Summer 2021

St Mary’s Woodford
Parish Magazine

Volume 12 number 2 www.stmaryswoodford.org.uk

SPECIAL SUMMER BUMPER EDITION

Summer 2021

Welcome

What has surprised you recently?
In early April, my husband Reuben and I had a day off and went walking in
Epping Forest. It was a beautiful spring day, with the sun creating wonderful
dappled shadows through the trees. We were walking with friends and it was so
good to catch up with them in person after months of lockdown. There was a
wonderful sense of joyful freedom, and gratitude for being alive and
acknowledging our belonging in God's creation. We hadn't planned where to
walk - we just found an interesting-looking path and followed it, found a coffee
place, and then set off in another direction into the trees.

We came across some water and
beside it a tree that was so far
bent over that it was lying on the
ground, yet still attached at the
roots. We assumed it was a dead
tree. Then we looked a bit closer
and one of our friends noticed
some sprigs and green leaves
growing from the top of the tree.
"Wow- I wasn't expecting that!
What a sign of resurrection", we
said to each other. I took a photo.
It is time stamped 11:39. Our
walk continued, we found our
way back to our cars and on the way home, we heard on the radio the sad
announcement of the death of the Duke of Edinburgh. The resurrection tree had
been photographed presumably after Prince Philip died, but before the world
knew. Later that day, amongst planning the arrangements for mourning Prince
Philip, I checked the map and discovered our walk near the resurrection tree had

Front cover: Seekers at St Mary’s Pentecost service
2

taken us very close to the Wake Ponds, Parish Register
where tragically the body of Richard
Okorogheye had been found earlier that Marriage:
week. Many of us had been praying for Kit Dobson and Gerry Everett 8th
Richard's safe return and had noted he May
would have travelled through South Funerals:
Woodford on his way to Epping Forest. Richard Martin - 27th April
We included prayers to remember Richard Laura Magnus - 28th April
and those mourning him on Sunday as Lillian Carter - 17th May
well as the minute's silence and prayers in Ellen McCarthy - 24th May
memory of Prince Philip, and in support of Deidre Lake - 9th June
the Queen and the Royal Family. Confirmation:
Charlotte Goodchild, Josephine
Agreeing a plan for how we would Kay, Bryony Bennett, Joseph
mark a death in the Royal Family was one Coley, Habiba Rye - 14th March
of the first things I did with the wardens Baptism:
when I arrived at St Mary's. The plan Joseph Coley - 7th March
mentioned the altar frontal going purple
no matter the liturgical season and There is always a copy of the
changing the readings to funereal ones. latest parish magazine on the St
And yet on 9 April, fewer than two weeks Mary’s website
after 'Stay at home' ended, with fresh www.stmaryswoodford.org.uk
memories of joyful Easter Day You can find it by scrolling down
celebrations, and all the wonder and to the ‘Our Publications’ heading.
freedom of spring everywhere, it was
abundantly clear that the most appropriate
way to pay our respects to Prince Philip
was by pausing respectfully before
continuing to celebrate the resurrection in
white and gold, his and our great hope and
promise, amid all the vulnerability and
strangeness of this Covid-dominated era.
May we continue to be open to the ways
God surprises us, to the signs of
resurrection all around us even in the
midst of tragedy and pain, and how the
Holy Spirit connects us with people and
situations around us, often in the most
unexpected ways.
Revd Dr Elizabeth Lowson, e mail:
[email protected]

3

Life at St Mary’s

In the Spring 2021 edition St Mary’s thought about it. Could the church be
Jane Fone described what house heated by a ground source heat pump?
group 13 were considering during (Probably not). Couldn’t Redbridge
lockdown. One of the other house do more by way of recycling? Can it
groups met as a Lent group. Philip be right that we export so much
Petchey writes (below) of that Lent rubbish abroad?
group’s considerations for
engagement. On the opposite page By a cruel co-incidence, Frances
Philip sets that group’s considerations Ward’s arrival in Workington was at
in a wider context. the same time as proposals were
coming forward for a new coal mine.
There is no escaping the challenges
that we face, each in his own
Our Lent Group circumstances.

The overriding requirement of being We shall need to go on asking
an Eco Church (see opposite) is these questions. Meeting by Zoom
engagement with the great ecological perhaps focused our thoughts but we
issues facing us at the moment. We look forward to meeting again in
must do this in the light of our calling person.
and with the help of God’s word.
Philip Petchey (Convenor)
In our Group we used Frances If you would like a copy of our
Ward’s book ‘Like there’s no report to the PCC, please e mail me at
tomorrow’ published by Sacristry [email protected].
Press ISBN 978-1-78959-088-3, as a And you will be very welcome to
starting point. This contains her re- borrow my copy of Frances Ward’s
flections as she undertook a canal book.

journey from her old home in East Philip Petchey
Anglia (she was Dean of St
Edmundsbury) to a new job in
Workington. She suggests that the
despair which the Psalmist in psalm
130 felt at that time may mirror our
own at the climate crisis; but that
likewise as the Psalmist is never
ultimately defeated, neither should we
be.
Using these resources as a
backdrop and prompt, we thought
more particularly about particular eco
issues. We covered some familiar
territory; but some that was less so. If
none of us have yet identified an easy
substitute for cling film, at least we

4

Life at St Mary’s Members of our church care very
much about global warming. But
Becoming an Eco Church they may feel powerless and they
may not know what they could be
At its meeting in February 2020, doing to help. The church can be
General Synod had before it a motion the place where we engage with
for the Church of England to reach these issues.
net zero carbon emissions by 2030.
The original motion was to reach that We may be beaten to the post
target by 2045. Let’s be radical, on at least some of this this by
Synod said, as it cut the target. But as Churchfields Junior School, who,
we know, fine words butter no by the time you read this, will have
parsnips. Ten years isn’t very long already done their own eco survey
and if the target be missed, it will of St Mary’s. Their work will be
reflect very badly on the church. available to the Eco Group. But, as
one might expect, we ourselves
Chelmsford wants to become an have already done quite a bit of the
Eco Diocese and wants the churches work, although it has not yet been
within it to be Eco Churches. The brought together into one plan.
starting point is an eco-audit and our Philip Petchey
Eco Working Group will be doing
just that. But once our footprint is Philip’s remarks about Churchfields
audited, how do we reduce it? If the Junior School have turned out to be
line of proposed action does not exist correct. After Philip sent in his
- so that 100 in 2021 becomes 0 in article, pupils from Churchfields
2030 - what are we saying about Junior School visited St Mary’s to
ourselves, our aspirations and the conduct an environmental review.
reduction of global warming? There is plenty we are doing well
and they also gave us lots of ideas
But Eco church is about much to work on. The children were glad
more than addressing a technical to see bees in the graveyard and
challenge. The existence of eco gave us some wildflower seeds and
issues has to be recognised in our a bee friendly plants guide.
worship and teaching. Again, this is See photograph on next
easier said than done because there is page
so much which needs to be reflected
in our worship and teaching. And
worship and teaching which does not
result in engagement with the
community is not worth very much.
If we think that Redbridge should be
doing more, what do we do about it?
If we think that the Government
should be doing more, what do we do
about it? And of course there are own
lives. What about that cling film?

