can
The course title was your God cause cancer,
‘Sharing Faith’ and the knife crime, the holo-
idea had come from a caust, child death, poverty
General Synod report that etc. The list of terrible
had suggested that things is endless and I
ordinary people need to realised that without
‘become more confident practice, I never use these
in sharing the Good News questions as opportunities
in their everyday lives’. to explain my faith, and
To some this sounds how my faith helps me
through terrible times.
ominous - are we being And during the course, we
asked to talk about some-
thing private and personal talked to each other using
our faith to underpin
to our work mates, our responses and a method
neighbours and to
complete strangers? In Publisher Rowan & Imogen used called
fact, it turned out to be ‘testimony’. Imogen
nothing half so difficult Littlefield shared sections of Lillian
ISBN 9781566993180

or awful. We realised Daniel’s book Tell it like
through brief group discussions, that it is: Reclaiming the Practice of
we don’t often mention God in our Testimony. In her book, Daniels sug-
Sunday conversations in church and gests we share our stories in the context
we don’t often bring God into our con- of worship within church. And through
versations with each other - even when sharing faith stories, and our vulnera-
we know we’re Christians. bilities with each other, our confidence
How can we ever hope to talk of and ability to talk of God grows and we
God in secular spaces, if talk about become an ever-stronger congregation.
God is not normal in our sacred
places? Sheba Lockley

16

Sharing Resources

A faith story from me: When I was
about twelve, we had a sermon one
Sunday morning which has stayed
with me.
No one was paying much attention
until our school chaplain brought out a
big bar of chocolate and gave it to the
girl sitting at the end of the front pew.
He told her she could keep it all or got any. I so wished I’d been sitting
share some of it. We were all suddenly where they were.
alert, watching and waiting for her
answer. Chocolate was a treat which The chaplain made them stand – I
only came in tuck parcels – and they think it was just the first four pews;
didn’t come often. She said she’d less than thirty girls – and told us they
share it and I remember thinking, represented the first world, which we
phew, I know her, she’s bound to give were, in reality, all lucky enough to be
me a piece. But the chaplain suggested part of, while all of us sitting were the
she snap it in half, keep half, and give rest of the world who had no
the other half to the girl next to her. comparable treats. It was a stark
And this really gutting feeling dawned picture, there were so many of us
on me that I was sitting too far away, sitting, watching, knowing that they
and we watched and waited, hoping had chocolate while we didn’t.
and knowing all at the same time. The
process continued and the chaplain At twelve, I’d never really
continued to suggest halving and pass- considered anyone other than myself; I
ing to the next girl, until very quickly don’t really think I’d spent that much
two girls held the last two pieces. time thinking about my friends or my
family even – I was very much a self-
He went back to the first girl and absorbed child. I didn’t have any
asked her if she wanted to halve her interest in others or life in other places,
share again and she reluctantly did, or how other people might feel outside
but we knew she didn’t want to. This of my tiny, immediate space. Revd
time the piece she gave went two Birtwistle made me interested, he left
pews behind her and again we waited, me with questions and a curiosity to
hoping but knowing. find out more. How do we reconcile
what we have and enjoy, while others
When the chaplain asked her a have nothing? And I started listening,
third time to halve what she had, she and thinking.

said ‘no’, and the hope abruptly end- Sheba Lockley
ed. There was a silence and I remem-
ber feeling helplessly sad that I hadn’t

17

A precious gift

Friendship
Friendship is a precious gift that cannot be bought or sold,
but is far greater than a mountain made of gold.
For gold is cold and lifeless, it can neither see or hear,
and in time of trouble is powerless to cheer.
It has no ears to listen, no heart to understand.
It cannot bring you comfort, or reach out a helping hand.
So when you ask God for a gift, be thankful if He sends,
not diamonds, pearls or riches, but the love of true friends.

Flowers at St Mary’s at Christmas Christmas tree at St Mary’s at
18 Christmas

Quiz

Who or what are we? We are all part of the
Christian story and we all begin with “U”.

