Autumn 2020

St Mary’s Woodford
Parish Magazine

Volume 11 number 3 www.stmaryswoodford.org.uk

Autumn 2020

Welcome

The last few months have given us a time for reflection. Many of us have
experienced an unusually high level of social isolation, increased our
reading levels as well as our waistlines and probably enjoyed far more TV
than is good for us. The first three months were a particularly strange time,
where the only excitement on the horizon was the prospect of visiting a
hairdresser. Yes, it has been a period that has paradoxically produced
benefits for some, such as learning new skills. However, it has been
devastating for others, especially those who are unexpectedly homebound,
unemployed, or living with the prospect of redundancy.
We have had a lot of time to reflect on the future consequences of Covid 19,
but whatever else might continue to develop with this pandemic, one thing
is certain: it has changed the world. Many of these changes have literally
been a lifeline for us. For example, online technology has kept us in touch
with each other, provided a vehicle for continued worship, and offered new
possibilities for education and working at home. They have provided
opportunities to reappraise our traditional models of activity and will
undoubtedly be part of the future. It’s too soon to say what the lasting
effects of the current crisis will be, but even in the short-term, individuals
and communities will be rethinking their goals, values and perhaps even
their understanding of freedom.
The media continually make reference to preparing for the ‘new normal’,
and to a great extent life will be different. Even when we have the benefits
of a vaccine we don’t know if or when the virus will be permanently
defeated. So change is afoot. Change will affect the wider Church too. It
may even change the way we do church in the world. Yes, change can be
scary, especially when there is uncertainty about what lies ahead. But
change can be positive, exciting and bring growth and a new vitality to a
community. There has of course to be a balance. Too much change can
Front cover: the new normal? Leaving the church by the south door after an
August service

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cause anxiety and a feeling that we lack Parish Register
control. Lack of change however, can
cause stagnation and decline. Burial of Ashes
So what does this mean for St Mary’s? August 5th Edna Barley.
Christians are agents for change; we Funeral
hope for a better world tomorrow and September 4th Betty Watts.
this should be our stock-in-trade. We
are coming through an interregnum,
the like which of we could never have
imagined even back in February before
Ian left us for Gibraltar. We are now
emerging from our Covid shells and
communal fellowship is beginning once
again. In the not too distant future we
will have a new rector and a new
chapter for St Mary’s will begin. No
doubt our new incumbent will have
ideas and a vision for the future and
will be joining us at a challenging time.
The country is going to be facing the
consequences of a damaged economy
and coping with a deep recession and
the effects will be felt even in our own
parish. Change is a great opportunity
for growth so, for our church, this could
be an important and exciting
opportunity to find new ways to engage
with and support our local community.
I hope we don’t spend our time thinking
about how we can be exactly like we
used to be. That way leads to decline.
This will be our opportunity to be
something better than we were.

Mark Lewis

There is always a copy of the latest
parish magazine on the St Mary’s
website
www.stmaryswoodford.org.uk
You can find it by scrolling down to the
‘Our Publications’ heading.

3

Life at St Mary’s

Keeping in Touch same. In addition to this form of
pastoral care, some members have been
kind enough to offer practical help with
In light of the constraints imposed shopping etc. but, for the most part,
upon us this year, in the summer this kind of support has been
edition of the magazine I wrote about amazingly forthcoming from family,
the measures that the leadership of St friends and neighbours.
Mary’s had introduced to keep in
touch with its members and this is, at Many of you are now returning to
the editor’s suggestion, by way of an church to worship but we still need to
keep in touch and have a care for those
update on this vital aspect in the life who, for different reasons, are unable
of our church family. to do so. My conversations with such

Firstly, when the church was closed, folk suggest that many of them,
we realised the need to keep in touch perhaps half the membership in fact,
with God and each other through will not be able to return to church
worship through a pre-recorded weekly until circumstances allow for the
service of morning prayer. This widely present constraints in life to be
appreciated service ran for four months significantly eased. If you can, please
until August 2nd when we were able to continue to keep in touch with those
re-open the church for public worship. whom you are aware are missing from
We anticipated that between 30 and 50 church as this is an important element
members might feel confident enough in maintaining our Christ-like pastoral
to attend but, in fact, approximately 60 care for one another.
members have been pleased to come to Another aspect of our ongoing
Holy Communion each Sunday. We no pastoral care is in our concern for those
longer need to pre-record the service who are sick in our worship. We
which is now streamed live on the naturally tend to focus our preaching
Internet thanks to the sterling efforts of on the teachings of Jesus but it is worth
our technical support team. reminding ourselves that nearly half of
Secondly, we have kept in touch the concise gospel of Mark focuses on
through the provision of the weekly the healing ministry of Jesus. So, as we
newsletter/service order which is an look to the steady re-introduction of
especially valuable means of services, please note from the diary
communication for the 20 or so that, on Sept 30th at 7.30pm in the
members without internet access and a chapel we are intending to re-start the
few members have been kindly short service of ‘Prayers for the sick’.
delivering these by hand each week. Please call me or the parish office if
Thirdly, until we re-opened the you intend to come.
church for worship, I had endeavoured You would be most welcome to join
to keep in telephone touch with most of us as we offer to God in prayer those in
the membership and in particular with need of his healing touch.
the more vulnerable members and I
know that many of you were doing the Chris Winward

4

Life at St Mary’s

Open garden at Mark and Nina Lewis’
house in aid of McMillan Cancer
support raised £1476.0

At the entrance of St Reunited after lockdown: Jean Russell
Mary’s: ‘what, you expect with her Granddaughter Chiara (above
me to wear a mask too!’ left). Chiara with mum Maria (above
right).
For more about Chiara’s birth and post
natal care see page 24

5

A letter from Bishop I love and will always love the
Stephen Cottrell diocese of Chelmsford. I love its
diversity. I love its creativity. I love its
possibility. I will continue to pray for
the churches and people of East
London and Essex and all who live
and serve here; and I give thanks for
all the joys I have shared with you
these past nine years.