5

Life at St Mary’s

Deputy Head Teacher Mr Easter and children
from Churchfields Junior School at St Mary’s.
(See page 5)

When a man’s ways please the Lord,
he makes even his enemies to be at peace
with him.
Better is a little with righteousness
Than great revenues with injustice.
From Proverb 16

6

Foodbank: tin in a bin

Tin in a Bin become lifelines. St Mary's has been
a food bank donation point for some
time and our linking in to Tin in a
At the beginning Bin is not designed to in anyway
of the pandemic undermine that, but this network
in March 2020 a allows our wider communities to
group of homes look after one another and I would
in Aldersbrook, really like to encourage members of
Wanstead and our congregation to consider being
South Woodford donation points.
became If you would like more
collection points information please contact me
for Foodbank donations to help fill ([email protected] or mobile
the gap left by the closure of regular 07779 803476) and I can put you in
collection places due to Lockdown touch with the organisers.
1. This network has grown over the
course of the last year and St Mary's Adela Jones
PCC has been approached to support
and perhaps offer some of our homes PS At the time of finalising this
as collection points to widen the edition there are five tin in a bin
collection points at the homes of
network. people connected to St Mary’s.
In March, Elizabeth and I were
added to the map, which now extends
into Woodford. The idea is to make
donating easy and local. I have a bin,
(a very clean one) with a lid in my
driveway and posters on the gates. I
did a leaflet drop just to my road so
they know it is happening and then I
have left it to people to donate or
not. I have already taken three full
bins worth across to the central
collecting point in St Mary's,
Wanstead from where it is distributed
both to local foodbanks and homeless
charities.
The rise in food poverty over the
course of the last year has been
dramatic and horrifying. When
people are locked in schools and
communities cannot feed children or
identify needs. Our food banks have

7

Life at St Mary’s

Above: Greensted church—exterior and
interior

Radiance personified: Gerry and Kit
Everett on their wedding day

On the way home from taking our daughter to hospital in Harlow Martin and I
parked by Greensted Chuch near Ongar and decided to walk the footpaths in the
spring sunshine. The circular route is flat, edged by hedgerows. There is parking
available close by the church and benches in the churchyard on which to sit and
enjoy a picnic. Greensted Church itself is beautiful and we were fortunate to
find it open so we could go inside. People have worshipped here continuously
for 1300 years: the only wooden church to have survived from Saxon times.
Although only the Nave walls are Saxon, Greensted Church has been extended
and altered over the centuries and features a Tudor tiled roof, windows and
brickwork, a Crusader’s grave, an early tower with weatherboard cladding and
Victorian additions.
For more information visit www.greenstedchurch.org.uk

Penny Freeston
8

A tragic death
Richard Okorogheye

.

Flowers in tribute to Richard Okorogheye at Epping Forest

A prayer in response to Richard Okorogheye's death. Richard
would have travelled through South Woodford on his way to
Epping Forest.

God our Creator, source of life, love, and
justice,
We are deeply saddened at the death of
Richard Okorogheye.
Help us hear the anguish of those bereaved,
Send your Holy Spirit to comfort all who
mourn
And to ensure none are forgotten.
All this we ask in the name of Jesus Christ
our Saviour.
Amen.

9

Holy week re-enacted

During Holy Week Mark Lewis performed a series of dramatic modern day
monologues in which Jesus is recast as Joshua (from ‘Yeshua’ - the Hebrew name
for Jesus) a contemporary and charismatic character who emerges with a powerful
social and spiritual message. He conducts an extraordinary ministry around the UK
acquiring a loyal band of followers on his travels. He makes many bold and
controversial challenges to politicians, religious leaders and other authority figures
and many denounce him. Joshua eventually faces a court hearing and is finally
hounded by a mob, beaten and assassinated.
Three Followers of Joshua - Pete, John and Tom, each sitting in a bar, give their
individual account of events and share their horror and sadness.

Mark’s dramatic monologues were well-received. Comments made included:
‘The monologues were very well-crafted and showed the mixture of fear,
uncertainty and nostalgia that the disciples experience, all instantly recognisable to
us over 2,000 years later.’
‘Absolutely brilliant - very moving and thought-provoking.’
‘We were very impressed with the professional presentations by Mark. His writing
and acting were first class and told the story of Holy Week in a very different
manner.’
There were quite a few questions too. About how Mark set about this. Mark was
using ‘method acting’. We asked Mark to tell us about this. His article is below.

A Journey into Method Acting

Why I did I decide to engage with method acting?
Maybe, the desire to know what it feels like to be somebody else or the closest you can
get to that! I admit to having had a desire to get involved with acting for over 40 years.
I spent much of my professional life in education and with my current part-time career
as a public speaker and a good few years of being a lay reader behind me, I always felt
confident about performing and putting myself before an audience. I believed I had
something to build on. So, when the first lockdown began in March last year, I heard
that one of London’s top acting schools, the Brian Timoney Actors’ Studio, was
offering online method acting courses, I jumped at the opportunity. Brian is known as
“The International Master of the Method” so I was privileged to have his instruction

10

Holy week re-enacted through daily classes
for several months.
‘Peter’ Every week I
submitted exercises on
the form of self-taped
monologues and
received recorded
critiques that were
always informed,
perceptive and
encouraging. The
classes were a truly
transformative
experience.

What is method acting?

Method acting is defined as ‘the reality of truth brought into performance’.
It differs from ‘indicative acting’ which is about imitating the events a
character is experiencing. A method actor is authentically living every-
thing the character is going through. It’s a process of transformation
not imitation. So, method actors
make their performance look
completely natural and instinc-
tive. They are accessing their own
real emotions. They live and react
in the moment. There is much use
of improvisation, and responding
intuitively and spontaneously to
things and actions as they arise! It
is not surprising that many directors
find some method actors very diffi-
cult to work with! Some of the big
method actor names include: Jack
Nicholson, Tom Hanks, Sean Penn, ‘John’

Al Pacino, Robert de Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie and Meryl
Streep to name but a few.

How do you learn to be a method actor?

11

Holy week re-enacted

‘Thomas’ defined characters and build up a
narrative. Relaxation techniques
“I am not teaching you to act”, said are of course, also a regular fea-
Brian Timoney at the beginning, “I am ture of the training.
teaching you how to be”. That is the
essence of method acting. The technique My Holy Week monologues
began in the late nineteenth century with are my first attempts at writing
the work of a Russian actor named and performing. They are far
Konstantin Stanislavski. He called his from perfect but I was trying to
approach ‘spiritual realism’. Rather than follow the method actors creed
putting on the mantle of their characters, and perform without artifice or
Stanislavski wanted his student actors to fakery. It took a while to get used
inhabit them emotionally so they could to the idea that in one sense, I was
capture emotional life in deeply moving, not trying to act, I was just trying
naturalistic performances. Training in to be me, but expressed through
the method involves actors working the mind, actions and personality
from their own life experiences and of another. Attempting to achieve
identifying personally with their true naturalism and trying to
characters. There is deep internalization simply be is actually quite a
of every aspect of the character. They challenge!
reach into their own unconscious and Mark Lewis
there are many exercises to develop You can access Mark’s
‘sense memory’ in order to heighten the re-enactments on
character and access any emotion on www.youtube.com/
demand. stmaryswoodford

Central to the teaching approach is
‘etude’ work. Students are paired and
work through simple, sometimes quite
banal dialogues, without knowing the
‘back story’ and are encouraged to each
use their imagination to create the un-

12

Counting calories: advanced arithmetic
Sweet treats can inspire faith

Greek baklava is traditionally made with
33 layers of dough corresponding to the 33
years of Christ’s life.
Agatha buns are shaped like breasts to
honour Saint Agatha, the patron saint of
Catania, a martyr who was tortured by
having her breasts cut off with pincers.