1 I am a form of anointing often given 9 I am a hymn which is often sung in
to sick people in churches. churches at the time of the washing of
2 In January we had a service for the feet on Maundy Thursday. I am
Week of Prayer for Christian ________ U_____ Caritas.
at St Barnabas Church in Woodford 10 I am found in the Book of Samuel.
I am a soldier in the army of David.
Green.
3 At St Mary’s we belong to the same My wife is called Bathsheba.
Mission and Ministry U_____ as Christ 11 Gerhard of Augsburg wrote about
Church, Wanstead and other local my life. I am Saint U_______ of
Augsburg. I was consecrated Bishop
Anglican churches.
4 Rev U________ Bell is the minister at of Augsburg on 28th December 923.
the United Reformed Church in According to legend pregnant women
Woodford Green. She has preached at St who drank from my chalice had easy
Mary’s. deliveries.

5 Watoto Children’s Choir from
U________ has been singing in local
churches recently.
6 Evelyn U__________ was an English
Anglo-Catholic writer and pacifist
known for her works on Christian
mysticism. Rev Alison Clarke once
preached about her at St Mary’s.
7 U_____________ happens to priests
who are deprived of priestly office.
8 I am a chamber or vault beneath the
main floor of a church used as a burial
chamber or a chapel or oratory. Answers on page 31

19

Music at St Mary’s

Celebrating As it turns out, 2020 is what is
called a Beethoven anniversary year: in
this case, the 250th anniversary of his
Beethoven's Birthday birth in Bonn Germany in 1770. I

knew, then, when I discovered that this
year was his 250th birthday that one of
the concerts by the St Mary's Chamber
Ensemble simply had to be of his
music.
Those who have been to past
concerts of the Ensemble will realise
that it is performed by a group of
musical friends, all amateurs, who
perform classical music. Thus, there
was certainly no disagreement with the
idea of having a concert centred on
Beethoven's music, especially as there
is so much music by Beethoven that is
very satisfying to play. Of course, we
were not going to perform one of his
great symphonies simply because, as a
chamber music ensemble, we didn't
have the numbers! However, among
the pieces for small groups of
instruments, and his output of songs –
the mainstay of the Ensemble – there
was plenty of very fine stuff. And we
have included music that represents
Beethoven! There cannot be many quite a range of styles and moods;
people in the UK who have not heard ranging from the solemn seriousness of
of Beethoven. Almost everyone thinks his set of songs called Gellert Leider,
of him as a genius, one of the great to the passion and energy of the so-
composers of inspirational music that called Ghost Piano Trio, and even a
seems to speak to everyone. His music few light-hearted and charming
turns up often in classical music samples of his Scottish Folksongs
concerts, and classical musicians today settings that are rarely performed.
still readily pay homage to his Other pieces are the remarkable and
extraordinary gifts. He was a towering powerful Third Cello Sonata in A, and
figure in European classical music who a work that is often considered to be
influenced pretty well every composer the most clearly romantic of all: the
from the early 19th century, through song cycle An die ferne Geliebte (To
the 20th, into arguably the present day. the distant beloved): a piece that, as

20

arguably the first great romantic Beethoven in love
song cycle, became enormously
significant to all those 19th century The rapt, tender, lyrical
romantic song writers including, in solo entry of the cello at
particular, Robert Schumann. In the start of Beethoven’s
this music we can see several of the A major cello sonata, one
themes that often appear in of the items in our
Beethoven's Music: including concert, says it all. The 39 year old
music that responds to the tragedy Beethoven was in love. Again! His
of his deafness, that expresses his marital hopes were raised. Again! His
yearning for a woman partner for hopes were to be dashed. Again! So
his life, and that exhibits his love of why was this?
nature.
The centre of his affection this time
Beethoven, of all the great was his pupil Therese Malfetti. She was
European composers, produced in a higher social class and much
music that best captures a mixture younger. Beethoven’s deafness had
of classical structure with romantic already set in. Alas, the drawbacks
intensity that the name for the didn’t stop there. Most people found
concert – "Romantic Passion, Beethoven to be ‘impossible’. Goethe,
Classical Reason" suggests. All having met him, wrote describing
our performers think of Beethoven Beethoven’s personality as being
as one of the centres of their music ‘entirely uncontrolled’. Whether prince
making, and there is great or pauper, Beethoven quarrelled with
enthusiasm among us for this just about everyone. Anecdotes of his
programme. I hope you can join ‘impossible’ behaviour throughout his
us at St Mary's, 14th March, 7.30 life would fill this magazine.
pm. Tickets (all funds to the church
and memorial hall): £8. Yet ‘underneath it all’ he was warm,
John Bradley generous and noble hearted.