Thank you for the trust you have
put in me. As we look forward to
Christmas, may the song of peace that
the angels sung echo in our hearts and
lives and fill us with joy.

The Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell
The Bishop of Chelmsford

Dear friends in Christ, From Chelmsford to
Downing Street announced this York

morning that I am to be the next On 9th July 1984 I was in York. It was
Archbishop of York. I am humbled a very sad day for the city. It was the
and excited to be called to this position day when lightening struck and set fire
of leadership and service in our to York Minster.
Church, but I will also be sad at
leaving the diocese where I was born Now, thirty-six years later, I would
and grew up. Being the Bishop of have liked to have been in York on 9th
Chelmsford will always be one of the July 2020 as it was also a very
greatest honours of my life. significant day for the city. It was the
day when “our” Bishop Stephen
Please pray for me and for Rebecca Geoffrey Cottrell became the 98th
as we prepare for this move. Please Archbishop of York. This was
pray for the Diocese of York and for confirmed in a video conference.
Archbishop Sentamu as he prepares Bishop Stephen joined the video
for his retirement in June. Please pray conference from an office in York
for the dioceses and communities of Minster.
the Northern Province and for
Archbishop Justin and the whole Later Bishop Stephen undertook
Church of England. the custom of knocking three times on

I don’t know exactly when I will be
laying down my responsibilities as
your bishop, but I will write again in
the New Year with the details of what
will be happening.

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the west door of the Minster with the York received the pallium from Pope
Braganza crozier, the staff of office, Gregory and established metropolitan
which is normally part of the rights in the north.
enthronement service.
I was very pleased to see that
The service of the Confirmation of Bishop Stephen celebrated the
the Election of the 98th Archbishop of Eucharist in York Minster on Sunday,
York can be seen on the Church of 12th July 2020, his first Sunday as
England website Archbishop of York.
(churchofengland.org). There is also a
video introducing Archbishop Stephen Cheryl Corney
Cottrell to the Province of York. The
service included music from York Prayer
Minster Choir and from pupils of
Manor Church of England School in
York. Young people from the diocese
read a letter written by the medieval

From a sermon by Revd. Professor
Gina Radford for Mental Health
Awareness Week which this year is
from 21st to 27th September (shown on
the Church of England website)

religious scholar Alcuin of York. As we go forward into this week,
After the service the new whoever you are, wherever you are,
and whatever you are dealing with at
Archbishop visited The Shambles in this moment, be assured that you are
York and the Shrine of Saint Margaret not alone. God walks with you and
Clitherow. There he was welcomed by offers you his unconditional love.
the Roman Catholic Bishop of
Middlesbrough.

The Archbishop of York’s official
residence is in Bishopthorpe Palace in
the village of Bishopthorpe near York.

There was a bishop in York from
very early times, even in the Roman
city of Eboracum. Bishops of York
were present at the councils of Arles
and Nicaea. In 735 AD Ecgbert of

7

News from Ian Tarrant

One morning
in Gibraltar

Let me share my daily cycle ride from At the first roundabout, the
home to the cathedral. Piccadilly Garden Bar is on our left - a
mostly open-air establishment with
As we leave the apartment tables under trees. At week-ends
building, to the left we can see the people queue outside to get a table for
dockyard warehouses, and beyond breakfast. A blackboard advertises
them a couple of ships in for repairs. today’s special - tripe!
To our right we see the Rock, with
wisps of cloud forming at the top, as a Twenty yards further on, at the next
moist easterly wind meets cooler air. roundabout, there is the Trafalgar Bar,
A bus comes towards us; public named after the nearby Trafalgar
transport is free for residents. Cemetery, where lie some victims of
the Battle of Trafalgar, which took
As we cycle north, to our right are place in 1805, about 60 miles away.
several government apartment blocks,
similar in style but each with its own
colour. People have started hanging
flags on their balconies in preparation
for National Day, a public holiday
commemorating the 1967 referendum
when the people voted to stay British.

8

offices of government. We go past the
King’s Chapel, originally part of the
monastery, more recently a chapel for
the British military, closed at
lockdown, and sadly still closed.

The road takes us through a modern The one-way system forces us to
arch in a wall built in the 16th century swing left and then right, along a
to defend the town from pirates. The couple of narrow streets. We go past
wall is named after Charles V, a Holy the Registry Office where civil
Roman Emperor. marriages take place, and then emerge
into the square in front of the
The road is narrower now; on the cathedral, busy with traffic most days,
right we see our first shops, on the left though the government dreamed up a
a cultural centre named after John plan to re-route town centre traffic,
Mackintosh, a 19th century which will benefit this area when it is
businessman and philanthropist. implemented.

Before long we come to the heart Passing the locked west doors of
of government: Convent Place, named the cathedral, we cycle along the
after a former monastery on our left north side, lock our bikes to a tree, and
which is now the residence of the enter through the side door. We go
British Governor. On our right is Nº 6, through the building, unlock the west
a building which houses the main doors, switch on the sanctuary
spotlights, and put on a gentle CD.
We check the hand sanitisers and the
tea-lights in their stands. The place is
ready for visitors - who will come in
today?

Ian Tarrant

9

Our mission partners Tom and Verity in Uganda

A prayer request potentially curable, even when
discovered at an advanced stage, by
chemotherapy.