St Bride’s Church, which is
just off Fleet Street and was
built by Sir Christopher
Wren, is thought to be the
inspiration for the tiered
wedding cake. There are four
tiers of the steeple, which
diminish in size the higher
they are. The pastry chef
William Rich (1755 -1811) is
thought to be the inventor of
the wedding cake.
Simnel cake is a fruitcake
associated with Lent and
Easter. It has layers of
almond paste or marzipan,
often with one in the middle and one on the top and a set of eleven balls
made of the same paste, symbolising the twelve apostles minus Judas
Iscariot. Occasionally there are twelve balls representing Jesus and the
eleven apostles.
Cheryl Corney

13

Life at St Mary’s

March /April Questionnaire: How should we
emerge from lockdown at St Mary’s?

Many thanks to everyone who readings and Ann and Ian ‘cantoring’
responded to St Mary’s from their sofas or dining tables. And
questionnaire. A summary of we are all peering in from the
responses, together with Elizabeth’s ‘gallery’, reminding me of early
initial observations can still be Christians holed up in catacombs in
located on the following link:- Ancient Rome.
https://drive.google.com/drive/
u/0/ I’ve always loved Compline; the
folders/0B8y_Qct18WnvQ2lPZjZ combination of traditional music,
nUktYXzg sublime words and prayers and the
One action already made in response poignant hymn: ‘Before the Ending of
to comments made in the the Day’ captures something very
questionnaire was to extend on-line affirming, taking us back down
Compline services to Eastertide. through the centuries to when the
Penny Freeston shares some Manor of Woodford was granted to
thoughts (below) on the affirmative the Abbey at Waltham, and a church
effect of Compline for her. existed by the 12th century. I’ve often
attended Compline in cathedrals and
Compline abbeys but our ‘homespun’ service is
even closer to my heart.
The ancient office of Compline
derives its name from a Latin word During those dark uncertain days
meaning ‘completion’ (completorium). of winter lockdown Compline kept me
It is a service of quietness and going. My sister (aged 58) died in
reflection before rest at the end of the February, our older daughter’s dog
day. died on the operating table giving
birth to puppies in March, and now in
For the last few months we have April our younger daughter has been
been attending Compline on Zoom on very ill and her premature baby is in
Sunday evenings. It has been uplifting, hospital (see photograph opposite).
comforting and cosy seeing the same But Compline endures, even on these
familiar faces week in and out, lighter evenings as we look forward to
especially since services in church did unlocking further as the pandemic
not resume till Palm Sunday. There is recedes.
Elizabeth in the rectory sitting room, ‘Keep me as the apple of your eye.
John’s powerful voice sharing Hide me under the shadow of your
wings.’
Penny Freeston

14

Life at St Mary’s

Woodford Wells Ecumenical Church members
from Bancrofts School Chapel

The former members of Woodford Woodford Wells Ecumenical Church
Wells Ecumenical Church (WWEC)
who are now worshipping at St.
Mary’s wish to thank you all for the
warm welcome shown to us. The
Ecumenical Church closed in April
2021 after 37 years worshipping in
Bancroft’s School chapel, but St.
Mary’s PCC has generously provided
a venue for our mid-week fellowship
meeting to continue. Two founder
members of WWEC have written a
short history of the church and email
copies are available from Diana
Newlands for anyone interested.
[email protected]
Diana Newlands and David Hatch

Arthur in Great Ormond And Jesus comes to us today - as He did
Street Hospital on the cross 2,000 years ago - offering an
unburdened soul to us who lay our
baggage at His feet and take up the yoke
of rest He provides. Will you lay it down?
Will you take His easy yoke? With nail-
scarred hands He provides His strength in
exchange for our weariness and reminds
us to let Him carry us. That’s what His
outstretched arms are for.
Ruth Chou Simons from ‘Gracelaced’

15

Life at St Mary’s

Faith and mental health: how I came to be
confirmed at 39

Eventually I came across a leaflet
for the hospital chaplaincy service at
Goodmayes Hospital and decided this
was something I wanted to explore.
This might finally be an opportunity
to discuss my symptoms from a
spiritual perspective. With the
confidence or lack of inhibition of
someone who was mentally unwell at
the time, I went straight to the
chaplaincy office and requested to talk
to someone. Initially I wanted to ‘try
out’ each of the chaplains to see who I
would gel with. They accommodated
this request and I had 1 to 1 sessions
with each of the three chaplains before
plumping for Tony.
Tony agreed to meet with me for
Most of my life I have said of myself, an hour a fortnight. He was very
“I’m spiritual but not religious”. This paternal and helped me in many ways,
began to change when I had my first including by listening to the many ups
episode of Psychosis which lead to my and downs in my relationship with my
hospitalisation in 2014. The own father, which was under strain at
symptoms I was experiencing seemed that time. When I was discharged
supernatural in nature – hearing things from Goodmayes Hospital I continued
and seeing things. Indeed the term my chaplaincy sessions with Tony
“spiritual attack” was one frequently until he retired.
used by inpatients to refer to their Meanwhile the sale of my
experiences, as they commonly Richmond flat, which I jointly owned
believed they were communicating with my father, was underway. In
with angels or demons. The many 2017 I moved into my new flat in
psychiatrists I saw in my various Churchfields, South Woodford. At
hospital stays over the next few years this stage I knew nothing about St.
were not interested in having a Mary’s or the Anglican church, but
conversation about such things, but presented myself at St. Mary’s one
only in prescribing medication. day asking about chaplaincy services.

16

Life at St Mary’s

version as my concentration was poor
due to medication, and I found this
easier to read. As well as the
suggested reading, I also attended
Ian’s ‘Just Looking’ course, and later
his ‘Confirmation course.’.

One thing lead to another and one
day I told Ian I would like to be
baptised. I was a bit surprised to hear
myself saying those words, as one
who had always been ‘spiritual but
not religious’. However, it felt like
the right time. These plans had to be
postponed as in May 2019 I was
sectioned once again (for what was
now the 6th time in my life). As hard
as it was, I am pleased to say that this
experience didn’t make me turn
against God with thoughts of ‘why
did you let this happen to me’?

I took time to recover from my
I had found those sessions so helpful
with Tony, I was keen to continue
them with someone else.

Ian Tarrant, the Rector at the time,
was very welcoming and agreed to see
me for half an hour a fortnight, which I
did until he moved to his new post last
year. Ian offered different things from
Tony, which were equally valuable. Ian
guided me to read around the subject of
Christianity. At that time I had no
bible, so he gave me a slim copy of the
Good News version of Luke’s gospel
as a starting point. Perhaps in
sensitivity to my mental health history,
he proposed I start with Luke, who was
himself a doctor.