Now fare you well, respected Significantly, all the ladies who
Therese. I wish you all the politely rejected him retained an
good and beautiful things of affection and admiration for him. The
this life. Bear me in memory — unselfish, generous close of
no one can wish you a Beethoven’s letter to Therese Malfetti
brighter, happier life than I — (see caption on the left) as she left
even should it be that you care Vienna, shows Beethoven at his best.
not at all for
Your devoted servant and So then ladies, if Beethoven had
friend proposed to you, would you have taken
Beethoven. him on?
Peter Wall

21

Fellowship with other faiths

THE THREE FAITHS I know this may
FORUM sound a bit lukewarm,
so I’m going to put
In the last few years I’ve become an some positives!
intermittent attender at the East It is good when local
London Three Faiths Forum (EL3FF). religious leaders, and
It was set up in 2002 to promote other attendees, can
dialogue and good relations between recognise each other
people of the three Abrahamic faiths and have each other’s contact details,
in the London Boroughs of Redbridge, and see, that there is no such thing as a
Waltham Forest, Barking and stereotypical Jewish, Christian or
Newnham. Muslim person, if we haven’t picked
this up already, in the normal course of
On its website, the Forum has five our lives.
aims, four of which unsurprisingly, are There are always different
to promote religious understanding speakers, from different faiths, who
between the peoples of the three may treat a topic differently.
faiths, although the fifth is to ‘support We meet in a range of Mosques,
for each other’s communities on issues Churches and Synagogues, so there is a
of mutual concern’. This is the only chance to become familiar with other
not explicitly religious aim, and Faiths’ buildings and systems, as well
indeed, in practise, the meetings as some people who don’t regularly
concentrate on a range of religious attend.
issues from religious perspectives. Of The social event at the end allows
the five remaining subjects for this time to chat and meet others
year, only one does not in its title informally.
mention Faith - this is ‘Environment Through all this each of us can at
or Extinction’ on 26th March. least ask ourselves questions, about the
difference between what may be in the
In some ways, as a result, the papers, or on the internet, and what
meetings skirt around the fifth aim ‘to we actually experience.
support each other’s communities, on When I googled ‘Three Faiths
issues of mutual concern’. Despite Forum’ the first thing to come up was a
this, it is good to know what the public an organisation of that name
position of different sections of supporting pupils in schools in NE
different Faiths is, on various issues, London, to meet and do activities
even if what one takes away is together with young people from other
sometimes not directly the subject of local schools where the ‘demographic’
the evening. And this, perhaps, is all was different – enabling contact
one can, or should, expect from this between people with different home
type of discussion forum. languages, religions, cultures and
demographics, and a chance to get to

22

show the direct application and balance
of the law, and disarm those trying to
undermine His message. The text from
the Torah concerned keeping God
central to our lives. Tonight, the
discussion is lively, and friendly. There
feels to be a genuine exchange of
knowledge and understanding of the
texts’ relationship with our lives and
communities. The positives above
apply.
The point is that, however small the
movement, organisations that pro-
actively enable different
‘demographics’ to meet and mutually
understand each other are an essential
building block for our modern society,
because this doesn’t happen without
effort. Small steps help.
Perhaps this is more widely
necessary than we realise. A West
Rabbi David Singer, Iman Mohamed Berliner friend of mine, brought up
under the FDR, recalled school
Omer and Rev. Ian Tarrant at the
Three Faiths Forum meeting on 13th exchanges with West Germany, so
they, as isolated Berliners, would not
February grow up feeling cut off, and ‘different’.