I expect I'll write more in our
upcoming link letter, but I explained to
the boy and his family that he likely
had a cancer called lymphoma at an
advanced stage and we then organised

September prayer points

Pray for Ezra and Eli as they go
Just a few days ago (on Wednesday back to the daily rhythm of
this week), I (Tom) saw an 11-year- homeschooling, that they enjoy
old boy named Eric (not his real learning together

name) as part of a clinic during
my doctor's day at Yivu Abea health Pray for Verity in negotiating some
centre in Maracha district. The photo of the challenging behaviour in the
above is me with Gilbert, the older two, particularly whilst
in-charge officer at the health centre a looking after the younger two! For
month or two ago (we were delivering patience, wisdom and kindness to
hand washing stations as part of a fill her by God's spirit.

project through Irish Aid).
It was the first time I had met Eric, Pray for wisdom and protection for
but he was very unwell, with bilateral the in-charges at the health centres –
proptosis (both eyes being pushed James, Gilbert, Jocelyn, Comfort,
William and Rebecca – as they
forwards out of his head) as well as oversee their health centres at a time
widespread lymphadenopathy
(enlarged lymph nodes that can be when COVID cases are on the rise

felt) and prostration (being unable to Pray for wisdom for President
stand up). He had been completely
well up until March this year, like any Museveni and the government in
other 11-year-old you might meet. how to minimise harm when
They had been to two hospitals in the considering the lifting of restrictions
last 6 weeks but hadn't got any here in the face of increasing case
numbers
answers, even being told in their
words that nothing was wrong,
although the suspected diagnosis of
childhood lymphoma had been a transfer to Uganda Cancer Institute as
written all over their medical notes. soon as practically possible. We went
This is a childhood cancer that is through the process of praying for
God's provision for the family whose

10

funds were exhausted by their prior so that we may experience the peace,
medical bills and a sponsor came up love, and unity that only comes from
within a day to cover all the costs of you. Break the barriers of hatred and
transport, diagnosis and any treatment injustice, which shatter our
needed. society. Grant us faith and love as we
I wrote the referral letter and spoke sojourn toward a better future, together.
to the hospital. He was due to travel
with his brother this Monday to start Representing the Muslim Community:
the process of diagnosis ahead of any O Lord! You are peace and from you is
treatment, with everything in place to peace. You created us from a single
help with their costs, but we just heard pair and made us into different people
this morning that he died yesterday. I so that we may know one another. God,
think he was at home but I haven't yet enable us to respect this diversity, join
heard the details. together our hearts, free us from
We are still processing this - it's my hunger, disease, hate, and prejudice.
first experience of the stark reality of Through your grace and your mercy,
childhood death here in Uganda - but answer our prayer.
we appreciate your prayers for his
family (he has several siblings Representing the Buddhist Community:
including the eldest brother who May we all strive towards overcoming
carried him to my clinic) and for the unwholesome state of mind which
Gilbert, the in-charge officer at Yivu has not yet arisen. May we all strive
Abea through whom the transfer was towards producing a peaceful state of
being arranged and who will be trying mind which we have not yet
to support the family as best he can. experienced. May we all strive towards
We also appreciate your prayers for continuing the peace of mind which we
us as we try to disentangle the have already experienced.
complicated web of thoughts,
emotions and questions both of what Representing Liberal Judaism:
the hospitals were thinking and what Long ago the Rabbis wrote: ‘A single
God's up to in all of this. human family was made at creation

Prayers said at the 2019 for the sake of peace, so we cannot say
‘My ancestor was greater than
Commonwealth Service your ancestor’. The Commonwealth
reflects this in its celebration of
a single, diverse family under the
sovereignty of God, and I pray that
Representing the Greek Orthodox our Creator might imbue us with the
Church:
ability to see each other through God’s
eyes, as equals.
Direct our steps to fulfil your
commandments. Transform our hearts

11

Book reviews

What parishioners have been reading during
lockdown

‘The City is my Monastery, a
contemplative rule of life’ by
Richard Carter.
Publisher Canterbury Press Norwich
ISBN 9781786222138

This is an ‘Lockdown’ by Peter May
exploration of Publisher Riverrun
contemplative ISBN
prayer, a skill we 9780099565871
must learn – to It’s not a kind of
recognise our book I would
distractions, to normally read
name our fears but I couldn’t
and then to set put it down.
them aside with Peter May wrote
stillness, with a it a few years
prayer-word or ago but nobody
phrase. The book would publish it
is a collection of stories – some then because it
Biblical, some anecdotal, some was too far fetched. I enjoyed all
instructional and also a selection of the places in London it mentioned
poems. that I know.
I followed Richard on Facebook I have also been rereading the
during Lockdown. He filmed a weekly Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary
prayer walk through various London Sutcliff (Publisher Oxford
parks and also along the Embankment University Press ISBN
and the Southbank. They are still 9780312644291) and some of her
available on Youtube – St. Martin in other
the Field Nazareth Contemplative children’s
Prayer. I found them very useful books.
during the stressful time we were
living through.

Chris Meikle Jean Russell

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I've re-read ‘Brother Halluin's considered it one of his mere
Confession’ my favourite Brother ‘entertainments’, yet as always there
Cadfael novel by Ellis Peters are some serious themes and plenty of
(Publisher Ulverscroft ISBN side comments about Roman
9780708920329). A midwinter-bound Catholicism. But mostly it's good fun:
medieval tale of guilt, absolution and a satire on our Secret Service (MI6)
penance. I've enjoyed all the 20 during the 1950s Cold War. Our mild-
Cadfael books, but this one has less of mannered hero, Wormold, is a failing
their typical action and detection vacuum cleaner salesman in Cuba who
themes and is more a meditation on allows himself to be recruited as a spy
life's grave issues. Cadfael helps a to pay for the expensive tastes of his 17
young monk who comes close to death year old daughter. To keep the money
and then seeks to absolve himself of an coming in he invents a network of
earlier great sin through an icy journey imaginary spies and even reports a
of atonement. For all his attentiveness secret military establishment in the
to his younger charge, Cadfael raises a mountains. Admittedly his drawings of
kindly eyebrow at what he sees as an the installation do look remarkably like
excess of religious self-reproach. enormous vacuum cleaner parts, but
MI6 seems happy. Do read on.