At no point did Ian force religion on
me, so I felt comfortable to read Luke,
then purchase and begin to read my
own bible. I chose the Good News

17

Life at St Mary’s

hospital stay, plus my shyness lead me hospital again. Time will tell if this is
to put off my baptism for a while as I true. However I take courage from the
felt anxious about standing in front of fact that we have all had a difficult
a big congregation. In the end Ian year in 2020 due to the pandemic.
conducted a very small and intimate Covid, plus certain other personal
baptism for me in the chapel of St issues, could have tipped me over the
Mary’s on 13th February 2020. edge, but it didn’t. If ever there was a
It was attended just by close year to relapse, 2020 was it.
friends, family and my two sponsors: I look forward to getting more
Margaret Igglesden and Roberta involved in the church as time goes
Flynn. I did genuinely feel touched by on, with the help of chaplaincy
the Holy Spirit after my baptism and it sessions which I am pleased to say our
was remarked by one attendee that I new Rector, Elizabeth, is continuing
was ‘glowing’. to provide.
After a year of going in and out of
lockdown due to Covid, I was Bryony Bennett
confirmed by Bishop Peter Hill at St.
Gabriel’s Aldersbrook on 14th March
2021. Eight of us, kids and adults,
were confirmed in this Covid safe
service. Each candidate was allowed a
maximum of four supporters. All the Loving God,
congregation wore masks. Those who draw us on the journey
couldn’t attend could watch the to the places of holiness,
the places of peace,
service on Zoom. the places of fellowship,
People were keen to ask me how I
felt after being confirmed. Two words the places of encounter,
that sprang to mind were ‘daunted’ the places of beauty,
the places where faith has
and ‘inadequate’, due to the great been lived,
commitment I had made! I was not
expecting an instant transformation on your love made known,
being confirmed. Instead I have a your hope held out
sense that this is the beginning of the in the past,
rest of my life.
Fundamental to my faith is the for the present,
Into your future.
belief that God is good, and wants Amen
good for me. As it says in Jeremiah
29:11 ‘I alone know the plans I have
for you, plans to bring you prosperity
and not disaster, plans to bring about
the future you hope for’ (GNV). I
choose to believe I will never go in

18

News from our mission partners

Our Mission Partners, Tom and Isaiah 46:3-4
Verity Clare have returned to the UK
from Uganda with their four boys ‘Listen to me, descendants of Jacob,
because of the serious illness of all you who remain in Israel. I have
Verity's mother. They sent us news cared for you since you were
having arrived back safely. Verity born. Yes, I carried you before you
writes of being so grateful for the were born.
way things have fallen into place I will be your God throughout your
including:

- ‘ We now have a house, an unused lifetime until your hair is white with
rectory, to move into in a village age. I made you, and I will care for
near my parents. you. I will carry you along and save

- The local C of E school has been you.’
so kind in working hard to fit the
two older boys into classes after I've often felt over this week that God
half term, with space for Simeon must be having so much fun,
in the upcoming reception class in coordinating all these little details and
September. must have such a joyful smile on his
- Tom (having been on the verge of face when we get the email or phone
taking himself off the UK list of call to say the next thing has 'fallen
registered GPs whilst we were in into place'. We hope that you can be
Uganda) is able to go straight back encouraged by this email and we give
to work as a GP and (due to the all the glory to our loving, faithful
coronavirus pandemic), his next father in
GP appraisal should be very heaven.
straightforward’.
Blessings,
‘We are so thankful to God for his Verity,
abundant provision over these last Tom,
three weeks and for your prayers. He Ezra, Eli,
is such a faithful God.’ Simeon
and Joel.

Verity adds; ‘a friend sent this verse Ezra, Eli and Simeon
in reply to our last email, with the
feeling that God was carrying us. We
have definitely felt this over these
three weeks and once again are so
thankful to you all for holding us up
in prayer’.

back in the UK

19

Assurance
Safeguarding

Safeguarding is for everyone! We can You can also always email me
all contribute to making a safer or call the office if you get stuck.
church.
The only bit of information
Last year, while working on our you’ll need is our Parish Code,
Community Sponsorship project, each which is ‘07.21’
member of our core group completed
the Chelmsford Diocese Adult and Once you’ve completed one
Child Safeguarding Courses. course, you can log back in and do
the other. You’ll need an enrolment
These two online courses are really key; it’s ‘snowdrop’ for the Child
accessible, interesting and useful, and Safeguarding and ‘poppy’ for Adult
anyone can access and complete them. Safeguarding.

Whilst each course should take less Have a go! Safeguarding is
than an hour to complete, you do not everyone’s responsibility and this
need to finish them in one visit. course has plenty of useful
Instead, you can work your way information, everyday examples
through each course using shorter and recognisable scenarios. It
periods of time, picking up exactly provides a clear guide of what to do
where you previously left off each if you ever come across a
time you revisit. worrying incident.
Sheba Lockley
It’s easy to access through http://
www.cofelearning.org/index.html and
you’ll be guided through the process.

And there’s a clear step-by-step
guide if you need help. You can find it
on the Chelmsford Diocese website
or, if you’re reading this on-line, by
clicking:-

https://www.chelmsford.anglican.org/uploads-new/pages/
Updated_Guidelines_online_training_13.10_.19__.pdf.

20

The church and Covid

Encouraging results from Churches and Covid
questionnaire

In September 2020 a survey was  Supporting churches in their
launched by the Centre for the Study of contribution to community
Christianity and Culture at the Univer- wellbeing and recovery
sity of York. The survey looked at
churches, communities and buildings  Churches and Communities:
during Covid and beyond. The survey provision of social care
attracted a large number of responses
(including mine) from clergy, church  Churches and Communities:
members and the general public. Many buildings, wellbeing, place-
of us (including me) were also making and heritage
interviewed on Zoom or on the
telephone. The material was analysed  Churches and Communities:
with reports provided to national supporting grief and loss.
church leaders and for submission to
the Government. The site http://
churchesandcovid.org provides
There is recognition of the multi- more information and the
faceted contribution made to society by Report which was published in
churches. As one non church member March 2021. The report is
said ‘Keep churches open at all costs. significant and well worth reading.
Don’t abandon us when we need you’.
Key points include: Cheryl Corney

22/5/21 Church Times further article:

https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2021/21-may/news/uk/serious-
work-to-be-done-for-church-recovery-says-university-of-york-report

21

The challenges of ill health
Dementia

Barking Area Zoom Conference on Dementia ‘attended’ by
Wendy Littlejohns and Rowena Rudkin on 27th March 2021

The opening worship, in the style How can we practically minister
of Taize, was led by Bishop Peter; to patients and carers?
the reading was the story of Simeon If a person (suffering from
and Anna from Luke’s Gospel. dementia) is still loved by God,
what does this tell us about
The first speaker was the God?
Reverend James Woodward of Our lives are charged when we
Salisbury Diocese which is doing engage with the fragile and this is a
much work in this field particularly starting point in a spiritual journey
in the support of carers of those for many.
suffering with dementia. He stressed Archdeacon Elwin introduced the
that that morning were not talking Reverend Sue Diplock of St Peter in
about what we know about the Forest who spoke very movingly
dementia. Too often age has been of her own dementia. She had
seen as a time disintegration, recognised this herself as both a
memory loss and vulnerability; it grandfather and her mother had been
needs to be more positively sufferers. She had spoke to her G.P.
assessed. and done some paper tests but found
this totally inadequate and gone for a
His own mother had had a long brain scan privately. Since then she
journey with dementia and he also has developed strategies to cope
spoke of the reactions of the Carers, with her situation, Alexa, the virtual
one of the most frequent being technology assistant, is brilliant and,
anger. although she is a widow, she has
We must ask:- strong support from her family and
the parish. A parishioner who was at
Where is God in all this? the conference confirmed that they
Why do the strong need the all love Sue and value her work.
weak? However, she carries the fear of
What is the good news in a what might happen constantly and
society terrified of dementia? has to trust in the Lord.