They did this in order to develop a
know each other. It said the shared idea of what their future could
Demographic had changed quite fast, be. As secondary schools across
and some people were unsettled by the Britain increasingly provide for very
speed of change, and quoted some local demographics, perhaps we all
YouGov research. This organisation is need this disruptive experience, to
aiming at the same social phenomena exchange understandings with our
with the same toolbox as the EL3FF. fellow citizens, and from that to
So far, so good. develop a shared responsibility for a
Tonight’s meeting consisted of a more shared world.
few small group discussions on ‘God’s This could be really good for our
Moral Law’. The Christian text was the Church, as well.
well-known story of the ‘Good
Samaritan’ and the Islamic text had a Judy Noble
similar theme, without the story
element, which Christ often used to

23

Home thoughts from abroad
Advent at Nevis

Martin and I attended St Thomas It was interesting to compare and
Anglican Church on Nevis on the contrast the style of worship with St.
Third Sunday in Advent. St. Thomas Mary’s. Three daily Bible readings
Parish Church was built in 1643, and were given for each of the following
is reputed to be the first church built in days and the first two lessons included
the West Indies and the oldest. The at least half of each text printed in
Anglican Church is within the NECA - bold type for the congregation to all
the Diocese of the North Eastern join in together. Worshippers held
Caribbean and Aruba, and we were hands during the Lord’s Prayer and the
final (family) hymn. Prayers were said
St Thomas parish church for the Sick and the Shut-Ins (those
unable to come to church) and
made very welcome, we were most birthdays and anniversaries were
likely the only visitors there. celebrated during the Notices. The
newsletter also included the number of
A bell was tolled from a rope as the those in attendance last Sunday. I
congregation began to trickle in; the noted that Harvest Thanksgiving was
ladies were very smartly dressed in to take place in February and a note to
matching hats and dresses as if godparents: ‘Seek out your
attending a wedding. Through the godchildren to ensure they are
open side door we could see the sea instructed for confirmation’. There
beyond, and the trade winds were was also a Thought for the Week:
blowing across to ruffle the air inside. Sometimes a smile could be like a ray
The invitational hymn was ‘I looked of light to someone in a hopeless
up and saw my Lord a-coming down storm.
the Road’ and the Advent wreath was
lit, with explanatory notes given in the St Thomas is linked to St James
order of service/ newsletter. Parish Church (with the same retired
priest leading both congregations
during an interregnum). St James
Winward Church was built in the late
17th century and is one of three
Anglican churches in the Caribbean to
display a black crucifix. Despite Nevis

24

being hardly more than 36 square
miles in total there are seven
Anglican churches on the island, and
a synagogue built around 1684 for a
small a Jewish community near
Charlestown. Methodism arrived on
the island in 1787 and there are
many more free churches in the

Montpelier House

master worshipped together.
We came to Nevis, once known as
‘Queen of the Caribees’, to find out
more about Lord Nelson, having read
a book entitled ‘Nelson’s First
Love’ by Patrick Delaforce. He and
Fanny Nisbet were married there in
1787. We visited Montpelier House
where their wedding took place, the
hot springs and the Nelson Museum
nearby. We stayed on the historic
Nisbet Plantation owned by Fanny’s
in-laws,. Her first husband Josiah had
been a doctor on Nevis but returned to
Fanny Nisbet England when he became unwell. He

vicinity. ‘Church is everything’, one died in a house they rented in the
local lady told me and often people Close, Salisbury, and Fanny and her
attended a particular church according young son subsequently returned to
to the door-to-door transport it live with her uncle at Montpelier
provided. On Saturday we passed by a House. It was there that she met a
Seven Day Adventist Church; the young sea captain, Horatio Nelson,
door was open and the tune who was to become her second
‘Greensleeves’ was being played on husband.
the organ. Another day we visited the
ruins of Cottle Church, built by John Penny Freeston
Cottle in 1824, who was once the
President of Nevis and a planter. It
was the only church where slaves and