I've not read much Graham Greene For non-fiction I'm reading ‘Journeys
but I found ‘Our Man in Ha- East: C20th Western encounters
vana’ (Publisher Penguin ISBN with Eastern spirituality’ by Harry
9780142438008) a delight. Greene Oldmeadow (Publisher World
Wisdom Books ISBN780941532570).
It's written from the ‘traditional
perspective’ that going back to the
early 1900s has doubted the claims of
modernism. Traditionalism values
instead the ‘perennial philosophy’ that
it finds at the heart all the world's
religious traditions (at its simplest, a
sense of the sacred) but which science
and secularism often seems to have
marginalised. I'm finding new things,
but also meeting old friends who've
trod the West/East path: Christian
interest in Zen Buddhism, the
Cistercian monk Thomas Merton; the
Beats and the Hippies and more.
John Wiltshire

13

Book reviews Some suggested reading
from the Church Mission
During lockdown I have been able Society
to spend more time reading more
thoroughly all the regular God and the Pandemic: A Christian
newsletters and the monthly Reflection on the Coronavirus and its
technical magazine I get. I did Aftermath by NT Wright. Rejects
order a book, ‘Some Assembly notions of the pandemic as either
Needed -Decoding Four Billion ‘punishment’ or ‘apocalyptic’ and
Years of Life, from Ancient proposes lament as the appropriate
Fossils to DNA’ by Neil Shubin response. In three words: ‘enabling,
(Publisher Simon & Schuster ISBN affirming, clarifying’
9780593171578) and have been How to Pray: A Simple Guide for
reading it in fits and starts. The Normal People by Pete Greig.
book deals historically with the Combining learning from rich prayer
research that gradually revealed the traditions and different aspects of prayer
picture of how nature invents in a practical, engaging way. In three
largely by modifying and reusing words: ‘practical, real, down-to-earth’
the same families of genes again, The Compassion Quest by Trystan
again and again. The advent of Owain Hughes. A book born from
DNA analysis has been most experience, addressing the concept of
revealing. I look forward to finish Missio Dei, God present in the world
reading it in the around us. Chapters on
future. interconnectedness, compassion and
Richard Walker reverence for life reflect much of what
we are living through in the pandemic.
In two words: ‘grounding, encouraging’.
Dominion: The Making of the
Western Mind by Tom Holland.
Respected historian unpacks the
fundamental change Christianity has
brought to the social, moral and political
landscape over the centuries. In four
words: ‘bold, fascinating, compelling,
controversial’.
https://churchmissionsociety.org/
resources/summer-reading-2020/

14

An environmental group at St Mary’s

In the Spring edition of this tea. Not everyone has access to Zoom
magazine Viveca Dutt wrote about meetings—though that should be
an environmental group to be set up readily fixable given St Mary’s stock of
at St Mary’s. This followed a second hand pcs. Some may think that
Diocesan conference in January at you can’t beat the personal touch
which the message was that the provided by a face to face meeting but,
climate emergency is real and at the least, Zoom meetings cut out
undeniable, and that there is an travel which is a plus environmentally.
imperative to respond and act, as
individuals and within our Young people have featured
churches. Viveca, email address prominently in expressing concerns
([email protected]) asked if you about the climate. Why should that be
would like to join the group as well any different at St Mary’s? Whatever
as for any thoughts, and ideas. your age do let Viveca know your
thought and ideas as we go forward to
Due to lockdown this initiative the ‘new normal’.
has been in abeyance but a group Peter Wall
has been formed and is starting to
take ideas forward. So has lock- The Christian Declaration
down changed our thinking about on Nature drawn up at
environmental matters? I find Assisi in 1986 makes the
myself thinking about that following points :
Diocesan conference. What about
the travel? When I was a Deanery All creation, both with and without
Synod representative for another humans, has a close interdependence
church, the travel arrangements which was made in this way by God.
often entailed either several bus This harmony of creation is to the glory
and /or train trips or nigh on of God. Humans have the role of
impossible parking. Does anyone protecting all created things, not
like that? During lockdown many abusing or destroying them.
more of us have got used to remote All types of exploitation of the world
meetings such as Zoom. People’s and its resources and all creatures are
experience and reaction to Zoom rejected. Humans must not do anything
meetings is wide ranging. Zoom that risks damage to the world,
meetings are not everyone’s cup of including nuclear warfare.

15

Profile on Philip Swallow

Life at 95

Of course I mean my own life at
95 - which is little different from
my life at 94 or 93 or 92 or......
But what about 90 years ago?
I was born in a Yorkshire steel
town called Stocksbridge and
taken by my parents to the local
parish church as soon as I could
walk - the largest parish church in
the diocese of Sheffield and now
no longer in use. Both of my Philip with great grandson James

parents sang in the choir and held
church offices. I attended the local explode - but nothing happened. The
church school, the head of which was next morning we learnt to our
my grandfather and my teacher, for amazement that the plane had indeed
much of my time there, was my unloaded its cargo which by a miracle
aunt. At the age of 11, such was the had gone down one of the tallest
system, I took an examination and was chimneys of the local steel factory
one of two to gain a scholarship to the (where my father worked) and had not
grammar school at Penistone in the exploded. An explosion would have
high Pennines - so far away (four seriously impeded my journey to 95.
miles) that we had to travel there by So I took up my scholarship to St
train on the Sheffield to Chad's College, Durham and ended
Manchester Woodhead line. Here I three very happy years there - with full
received a healthily rigorous education rationing, no heating at all and five feet
leading to a further scholarship to St of snow outside during the winter of
Chad's College, Durham University - 1947. It was at St Chad's that my long
but before I could take up this opening friendship with David Ward began and
I was called to serve King and country is still continuing. He is one week
in the Royal Air force in India and younger than me. St Chad's provided
Burma for three years from 1943 to me with a Two One Degree in Modern
1946. History and launched me on to the
Of course Sheffield was severely world of education and eventually via
bombed during the Second World War posts in Loughton (where I met and
and I vividly remember one night when married my dear wife Audrey whom
my whole family was in the cellar many of my readers will remember) ,
waiting for a raid to end. We heard an Harlow and Romford to the headship of
aircraft overhead and waited Ongar Comprehensive School, a large
apprehensively for the bombs to