22

The challenges of ill health

We were divided into groups. Sue ‘I have learned that people will
Diplock was in the same group as forget what you say and what you
Wendy and I. She was most insistent did but they will never forget how
on the need to avoid the stigma so you made them feel’.
often attached to dementia. Much of
the discussion centred on what the It was felt that this conference had
parish church could do. only scratched the surface and further
conferences to explore this
In the afternoon session Julia distressing sickness are planned. If
Burton Jones of told us of the Anna readers have any questions they
Chaplaincy, a branch of the Bible would like put will they please let me
Reading Fellowship, told us of the know.
resources proved by that organisation Rowena Rudkin.
for those caring for people suffering
from dementia. The Chaplaincy was
started by Debbie Thrower eleven
years ago and ‘Anna’ is the Anna in
Luke’s Gospel. Julia stressed that older
people can have prophetic voices. She
also gave examples of delusions a
patient might have e.g. He/she might
see a mat as a hole.

We then had a question and answer
session chaired by Archdeacon
Vanessa Herrick which
overwhelmingly concentrated on how
we should respond as churches. One
example was from Marianne of
Havering Deanery who runs a choir for
patients who just enjoy the singing but
also sings with another choir. So much
depends on the stage of dementia.
James Woodward wants the church to
be slower and wiser. She (the Church)
is far too functional and managerial.

Before Bishop Peter closed the
conference saying we had only touched
the subject, we were given a quotation
from Maya Angelou,

23

Quiz

Which plants are these? They are all in
the Bible.

(The English Standard Version has been used for this quiz).

1 We toil not and neither do we spin, but not even Solomon in all his
glory was arrayed like one of us. (Matthew 6, 28)
2 Hiran supplied Solomon with as much timber from our trees as he de-
sired. We are c___________ and c________ . (1 Kings 5, 10)
3 The woman who fears the Lord works with me. She works with will-
ing hands. I am f_______. (Proverbs 31, 13)
4 The wise men offered me to the child Jesus. I am f_____________.
(Matthew 2, 11)
5 We are w________, b________ and l_______. We are brought for
David and the people with him to eat. (2 Samuel 17,28)
6 Solomon’s bride went to the orchard to see whether we were in
bloom. We are p_______________. (Song of Solomon 6.11)
7 Jesus said “If you had faith like a grain of m__________, you could
say to the m__________ tree “Be uprooted and planted in the sea”, and
it would obey you”. (Luke17,6)
8 I am the name of a star. A third of the waters became me and many
people died from the water, because it had been made bitter. I am
w_____________. (Revelation 8:11)
9 The people remember the fish they ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the
c___________, the m_________, the l_______, the o_________ and
the g_________. (Numbers11.5)
10 The wilderness and the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the
c_______. (Isaiah 35,1)
11 Job suggests that t________ might grow instead of w______ and
foul w_______ instead of b_______. (Job32.40)
12 The chief cupbearer told Joseph about his dream. There was a
v______ with three branches. As soon as it was bedded its blossoms
shot forth and the clusters ripened into g_________. (Genesis 40, 9-
10).

Answers on page 30

24

Making connections

Redbridge Faith Forum

Past editions of the magazine have
featured items about the East London
Three Faiths Forum. Ian Tarrant
helped to organise this group and it is conspicuous by its absence. ‘Ho
to be hoped that, somewhere across hum’, I hear you exclaim. ‘Why does
our local churches, this will continue. the Church of England take so little
In an article in the Spring 2020 interest in the world of interfaith and
edition of the magazine I noted that community all around it?’
one of the aims of the Three Faiths
Forum, ‘to support each other’s For The Redbridge Faith Forum
communities on issues of mutual brings Faiths and the secular world
concern,’ wasn’t really being together, working in partnership with
addressed there. elected Local Authorities at a
representational and organisational
So this time I’m describing another level on key issues for all our
Forum more appropriate for this communities. Certainly a place where
purpose, the Redbridge Faith Forum. the Church of England, at a local
Membership is from LB Redbridge level, should be expressing its views
and is open to all faiths. It is an and taking a share in the engagement,
independent organisation aiming to leadership, and representation, with
give Faith communities a collective the other local faiths.
voice as a strategic partner of the
Council. It engages on issues such as How should The Church of
Safer Neighbourhoods, community England engage with the many diverse
tension, Redbridge Community people here in Redbridge, and become
Volunteering Services (CVS), health, & an organisation that figures in their
the Local Safeguarding Children’s thinking? If we from the Redbridge
board. Many of the trustees are or were churches of the Church of England
active at a practical level, as want to be both more integrated in the
magistrates, school heads or governors, wider community and to make a
on safeguarding boards and busy in the distinct contribution, then we need to
community networking arms of their talk about these things with each other
Faiths. and make an effort to be part of this
wider world at a local level. People
The Forum has 15 Trustees, with won’t notice us unless we notice them.
official standing from within the Bahai, And, at the moment, it is our absence
Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, that is mainly noticed.

Muslim, & Sikh communities. There Judy Noble
are two Christian representatives; one is
a Roman Catholic, and the other a
Methodist. The Church of England is

25

Be alert

A tip if using Changes to how your
WhatsApp NHS personal data is
used
During lockdown more
of us have been using Did you know that, unless you opt
WhatsApp to keep in out by 23rd June, your personal
touch with friends and data can be sent beyond the NHS
family. from 1st July. This follows a very
low key national consultation
In May WhatsApp made changes exercise. Your data will no longer
which you had to accept in order to be anonymised but
continue. What may not have been ‘pseudonymised,’ to be held by a
clear from the prompts provided was body called NHS Digital. Your
that its group settings include data will no longer just be used for
‘everyone’ by default. This means that research (as at present) but for
people you don’t know can add you to research and planning. If you are
a group without your knowing. These unconcerned by this then don’t
people may include scam messages, read on.
loan sharks, etc. You can prevent this
by changing the default settings as At short notice, hard pressed GP
follows: Practices have been tasked with
telling their patients about this
Tap on WhatsApp and tap on the change. I don’t know precisely
three vertical dots in the top right what your GP Practice may have
hand corner told you - if indeed they have
Tap on ‘Settings’ managed to do this yet - because,
Tap on ‘Account’ in time honoured fashion, the upper
Tap on ‘Privacy’ reaches of the NHS hierarchy
Go to ‘Groups’ and change the haven’t deigned to provide them
‘Everyone’ default option to the with anything as useful as a
one you prefer. template letter.

26 However read the information
from your GP Practice carefully.
PLEASE DON’T bombard them
with queries or ‘shoot the
messenger’. The Royal College of
GPs is supportive in principle to
the potential health benefits of
improved data integration but (see
link in green opposite) is clearly
not on board with how this is being
done.

There are two types of opt out. If opt out you can opt back in at a later
you want to stop your data going date.
beyond the NHS use this link
https://www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data PS Were you wondering what
-matters/ If you want to stop your ‘pseudonymised’ means? It means
data leaving your GP surgery that the process of anonymising data
contact your GP Practice for a form can be reversed ‘in certain
and return the completed form to circumstances’ (undefined).
them so that they can input it on Peter Wall
your behalf by 23rd June. You will
need your NHS number for each
option. It won’t be possible to opt out

after 23rd June but if you do decide to

At the time of publishing the magazine, Jo Churchill, a health minister,
announced that the rollout of the new scheme, due from 1st July , would be
paused for two months . However NO CHANGE was made to the 23rd June
opt out date for patients.