25

fFoamcilyus

Renewal of promises for Brownies and Guides at
the main service on 23rd February

Janet Dunning talks to a
former scoutmaster at
Churchfields Care Home
26

Churchfields Cookery Club

At my school we have many different clubs to choose from, either in the morn-
ing, at lunch or after school. One of the ones I take part in is cooking club. There
we do savoury, then sweet, savoury, sweet and so on.
My favourite dish so far (up to half term) is, you may think I will say the ‘I nev-
er got to eat them,’ triple chocolate chip cookies, well you are wrong.
I actually enjoyed making the orange polenta cake. Here`s the recipe:
Ingredients
250g unsalted butter
250g golden caster sugar
4 large eggs
140g polenta
200g plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
Zest and juice of 2 oranges
(less 100ml juice for the glaze)
For the orange glaze
100ml orange juice
100g golden caster sugar
Method
1. Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3(not 4). Line the base and sides of a round
23cm cake tin with baking parchment. Cream the butter and sugar together until
light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time and mix thoroughly. Once the mix-
ture is combined, add all the dry ingredients and the zest and juice after you
have measured off 100ml for the glaze.
2. Transfer the mixture to the tin, spread evenly, then cook for about 45 mins or
until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean. Remove
from the oven and turn out onto a wire rack to cool.
3. To make the glaze, put the juice and sugar in a medium saucepan and bring to
the boil. Let it simmer for 5 mins, then remove from the heat and allow to cool.
Drizzle the orange glaze over the top of the cooled cake. Serve with Lemon ice
cream, below.
This is a great dish and I really recommend it, it is also gluten free if you use
gluten free baking powder!
Josie Kay

27

Do you have a spare room?
HOST UK’s Lent Appeal 2020

At this time of year, we regularly appeal to parishioners to consider your
Lenten offering, urging you not to give something up but to do something
positive. Every year we get the much-needed response. Thank you. Please help
us again this year.

Will you consider inviting an
international student to your home,
for one day (daytime only) or for a
weekend? Share a meal,
conversation and exchange cultural
traditions and views of the world. It
is so very rewarding for both host
and student guest.
Please consider becoming one of
our volunteer hosts. We operate all
year round and would very much
welcome you to join us.
Information can be found on our website: www.hostuk.org
Or email us on: [email protected]
Or telephone us on: 020 7739 6292
*If you are unable to host but would like to support this cause please send
your donation to the Big Give
https://donate.thebiggive.org.uk/donate/a051r00001ObYZLAA3
or by cheque to
HOST UK
Sylvia Adams House
24 The Common
Hatfield
Hertfordshire
AL10 0NB

28

Fitting in?

A CELEBRATION OF
STATE RELIGION?

In the Winter edition of this magazine ops, but with the in-depth involvement
I wrote an article (under the above of experts, campaigners, academics,
title) about what it means to be a scientists etc. There is no pre-
member of the Church of England and determined conclusion for this docu-
yet in the 21st century still, as a gay ment. Rather it aims to bring together
person, to feel excluded. I sent a copy people who disagree deeply into dia-
of our magazine to the Archbishop of logue that can help map out where we
Canterbury and this is his reply. Is it are, why we are where we are and what
possibly a glimmer of hope for change the next steps may be. This document
and reform? will then go to General Synod where it
Philip Swallow will be debated extensively before
decisions are made as to what could or
Dear Mr. Swallow could not be done. Synod would then
Thank you for taking the time to need to vote, and people from the houses
of laity, clergy and bishops would all
share your article from your church have a voice. There is no way to short
magazine, which I read with great in- circuit this process of deep listening to
terest. I can assure you that Archbish- one another and to God. These resources
op Justin is under no illusion about the entitled Living in Love and Faith (due to
diverse range of opinions on human be ready for the wider church this year)
sexuality that are held throughout the will enable us all to have more wisdom
entire Anglican Communion, nor in these very complicated areas of our
about how strongly those opinions are life together.
held and the challenge this debate pos-
es. In that context the Archbishop is Thank you again for taking the time
often asked to speak decisively on to write to the Archbishop on this im-
matters of human sexuality. portant issue and please be assured of
our prayers and good wishes.
Unlike the Pope the Archbishop
has no formal authority, although a Lambeth Palace
great deal of influence. He has en- Dominic Goodall Correspondence
couraged the start of a process of deep Officer
reflection on the topic of human
sexuality. An episcopal teaching docu-
ment is being worked on, led by bish-