16

community school of sixteen hundred environmental disaster which ought to
students which served the whole of have been reversed long ago by
West Essex but which did not prevent resolute human action led by scientific
my fulfilling every office open to lay knowledge inspired by Charles
folk at St Mary's or the Presidency of Darwin. Is that a pessimistic view of
the National Association of Head life at 95? It is indeed but regrettably I
Teachers or indeed the chair of the can see no way now to set a course for
Commission on Christian Homophobia this world that can radically change
at the Lesbian & Gay Christian such expectations.
Movement. My son Malcolm was born
in 1956 and I now have two grand- Philip Swallow
daughters and two great grandchildren.
‘I am not young enough to know
We are nearly there but I must not everything.’
omit my Civil Partnership with Oscar Wilde
Jesus. That was officially celebrated at
Redbridge Registry Office on the At Wells Cathedral
morning of 25th July 2008 and
celebrated more unofficially the same
day but very enjoyably by ninety
people on a glorious afternoon at
Fenstanton Manor House near
Cambridge, the home of Bronwen and
Ian Taylor.

So what is life like at 95? It is full
of theatre and opera and ballet, all of it
performed to the highest standard in
the world. I live in peace with Jesus
and his sister Lourdes and of course I
am still a regular but nowadays an
ordinary member of St Mary's. I try to
take an interest in the stilted, tedious
and unchallenging politics of our
country, constantly hoping for
stimulation and challenge that never
appears. Above all I rejoice greatly
that my mental faculties (unlike my
physical ) seem to be unimpaired even
if they reveal a world quite unable to
govern itself peaceably or even
reasonably calmly and which will
inevitably be destroyed either by
nuclear war or by uncontrollable

17

Saint Helena

Helena was an Empress of the Roman of Saint
Empire and mother of Emperor Helens Old
Constantine the Great. Although little is Church and
known about her early life, an incorrect Cluniac
tradition that she was the daughter of Priory,
‘Old King Cole’ led to the later dating back to
dedication of 135 churches in England the 11th
to her. century, on
the Isle of
She was probably born around 246 Wight near
in Asia Minor and gave birth to Bembridge.
Constantine after 270. In her final
years, she travelled to Syria Palestine Now I am
and Jerusalem. Ancient tradition researching
claims that she discovered the True St. Helen’s Bishopsgate - the biggest
Cross. surviving parish church in the City of
London, containing more monuments
I collect textiles, and over twenty than any other church in Greater
years ago purchased a very old London apart from Westminster
fragment of a silk altar-piece from a Abbey and an ancient chapel
dealer in Bath. It depicts Saint Helena dedicated to St Helen in Colchester.
holding the True Cross - a relic she is St. Helen’s Bishopsgate dates from the
said to have brought back from her 13th century and was connected to a
travels in the Holy Land - beautifully priory for Benedictine nuns founded in
embroidered in silver gilt thread. It has 1210. St. Helen’s Chapel, Colchester
been my intention to have it examined was possibly built by King Offa in the
at the V and A Museum but have never 8th century within the ruins of the
got round to it. Roman theatre. He was known to have
a devotion to Saint Helen, and built a
I first came across Saint Helena on a number of churches around the
pilgrimage to Rome with St. Mary’s in country in her honour. The Chapel was
2001 when we visited the Scala Sancta secularised after the Reformation but
(Holy Steps) believed by the faithful to was released to the Orthodox Parish of
be those which led to the praetorium of St Helen in 2000, thus restoring it to
Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem. According its ancient purpose of Christian wor-
to tradition the steps were brought to ship after a break of nearly 500 years.
Rome in 329 by Saint Helena, mother
of the Emperor Constantine. I will always be interested to find
out more about devotion to St. Helen
Later I read Evelyn Waugh’s novel, in the British Isles, and all because of
‘Helena’, also recommended to me by a little piece of needlework I came
Rowena Rudkin, some years later. across by chance many years ago.
Then during Lockdown we visited an Penny Freeston
old chapel dedicated to Saint Helen at
Wicken Bonhunt In Essex, with
friends, and coincidentally, the ruins

18

A Saxon chapel dedicated to Saint Helena
St. Helen’s Chapel,
Wicken Bonhunt

Wicken Bonhunt is a small
village, approximately five miles
from Saffron Walden in Essex. It
is listed in the Domesday Book as
the manors of ‘Wicca’ and
‘Banhuta’ with 23 households,
nine villagers, 11 small holders
and three slaves. In 1238 it is
referred to in subsidy rolls as
‘ Wykes Bonhunte’.

Signs of this early settle-
ment include the 10th or 11th
century Chapel of St. Helen in
the grounds of Bonhunt Farm. It
is believed to be one of the oldest
surviving buildings in the east of
England, and an annual service is
held at the site.