Further information on NHS data changes:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-57383992
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://
www.rcgp.org.uk/about-us/news/2021/may/patient-data-
use.aspx&ved=2ahUKEwjTgYavzYLxAhXzBGMBHUaMD9QQFnoECAcQAQ
&usg=AOvVaw1Y2n-MjPkN_5ug7MYZq698

A portrait of the Duke of Edinburgh at St Mary’s in tribute to his life and service
27

Holy Land tour

EAST LONDON THREE FAITHS FORUM’s NINTH GUIDED
TOUR TO JERUSALEM AND THE HOLY LAND

Sunday 5th December – Sunday 12th December 2021
Led by: Rabbi David Hulbert, Revd. Richard Wyber & Imam Dr. Mohammed
Fahim

Don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime This tour will be led by Rabbi
opportunity to visit places in the Holy David Hulbert, Revd. Richard Wyber
Land (both Israel and the Palestinian & Imam Dr. Mohammed Fahim. The
territories) sacred to our three faiths itinerary mostly duplicates those of
including: our earlier eight very successful
visits, and we will be led by a
Jerusalem : Al-Aqsa Mosque and professional and licensed tour guide.
Dome of the Rock,Church of the Holy We have tried to include as many
Sepulchre (Jesus' tomb), Western significant sites of religious
Wall Yad Vashem (Memorial to pilgrimage as possible in the seven
Holocaust victims) days available, and we have also tried
Bethlehem: Jesus' birthplace to achieve a good balance of sites of
Hebron: Tombs of the Patriarchs Jewish, Christian and Muslim
Nazareth: Jesus' home-town; site of interest. But members of the Three
the angel Gabriel's announcement to Faiths Forum will recognise that the
Mary trip is an opportunity to learn about
Caesarea: Capital of Judaea and the holy sites of the other two faiths,
major port in Roman times as well as venerating their own. The
Boat-trip across the Sea of Galilee weather will be warm and
and many more! beautiful. Although the tour is quite

28

Holy Land tour

intensive, there will be some free 020 8504 2447.
time and there will be plenty of
opportunities to nap on the coach! BACKGROUND INFORMATION
* Tourist visas are normally
granted to British passport holders on
COST £1,500 per person, sharing entry to the country. You must have
twin room. at least six months' validity left on
Includes: your passport after the end of
Return coach from Woodford to December 2021. Please check
Luton & Gatwick Airports now! For those who wish to use their
Return flights passports to visit countries such as
Half-board in top-quality, modern Pakistan, you can be assured that the
hotels border control people will put entry
Travel in comfortable air-conditioned and exit stamps on a separate,
tour coach removable piece of paper in your
Qualified tour guide, with us for the passport.
whole week * You should expect very
All entrance fees stringent security checks, both at
The cost is made up of Luton and upon arrival in Israel.
a deposit of £300, payable Please be calm and patient!
immediately, that will buy your * You do not need any medical
EasyJet ticket. The flight tickets will jabs. Drinking water is safe. Just pack
go up in price as the plane fills up, so some Diocalm to soothe 'holiday
it is important to commit yourself and tummy'.
secure this price as soon as you can. * You do not need to take
The balance of £1,200, covering the travellers' cheques or cash - there are
hotels and the tour, will be payable at plenty of cash machines that work
the beginning of November. This with British credit or debit cards.
price is unlikely to change, unless * Food is 'Mediterranean', with
there is a major change in the value plenty of dairy food, fresh salads and
of the £ against the $. rice. All meat will be kasher/halal.
If you would like to come, Hotels operate an 'eat as much as you
please send your name and full postal want' buffet service.
address to * Prices are much the same as
[email protected] they are in Britain. You are expected
and you will be sent all the details to bargain for souvenirs in Arab
and the booking form, with full terms shuks, although Israeli prices are
and conditions. fixed.
If you would like to know more, Fr * As part of a guided coach tour,
Richard will be glad to hear from you are expected to be punctual for
you. His e mail address is all departures, especially first thing in
[email protected] and his landline is the morning! You will be expected to

29

Holy Land tour

keep with the group, and not wander virus. Obviously the situation may
off to 'do your own thing' - although change in the seven months before
there will be free time and time for December. We do not at present
regular prayers. know if we will have to pay for tests
on entry and exit, or how much tests
POST- CORONAVIRUS might cost.
At the time of writing, both Israel
Please be assured that costs for
and the UK have vaccinated a high flights and the tour will be refunded
proportion of their populations and if, for whatever reason, we cannot go
levels of infection are currently low. ahead. You will be kept informed of
Israel is currently on the 'Green List'. developments.
David Hulbert
But we assume that individuals
will only be allowed to enter Israel
and Palestine if they can show that
they have been vaccinated or tests
show that they are free from the

Quiz answers: which plants are these?

1 lilies
2 cedar, cypress
3 flax
4 frankincense
5 wheat, barley, lentils
6 pomegranates
7 mustard, mulberry
8 wormwood
9 cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, garlic
10 crocus
11 thorns, wheat, weeds, barley
12 vine, grapes

30

Book review

Zen Wisdom for Christians

by Rev Canon Dr Christopher Collingwood
Published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers
ISBN 978-1-78592-572-6

Waterfall at Goathland

I was interested and intrigued to see Christopher Collingwood invites us to
this title and even more intrigued explore how Zen might enable us
when I saw that the book was written with renewed energy to enrich our
by the Canon Chancellor of York understanding of Christianity. The
Minster, who is also a Zen teacher. book also shows how those from
Christopher Collingwood had been other traditions might also come to
given a lot of support by his gain a deeper knowledge of Christian
colleagues at York Minster and had truths as they explore the teachings of
been given a sabbatical to write the Christ. We can gain an increased
book. He spent part of this time in awareness of the message of Easter,
India and part writing the book in summoning us to open ourselves to
Goathland in North Yorkshire. Many God's boundlessly open love and, in
of you will have seen glimpses of so doing, to be who we are, to open
Goathland in the railway scene in our hearts without fear.
Harry Potter films. I can understand Cheryl Corney
how one might feel closer to God in
this rather rugged rural setting.

31

Good news from afar

Marriage of Robert
Myers to Asaka Higami

in Tokyo, Japan 22nd February 2021.