29

From whom our bell tolls

Sir Thomas Rowe (1580-1644)

the donor of the oldest bell at St Mary’s

Sir Thomas Rowe was born at Leyton Greek
in about 1580, matriculated as a Testament
commoner of Magdalen College, (now in the
Oxford, in 1593 and soon took up a British
position in the court of Queen Museum) as a
Elizabeth where he became very present to
popular. He was knighted in 1604 James I from
when still only 24 years old. the patriarch
of the Greek
In 1609 Henry, Prince of Wales, church.
sent him on the first of three voyages
of discovery to the West Indies, during In 1629 he was again sent as peace
which he sailed 300 miles up the envoy to negotiate a treaty between
“River of Amozones”, until then Sweden and Poland and, having
unknown to English explorers. succeeded in this, he finalised a treaty
with Denmark on his way home.
In 1614 James I appointed him Rowe won the respect of many foreign
Ambassador to the Great Mogul, leaders, but when he returned to
Emperor of Hindustan, in north-west England was given little reward for his
India. He was instructed to negotiate a effort. For six years he lived in
commercial treaty for the East India retirement on limited means with his
Company and his skills in diplomacy wife, Eleanor, daughter of Sir Thomas
laid the foundations for the expansion Cave, even though Charles I owed him
of British India. In 1621 Rowe was a vast sum for some diamonds which
sent to Constantinople (Istanbul, in he had purchased for the king at
Turkey) where he succeeded in Constantinople. Finally, in 1637, he
mediating a peace treaty between was appointed Chancellor of the order
Turkey and Poland with the liberation of the Garter and granted a pension.
of many Polish exiles at
Constantinople. Rowe also managed When he was at home, between
to improve relations between England missions, Sir Thomas Rowe served his
and Algiers, resulting in the release of countrymen as a Member of
over 700 English captive mariners. Parliament and also wrote several
While in Turkey he collected a large memoirs about his foreign adventures.
number of manuscripts which he In 1640 he became a member of the
eventually gave to the Bodleian Privy Council and in that year he
Library at Oxford and he also brought acquired the manor of Woodford.
back the Alexandrian Mss of the Sadly, he died four years later and was

30

buried at St.Mary’s Church, right by “THE GIFT OF LADY ELIANOR
the Communion Table, on 8th ROWE ANNO 1668
November 1644. In his will he left £80 NEW CAST WITH THE OTHER 5
towards the construction of a new aisle BELLS 1721
“whensoever the Parish should R.PHELPS MADE ME.”
demand it” and this was eventually It is the tenor, tuned to F sharp,
built fifty years later at a total cost of weighs just over half a ton and is 3 ft.
£126 5s. Sir Thomas Rowe was 4 inches.
learned, devout, reliable and yet Lady Eleanor Rowe died in London
charming; devoted to the king, though and was buried at Woodford on 6th
lightly rewarded in his service. It is December 1675.
known that a Dr.Gerard Langbaine (With thanks to Michael Sykes who
wrote an epitaph to Sir Thomas Rowe showed me the bell)
but no memorial to him was ever
erected. Georgina Green

The tower of St.Mary’s church has
eight bells – the oldest bears the
inscription:-

Quiz : answers to
questions on page 19
1 unction
2 Unity
3 Unit
4 Ulrike (Bell)
5 Uganda
6 Underhill
7 unfrocking
8 undercroft
9 Ubi
10 Uriah (the Hittite)
11 Ulrich (of Augsburg)

Back cover: The guides singing carols at Churchfields
Care Home

31

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 11th May 2020

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

32