A middle Saxon settlement of
some size was excavated in the
fields close to the Chapel in the
1970s, during the construction of
the M11.
www.wickenbonhunt.org.uk/

19

History of the Christian Church

The Popes coming did
not come, the
Gospels had to
by John Julius Norwich be written
while there
Publisher Penguin were still
IBSN 9780099565871

Rowena’s article is about the first people alive
three hundred years. who could
remember
Jesus and
‘Thou art Peter and on this rock I there were the
will build my church.....’
Matthew XVI v 18. problems of
the day to day
organisation of
‘and Peter left for another place’ Pope Fabian a church in a
Acts XII v 17
suspicious world, challenges to which
they rose well. In Apostolic times
‘St Luke’, says John Julian
Norwich in his book, ‘The Popes....a Christianity had been seen as a sect of
History’ is ‘maddeningly Judaism but soon established itself as
uninformative’ about Peter’s life after an autonomous faith, the Eucharist
Chapter XII of Acts. Some scholars became a ceremony as distinct from a
think that Luke intended to write a meal, the three orders of priesthood
developed and priests were not
third book which might have been
more informative and followed Peter to expected to be celibate.
Rome where, according to tradition, he Unsurprisingly, practices differed in
and St Paul were among the victims of different churches; in the eastern
Nero’s persecution of the Christians in Mediterranean liturgies could be in
67 A.D. Again, according to tradition, Aramaic, Syriac or in the Greek, the
Peter had been the first Bishop of common language of the eastern
Rome and after his martyrdom he was Mediterranean; in the west they were
buried in the public cemetery on the in Latin. The bishops of Antioch,
Vatican Hill. His successors were for a Alexandria and Rome were patriarchs
thousand years to be called ‘the Vicar or fathers, less formally known as
of St Peter’ and the basis of Jesus’ ‘Popes’, a title which surprises western
statement to Peter in Matthew XVI, Christians when they find it still used
known as the Petrine doctrine, the for anyone but the Bishop of Rome. It
is not clear how the successors of St.
bishops of Rome were to claim
primacy over all other bishops in the Peter were elected although it is said
Church, a claim fiercely contested that one, Fabian (236-250), owed his
election to the fact that a dove sat on
form the start.
What problems there were for all his head during a crucial meeting.
those bishops! The expected second Fabian is considered to be the first

20

Pope since St A prayer for Beirut
Peter to be
martyred which Heavenly Father,
was during the In the face of your son Jesus Christ
persecution of the we glimpse your compassion:
Emperor Decius. Look now with mercy upon the
people of Beirut.
Persecution Bring back to safety those trapped
was spasmodic under the rubble:
rather than grant healing to those injured
continuous but the And eternal rest to the departed.
persecution of The psalmist sings that
Decius in 250/251 Emporer Decius The righteous shall flourish like a
revealed that the palm tree,
church in Rome had, in addition to its and shall spread abroad like a cedar
bishop, no less than 46 presbyters, 7 of Lebanon.
deacons,7 sub deacons, 42 acolytes, 42 Such as are planted in the house of
exorcists, readers and doorkeepers. In the Lord
the final persecution of Diocletian Shall flourish in the courts of our
confiscated property included an God.
amazing amount of ceremonial silver Grant that by the generosity of our
showing that church had many wealthy response
members. we may be numbered among the
righteous:
After Diocletian all changed. In 313 Stir up in the nations such a desire
the Emperor Constantine issued an for justice
Edict of Toleration for all religions that the hungry may be fed:
and then became a Christian himself. those rendered homeless may find
Not only did persecution cease but shelter;
government policy became more and and longer term structures be put in
more pro Christian, churches were place for the wellbeing of all people:
built, not least that on the supposed site in Jesus’ Name
of St. Peter’s grave of the Vatican Hill, Amen
Sunday became a public holiday and
many Christians were promoted to high
positions in government. The Church
had been a fellowship; it was now be-
coming an institution. There are those
who consider the conversion of
Constantine to have been a tragedy in
the life of the Church. Do you agree?

Rowena Rudkin

21

Quiz
Where is God at this time of plague?

The answers begin with the
letters on the left.
C I am the Saviour of the world.
O I am Alpha and O_______.
R I am the sixth book of the New
Testament.
O I am preparing to be a priest.
N I am the fourth book of the Old
Testament.
A I am a messenger of God.
V I am the v______ who gave
birth to Jesus.
I I am a prophet.
R I changed the church a lot a few
centuries ago.
U I am an elite soldier in the army
of King David.
S I am something we all
experience, some much
more than others.

Answers on page 31
22

Follow the evidence

Important scientific research solves an avian
mystery

Researchers for the Department of
Transport found over 200 dead crows
near Sheffield recently. The
Department’s attention had been
drawn to this phenomenon by locals
concerned that the birds could have
died from Avian Flu.

A bird pathologist examined the The Department of Transport then
remains of the crows and, to hired an ornithological behaviourist to
everyone’s relief, confirmed the determine if there were a cause for the
problem was definitely NOT Avian disproportionate percentages of truck
Flu. and car kills.

The cause of death appeared to be The ornithological behaviourist
vehicular impacts. However during the came up with the answer. When crows
detailed analysis it was noted that eat road kill they always have a look
varying colours and types of paints out crow to warn of impending
appeared on the birds’ bodies. By danger. Further to detailed research
analysing these paint residues it was from field studies in the locality it was
established that 98% of the crows had discovered that while all the lookout
been killed by impact with lorries crows could shout “Cah” not a single
whilst only 2% were killed by an one could shout “Truck”.
impact with a car. RU Shaw

Editor’s footnote: Readers can be
assured that no
actual birds were
harmed in the
account just
outlined.