Sid, and myself, Ursula Myers, are
delighted to announce to all our friends
at St Mary’s, the news of Robert’s
marriage. Who would have thought this
would be the future when we moved to
Plymouth nearly 13 years ago now
from Abbotsford Gardens, Woodford
Green? In the interim Robert completed
his 6th form studies and went on to
read history at the University of Hall. As Robert is not a Japanese
national he had to obtain the relevant
Plymouth. He has always had an
interest in Japan and really enjoyed the papers which are only valid for a
Japanese history module of his degree couple of months, from the British
and two subsequent holidays travelling Embassy. Having done this, but not
in Japan. knowing of the time limit beforehand,
After graduating from university he they brought the wedding forward
decided to apply for jobs teaching from June, to 22nd February this year.
However, they are still planning on
English in Japan. He left the UK in having a traditional Japanese family
June 2018 to embark on his dream.
Since then he has settled well into his celebration later in the year when,
job and the Japanese way of life, current restrictions permitting, we
might be able to travel out to join
including learning Japanese and them. Eventually they aim to find jobs
climbing Mount Fuji in July 2019,
spending a night at the summit! Last and settle in Osaka near Asaka’s
summer he took a holiday in Osaka family. Due to the wonders of Skype
where he met up with Asaka. He had we are able to talk to them regularly,
already been chatting to her on line and which goes some way to not being
she had offered to show him around her able to visit.
home city. Love blossomed, Asaka We remain happily settled in
moved to Tokyo in August, and they Devon but still miss our many friends
got engaged on Christmas Day 2020. in Woodford and are very grateful to
In Japan the legal formalities of those of you who keep in touch.

marriage are very brief and just involve
the couple presenting themselves with Ursula Myers
the necessary paperwork at the City

32

Book review

Ladder of Perfection

by Walter Hilton
Published by Medieval Institute
Publications
ISBN 158044069X

This is the title of a book written by
Walter Hilton for an anchoress in
14th century England. We know little
of him save that he seems to have
been an Augustinian monk.
However, he is very aware of the These are the spiritual and material
demands made on a Christian in the duties of the active life.

active life, the duties of which he
spells out as below.
The Corporal Acts of Mercy

The active life consists of love and To feed the hungry
charity shown outwardly in good To give drink to the thirsty
works, in obedience to God’s To clothe the naked
commandments, and in performing To visit the prisoner
the seven corporal and spiritual acts To shelter the stranger
of mercy for the benefit of our fellow To visit the sick
Christians. This is the life suited to To bury the dead.
all who live in the world and who
enjoy wealth and ample goods. It is
also suited to all who hold positions The Spiritual Acts of Mercy

of rank, authority and responsibility To correct the sinner
over others and have means at their To teach the ignorant to counsel the
disposal, whether they are lettered or doubtful
unlettered, laymen or churchmen: in To comfort the sorrowful
short, all men of the world. They are To bear wrongs patiently
bound to execute their duties with To forgive all injuries
zeal and wisdom as common sense To pray for the living and the
and discretion require. If a person is departed.
wealthy let him be generous; if he
has little let him give less. Even if he
has nothing, let him show goodwill. Rowena Rudkin

33

fFoamcilyus

Members of Seekers
interview our new Rector

What is your Christian I grew up going to church and music and
journey/story? prayer has always been part of my life.
How did you become a vicar? Some people talk about being converted –
for me it’s been a series of powerfully
recognising God’s love and grace and with
that the importance of discovering and
celebrating God’s love in every area of our
lives, especially the most difficult.
At 16 someone asked me if I was going to
be a priest and I knew God was calling me
to do that, even though it didn’t make sense
then – all the priests I knew were much
older and more sensible than me and all
men. Later on my university chaplain and
my manager at work asked me the same
thing and when I said ‘ok God’ the joy I felt
made it all so clear.

How did you become led to Last summer I was trying to work out where
be at St Mary’s? God might want me to go, when a friend
sent me the information about St Mary’s.
The inclusive community, worship and
music and where we are in London drew me
in - it was similar to working out God
wanted me to be a vicar and I’m delighted to
be here.

34

.’

What is your experience Since I was a teenager I’ve done lots of
working with young volunteering with children and I was struck
people? then by how much we have to learn from each
What is your favourite other. That only got more important when I did
film? research with young people whose mums were
nurses. I’ve been Children’s Rep and Advocate
in the last five years, worked with lots of youth
groups and summer camps, was a Prayer Pastor
with the Street Pastors in Reading, and in my
last church supported the young people in
raising money for various charities including
for refugees and getting ecochurch status.
Without knowing it my last youth group helped
me prepare for my interview to be Rector here.
I am terrible at choosing favourites. I enjoyed
Inside Out which was probably the last film I
saw in… oh dear 2016! I’m more of a TV series
person – I loved The Marvellous Mrs Maisel on
Amazon Prime, so many things I care about
come together in Call the Midwife on BBC and
I deeply appreciated (loved is the wrong word
for something so sad) It’s a Sin on Channel 4.

35

fFoamcilyus

What is your favourite Music depends a lot on what mood I’m in – I
piece of music? love complex music like Lauridsen and
What is your favourite Messiaen, lighter classics by Walton and Elgar,
genre of music? Taizé chants I can rejoice and cry to, but also
dance music where I can make up the moves
and sing along too loudly.
I’m afraid again it depends – classical was the
only genre I knew growing up and I still love
that but my husband Reuben has broadened my
horizons to include dance and rock.

What countries have you Lots in western Europe – more by road or rail
been to? than flying. Holidays, pilgrimages and
How are you going to research conferences have taken me to France,
combine the church & Spain, Italy, Germany, Norway, Austria,
youth more? Poland, Croatia, Malta, Belgium, Italy,
Portugal. Reuben has a friend who lives in
Switzerland and it’s great to visit him. My
goddaughter lives in The Netherlands so we’re
often over there. Reuben has family in the US
so I’ve been there twice too.
I’m going to need your help – because doing
things together is the right way to do things as
church and also young people need an equal
voice if not a bigger one. Most people so far
have asked me to focus on young people.
Under 16s can’t be on electoral roll or on PCC
for legal reasons but let’s talk about your
ideas...

36

Are we going to have fewer I really hope so but again we’ll need to work
arguments over small on it together. Sometimes things that seem
decisions like cushions at St small become very big in churches – because
Mary’s? we all care deeply. And also most things end
up connecting with more fundamental topics .
When we disagree, it’s almost always better
to talk and commit to trying to work it out
rather than keeping quiet.

37

Obituary

Peggy Renouf

28th Dec 1924 - 5th Feb 2021

Peggy was born in a two-bedroom brothers and sisters; the
cottage in the village of Lower Swell winters bitterly cold with
in the Cotswolds, the fourth of five deep snowdrifts and
children, and was christened in St. frozen pipes.
Mary’s church next door. Her father
was a stone mason, her mother a In 1930 her father
skivvy and later housekeeper to the was employed by Henry
Rector in Upper Swell. Ford to dismantle a
Cotswold cottage and
Her childhood summers were rebuild it on his estate,
idyllic, roaming far and wide with her Dearborn Park in
Detroit, spending six
months away in
America. Henry Ford
visited the family for tea
and Peggy became a pen
-friend of his daughter.
When she was seven
they moved into a bigger
house in Stow on the
Wold, where she
excelled at school,
leaving at 14 to work in
the draper’s shop in
Stow. As a Girl Guide
she was asked to be a
‘casualty’ for the St
John’s Ambulance and encouraged to
join the nursing division. She worked
in a fever hospital in Bristol,
qualifying as an SRN in 1949.
After the war at a staff dance near
Bristol she met her husband Hubert,
an RAF radio operator. They married
at St. Edmond’s church in Stow and
moved to Lower Sydenham. She
worked in a nursery in Lewisham
until, in 1954, they moved to