23

Mum Maria writes of lockdown with new baby Chiara

By the time my maternity leave started having made it home on the
in mid-February, three weeks before Tuesday, we were sent back by my
my due date, I had a fairly good idea midwife on the Wednesday as the wee
of how it was going to progress. I had one was jaundiced. Luckily she was
no plans for the remaining pre-natal never became sick enough to require
period other than to rest, finish treatment and we came home, once
organising the house and get again, on the Friday. (Having sent the
everything organised for the birth. By Weegie home on the Thursday I then
this point I had been strongly advised had to ring him on the Friday morning
to give birth in Raigmore Hospital, to tell him he really did want to drive
100 miles away in Inverness. It was another 200 miles that day!)
not what I had hoped for but baby was
on the large side and it was the safest Week one, then, was spent in
place to be. hospital. Week two is a blur, thanks to
the undiagnosed anaemia I suffered
Even so, I had no intention of being from post-birth. Hallucinating whilst
there for any longer than necessary in charge of a newborn is not fun! The
before returning home and showing third week things were beginning to
off my long-awaited offspring to the look more normal and we had visits
world. I had not let Mum make any from friends most days, until
firm plans as to when to come up as Lockdown started.
there was no way of knowing when,
exactly, I'd give birth, and whilst I When I was in Raigmore it was
wanted her to come up when the baby Norovirus that was causing concern,
was still a newborn I wanted time to closing some wards to visitors, though,
recover from the birth first, but hoped luckily, not Maternity. Coronovirus
she would meet her first grandchild was just something I saw mentioned
within the first few weeks of life. online, a virus that was rampaging
elsewhere. And even during those first
I was intending to travel down to weeks back home it was not something
Woodford with my new baby and that greatly concerned me.
introduce him or her to everyone there.
In between trips I had every intention The first real sign of things to come
of making the college here, in was when Chiara's birth was
particular the nursery where I work, registered. It was few days before
our second home (there was a reason I Lockdown but, even then, the registrar
left my coffee cup there!). insisted on wearing gloves and wiping
the computer keyboard and work
The best laid plans o' this woman, surfaces repeatedly, which seemed
however, were foiled by nature. rather far-fetched to me. But then, life
Things went awry from the off: for everyone changed and maternity
induction took far longer than planned leave became most surreal.
and despite being started on the
Thursday Chiara was not born until Luckily the health visitor managed
Monday morning, 2nd March. Then, a visit before Lockdown began,
otherwise I still would not know what

24

she looked like, despite having met Lockdown has had some
her many, many times by now. advantages: despite never being
Routine visits to the midwives at the furloughed, the Weegie was at work far
hospital went from walking casually less during the first few months of
through the main entrance to Chiara's life than he would have been
seemingly sneaking in at the back otherwise, so I was able to hand her
through a fire escape, and trips to see over in the early hours and go back to
the paediatrician at Raigmore bed. And it was nice for her to be able
(necessary as the Wee One put on to spend quality time with him (though
barely any weight for the first few I am not sure him teaching her how to
months) were to an abandoned blow raspberries was a good use of this
hospital, rather than to the hectic one quality time!). However, it was a great
I'd paced in an effort to kick-start shame that I was not able to bring
labour a month earlier Chiara down to Woodford until late
July, meaning that my mum was not
Rather than making the college our able to meet her grandchild until she
second home it was the local beach was nearly 5 months old. Not only that,
that became our main, and really, but Chiara saw far fewer people than I
only, destination. Luckily, two of would have liked.
Chiara's aunties here were more than
willing to meet us there regularly. For Life is, apparently, getting slowly
four months these were the only times back to normal, yet I still cannot take
she really socialised. Other than those her to the nursery to spend time with
on the post-natal ward, she did not her aunties there and there are no baby
meet another baby until she was nearly clubs running yet. What this lack of
five months old, and most of the faces socialisation means for her
she has seen have been hidden by development remains to be seen. At
masks. least she has the animals to entertain
her (though Tilly is rather concerned
that, at almost six months, she is
neither litter-trained nor able to catch
mice, and thinks my parenting efforts
are very poor indeed!)

In the meantime I am enjoying
spending time with her. She is a very
easy child (so far) and makes this
mothering lark a real joy. The next
steps are weaning, which will be fun
(and messy!) and getting her out in the
running buggy, which she will no
doubt enjoy but will probably be bored
by my slow pace.

25

Music at St Mary’s

A Schubertiad!

The music of Schubert by the St Mary’s Chamber
Ensemble

Artwork by Matthew Bradley of Franz Schubert: that famous
composer from the early part of the
Perhaps for most of us the most 19th century who led the way into
serious impact of the Covid-19 music's Romantic period.
pandemic has been the loss of contact
with friends and family. Although Unlike Beethoven, whose personal
lockdown has now lifted to some life, at least in part because of his
extent there has still been for many of deafness, was a solitary one,
us a significant hit on our wellbeing. It Schubert's personal life was full of
seems to me that this must be regular congenial and convivial
particularly true for many of the folk contact with friends. Indeed, his
at St Mary's: a church whose members music was often given in the homes of
seem particularly to value friendships these friends in the forms of concerts,
and fellowship highly. called ‘Schubertiads’ which were
dedicated to his music. These
Perhaps, then it is timely for the Schubertiads would feature a whole
next concert from the St Mary's range of his latest compositions and
Chamber Ensemble on November could be followed by, say, a picnic, or
14th to celebrate precisely this by a river trip: Schubert enjoyed a good
presenting a programme of the music time with friends. Thus, whereas one
thinks naturally of Beethoven as the
lone genius, one thinks of Schubert in
his circle of friends and fellow
musicians. He was obviously much
beloved by them: his nickname from
them was ‘Schwammerl’ ("tubby", or
perhaps, ‘little mushroom’): he was,
after all, barely 5 feet tall, and perhaps
a little plump. One cannot imagine
something like this being said, with
affection, of Beethoven!

One of the works we will be
performing, Schubert's ‘Trout’
Quintet, shows him at his most
buoyant and convivial mood.
Typically, it was written for a specific

26

occasion while Schubert was with Martin Luther King
friends at the Austrian town of Steyr, senior
and it proved to be a great success with
them. One of his circle, Sylvester
Paumgartner, commissioned the work
to be played during this Austrian He was the son of a slave, and rose
holiday, and as a token of his from rural poverty to become the pastor
friendship Schubert included a set of of one of Atlanta’s leading African
variations on his song Die Forelle (The American Churches. He survived both
Trout) as one of the movements, this of his sons - one shot in 1968; one
song being one of Paumgartner's drowned in 1969 - and his wife, who
favourites. The insertion of this ‘extra’ was shot in their church as she played
movement in the work would have The Lord’s Prayer on the organ.
been a rather pleasant surprise for his
listeners. The result is a rather leisurely He said: ‘There are two men I am
piece of music that is full of sunny supposed to hate. One is a white man,
congeniality reflecting (using the other black, both are serving time
Schubert's own description) a musical for committing murder. Earl James Ray
representation of Upper Austria’s is imprisoned in Tennessee charged
‘unimaginably beautiful scenery’. It has with killing my son. Marcus Chennault
endured as a favourite in the chamber was institutionalised as deranged after
music repertoire. shooting my wife to death. I don’t hate
either one. There is no time for that and
We are calling our own concert on no reason either. Nothing that a man
November 14th a Schubertiad and, does takes him lower than when he
like those original ones in Vienna, we falls so far as to hate anyone. Hatred is
will be performing exclusively not needed to stamp out evil despite
Schubert's music. As in those original what some people have been taught.
performances in Vienna long ago, it
will be performed by a group of friends People can accomplish all things
who enjoy their time together on both a that God wills in this world; hatred
personal and musical level. I like to cannot. If we achieved victory over
think that there is, like at St Mary's anything in the South it was over
itself, a sense of community and inhumanity. When the evil heart of
friendship among the performers in the segregation could beat no more it was
St Mary's Chamber Ensemble too. For because it had been stopped by people
us, and I hope for the audience, there who did not counsel violence, who did
will be a sense of good humour and not brutalise and bomb, who never
good spirits in the music making - sought to take away any part of anyone
exactly what Schubert would have else’s humanity as a human being.
wanted. We hope that, Covid 19 These things triumphed over the
permitting, you will be able to join us! exaggerated power of hatred. And so
which path would any man who knew
this choose to travel. Hatred did not
win. I prefer to share triumph.’
John Bradley

27

focusFamily Method

STEP 1
Blend almonds and walnuts until
almost grounded, then set aside.

STEP 2
In a food processor blend prunes,
dates, maple syrup and honey until a
paste is formed. Add water if needed.

How to make raw vegan STEP 3
witches’ fingers for Halloween Add almonds and walnuts, salt, cocoa
and spices and blend until a dough
Ingredients forms. If dough is too sticky add a
little more almonds/walnuts.
5 prunes STEP 4
3 dates Divide the dough into 1 inch balls
2 tbsp maple syrup and roll them into finger shapes.
1 tbsp honey STEP 5
1 tbsp water Place pumpkin seed at the tip using
Pinch of salt (optional) small amount of fruit purée.
¼ tsp ground cloves STEP 6
1 tsp dark cocoa powder Serve immediately or keep
¼ tsp ground cardamom refrigerated until needed.
75g walnuts Raw witches fingers can be made a
90g almonds day ahead.
Makes 16 fingers.

For decoration:
Pumpkin seeds
1 tsp red fruit purée

28

29

THE BACTON ALTAR proving it was once an item of dress.
Cloth woven with silver, such as this,
CLOTH was very expensive, and the amount in
this panel cost as much as a substantial
house. Tudor law restricted the use of
silver, and it could only have been
made for royalty or the most important
nobles at court.
Following new research and three
years of conservation work, Historic
Royal Palace Curators believe that the
Bacton Altar Cloth once formed part of
a dress worn by Elizabeth herself,
making it the only known surviving
example of Elizabeth I's clothing.
It seems likely that the embroidered
chamblet silk cloth found its way to the
small village of Bacton by association
with Blanche Parry, Elizabeth's most
faithful servant and almost life-long
companion. It is likely that it was sent
to Bacton by the Queen or her ladies-in
-waiting in memory of Blanche.
Blanche watched the infant Elizabeth's
cradle, helped nurse her through
small-pox and advised her. It was not
unusual for Elizabeth to pass on her
discarded clothes to her confidantes,
with records showing that Blanche
Parry received many gifts of clothing
from the Queen.
Blanche Parry died on 12th
The Bacton Altar Cloth, a rare survival February 1590, aged 82. She was
of Elizabethan dress worn by Elizabeth buried in St. Margaret's Church,
I, and the Rainbow Portrait, on loan Westminster, with the rank of
from Hatfield House, were on display baroness, the Queen having paid her
at Hampton Court Palace until 23rd funeral expenses. The tomb monument
February 2020. in St. Margaret's Church has been
For centuries, the embroidered moved several times within the church.
panel was an altar cloth in the church There is another monument in
of St. Faith in Bacton, Herefordshire. It Bacton Church. The Rainbow Portrait,
shows evidence of pattern-cutting, attributed to Marcus Gheeraerts the

30

Younger, was commissioned by Robert
Cecil and is filled with symbolism
including motifs of eyes and ears.
The Queen wears a dress with
prominent similarities to the fabric of
the altar cloth, heavily embroidered
with motifs fashionable during
Elizabeth's reign.
Sources: The Lost Dress of Elizabeth I
exhibition at Hampton Court Palace.
Historic Royal Palaces: Bacton Altar
Cloth
'Tudor Fashion' by Eldridge Lynn, Yale
University Press 2017
Penny Freeston

Quiz : answers to This Photo by Unknown
questions on page 22

1 Christ
2 Omega
3 Romans
4 Ordinand
5 Numbers
6 Angel
7 Virgin
8 Isaiah
9 Reformation
10 Uriah
11 Suffering

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
9th November 2020

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

32