38

Obituary

Roy Kevin Mears

30th March 1966 - 27th Dec 2020

The village where Peggy was born: Hazel's and my son Roy was born
Lower Swell in the Cotswolds with severe learning difficulties.
During his first 13 years he lived
Woodford Green where she nursed at with us in South Woodford. We all
the Jubilee Hospital. By 1960 she attended St. Mary's Church. Roy was
had two sons, Francis and Michael. in Jean Morgan's Sunday School
class for a few years and later sat
She volunteered at the Children’s with us in the pew. If a hymn tune
Society shop in South Woodford for particularly appealed to him he
many years, having been asked to fill would stand up and conduct, or step
in for a day by her friend Margaret into the aisle and do a little dance.
Campbell. The congregation was very tolerant
and Canon Bob Birchnall, to whom I
After the death of her husband in apologised, said "Do not try to stop
1995, Peggy became an active him; he has found his own way of
member of St. Mary’s, serving on worshipping the Good Lord".
the Fellowship Committee, cooking While living at home Roy became
and serving food at events and quite keen on playing cricket with
knitting many toys, including me in the garden (with an apple tree
nativity sets, which she sold on her on the lawn as a wicket) and he
‘Knitwits’ stall at the church bazaar loved to watch the wrestling on TV
well into her nineties. (Big Daddy etc); he would then
enjoy a play fight with me on the
Before lockdown she made what hall floor. His other great passion
was to be her last visit to Lower was swimming. His sister Wendy's
Swell and Stow, which she greatly teacher had got him swimming a
enjoyed. couple of strokes; on our next
Michael and Francis Renouf holiday I took him in the pool every
day and by the end he could swim a
width - no style but he was quite
confident and thoroughly enjoyed it.
It was an activity he enjoyed for the
rest of his life, despite developing
epilepsy in his teenage years.
When he was 13 his social worker
recommended that he should become

39

Obituary

POEM: My Brother Roy

He’ll never walk
He’ll never talk
And no school will ever take him
That’s what the doctor said
Goodbye
The doctor knew a thousand things
But he missed out on the joy
Of knowing a child, then a man like
Roy.
Dismissed, not valued, judged on
what he wouldn’t do
But Roy helped us see the little
things
And the happiness they bring

Roy laughing We watched Roy everyday
Learning something new
resident in a care home with Roy’s wide and toothless grin
others of about the same age. He Roy’s belly laugh; heard through
settled into this way of life very the door as Hardy’s piano slid
well - pleased to see us when we downstairs
visited and took him out, but not Roy’s voice ring out in church as the
upset when we left. He was in hymn he liked was played
several different homes over the Roy loved TV and cricket in the park
years, the last 16 years being in At night I would sneak Roy in my
Cranbrook Road, Ilford where he room
was very happy and well cared So I had company in the dark.
for. The doctor missed out on the joy of
The manager told me that he had knowing a child like Roy.
very much enjoyed Christmas Roy did walk and learn to talk
Day 2020 but was taken ill the And he even went to school
next day and passed away the The blue bus came to drive him
following morning. there
Fred the driver became his friend
Clive Mears and Wendy Pallant And everyday Roy would say
Is it Fred today?

40

Poem

Roy learned to swim But you were often on my mind
And we watched him and always in my heart.
He had no style
But swam for miles Roy’s moved on to a better place
Bum in the air, head down And when we see him there
breath held, just like a duck We’ll have the words
Or walk in water like a dog And all will know
He never mastered like a frog That Roy, and children like him
We didn’t care as he was very hap- Are born into our world
py there. To make it a better place
Roy taught Wendy to be patient With his smiling, toothless face.
To look for little signs
To help all children find their place That doctor knew a thousand
No matter what they had to face things
Roy taught Wendy to be proud But he missed out in the joy
Of the things that she could do Of knowing a child, then a man like
But that there is more to life than Roy.
the exams you ace it through
Roy taught us that the little things Goodbye dear Roy
can bring much joy You’ve always been a special boy
If you can only let them in You shaped my thoughts
It doesn’t matter who you are or And what I knew
what you do You made me me
There is a place for you. And we love you
Roy saw things we didn’t see Roy Mears
And wondered what we didn’t Thank you for all the years
know For the laughter and the tears.
Why is it me?
Why is it Roy Mears? On this day we sing and pray
He was often heard to ask For the journey you will take
We tried to say but had no way We thank you Roy
Except that you were born that For being you
way And for all the joy
And every time we’d say One special boy
that Roy Mears is just you Until we meet again.
We lived so far apart Goodbye
and visits were far too few
Wendy Pallant

41

Book review

Angels: A Visible and
Invisible History

by Peter Stanford
published by Hodder and Stoughton
ISBN 978-1-473-62208-1

Angels in My Hair

by Lorna Byrne
published by Arrow Books,
ISBN 978-0-099-55146-1

I have always taken an interest in immediately unlocked the safe without
angels - my father saw an angel at his any explanation and asked us if we
bed side the night before he died in the would like a lift to the station. This all
Jubilee Hospital 45 years ago - and on happened so swiftly and we managed
many occasions I have been ‘helped’ to board the train with a couple of
in extraordinary ways. minutes to spare. I sat there unable to
speak, thinking how did that happen?
On one memorable occasion we
were travelling from Zermatt to Saint Recently in the ‘Church Times’ I
Moritz one December and had booked read a book review of ‘Angels’ by
seats on about five inter-connecting Peter Stanford and an interview with
trains - a complicated journey to say Lorna Byrne who sees angels all the
the least - not arriving till the early while. Her first book was
evening. That morning we tried to called ‘Angels in My Hair’.
open our hotel room safe as usual only
to find it was not working. We tried I ordered both books and would
again, without success, before the recommend them both. Vastly
receptionist came up and tried again. different, nevertheless, they
We would now have to wait at least complement each other to promote
half-an-hour for the safe to ‘unlock’
itself. Meanwhile our train was leaving
in less than half-an-hour. We sat on
the bed glumly hoping that we might
be able to catch a later train, but it was
a long complicated journey and it
would be very late by the time we
would finally arrive at our destination,
if that were even possible. Suddenly a
tall young man with long fair hair
knocked on the door, silently and

42

Book review

thought and discussion. In fact, Peter
Stanford describes meeting Lorna
Byrne in the Prelude to his book.
‘Angels: a Visible and Invisible
History’ by Peter Stanford is an
academic exploration into the history,
theology and cultural significance of
religious ideas that includes the times
angels have appeared throughout both
the Old and New Testaments, major
faiths, poetry and art history.
Lorna Byrne’s book is an account of
her life growing up in Ireland and
seeing angels from a young age. There
are clips on the internet where she
relates such events; she comes over as
unassuming and sincere. The fact that
the Church Times featured her
prominently encourages me to take her
seriously. Apparently one in ten
Britons (in a poll taken in 2016)
claimed to have experienced the Staffordshire pottery figure
presence of an angel, while one in
three remains convinced that they have of Queen Victoria and her
a guardian angel. As Peter Stanford two eldest children

writes, ‘These are significant numbers
that shouldn’t be written off.’
Personally, it gives me great
comfort to believe that everyone has a Angel of God, My guardian dear,

guardian angel along side them to help To whom his love commits me here,
them in difficulty. I cannot prove it nor Ever this night be at my side,
disprove it, but that thought gives me To light and guard,
strength, hope and comfort at all times To rule and guide.
to cope with whatever the future may
hold. Amen

Let Hamlet have the last word:
‘There are more things in heaven and
earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in
your philosophy’.

Penny Freeston Back cover: Philip Swallow and Margaret Igglesden
see the bluebells at Wanstead Park

43

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
9th August 2021

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

44