2020 Winter final

St Mary’s Woodford
Parish Magazine

Volume 11 number 4 www.stmaryswoodford.org.uk

Winter 2020

Welcome

New Year, new hope.
We have a saying don’t we, ‘where there’s life there’s hope,’ or we might put it
the other way round and say, ‘where there’s hope there’s life’.
By the time you read this, the year 2020 will be drawing to a close and a new
year will be dawning. If you look over your shoulder, I wonder what personal
hopes you had for last year. Have any of them been realised or have
circumstances obliged you to put them on hold? Indeed, has the pandemic
caused you to review your hopes and priorities for 2021? Have the challenges of
simply living this year served to remind us of the importance of some basic
foundations for life; kind neighbours, caring family and friends; having
something to do; going out without fear; shopping for oneself; being able to go
to church? Have we perhaps always taken these basic human hopes for granted
in the past and, as a result, do we now have a renewed set of priorities and hopes
in life?

As for the coming Christmas season and the coming year, despite the
prevailing circumstances, isn’t there much for us to hope for? We have the hope
that the present lockdown, scheduled to end by the time you read this, will have
the desired effect on reducing infections of the corona virus and all that that
means for society. We have the hope that, in that event, we will once again be
able to celebrate with joy the coming of the baby Jesus into the world and the
goodwill and love that the Christmas celebrations will generate between people.

We have the hope that an effective vaccine will be introduced sometime in
2021 which will have a profoundly positive effect on all of us. We have the hope
of our new Rector Elizabeth starting her incumbency with us in the new year
(with the Rev Alex Summers coming to help us in the interim). Next time you
are in church, if you look at the past Rectors’ plaque in the chapel, you will
Front cover: Remembrance Sunday at St Mary’s

2

notice that it will be precisely 800 years Parish Register
since the first Rector of St Mary’s was
inducted so it signifies great hope not just Wedding: Jason Banks & Beth
for a new year but for a new era. Turner on 31st Oct 2020
Burial of ashes: Jacqueline
So, as we look back over the past year Preston on 10th October
that is drawing to a close, rather than be Funeral: Audrey Hopkins on
disappointed for hopes unfulfilled, should 23rd October
not we be thankful to God that the unique
challenges that we have faced have served
to remind us of the basic vital constituents
of life that we may have too easily taken
for granted? Should not we also give
thanks for the fact that ‘necessity being
the mother of invention’ we have been
prompted to find new ways of being a
worshipping and caring community for
which our heartfelt thanks go out to so
many good folk who have worked
tirelessly both in front of and behind the
scenes to provide?

As we go forward into the new year let
us hope and pray that God’s Holy Spirit
will guide us not only in our own lives but
in the corporate life of St Mary’s too. I
know that the other members of the
ministry team and the wardens would like
to join me in wishing you all a blessed
Christmas and a happy and hopeful New
Year.

Chris Winward

God doesn't work in terms of 'deserve'. There is always a copy of the
Instead he gives gifts. It's all an utter latest parish magazine on the St
gift. Gift. Gift. Gift. Each day can be Mary’s website
different simply when we choose to see www.stmaryswoodford.org.uk
everything as a gift and be thankful. You can find it by scrolling down
Justin Welby to the ‘Our Publications’ heading.
Archbishop of Canterbury

3

Our new Rector

The Bishop of Barking and the beginning of life and the end of life,
Archdeacon of West Ham are and criminal justice.
delighted to announce that the next
Rector of St Mary’s Woodford, is to Eight years ago she realised she
the Reverend Dr Elizabeth Lowson. couldn’t ignore God’s calling to
priesthood any more and has since
Elizabeth grew up in Canterbury, relished lay ministry in Reading and
worshipping God in the beauty of ordination training at Westcott House
liturgy and sacred music at the and St John’s College in Cambridge
Cathedral and enjoying what her lively before ordained ministry in Great
school chaplain conveyed about the Missenden among the Chiltern Hills.
love and grace of Jesus Christ. Before
ordination she conducted research at Elizabeth and her husband Rueben
several universities, and also worked are delighted to be moving to
and volunteered with Samaritans and Woodford in January and are looking
other organisations. These took her forward to getting to know the
into the realms of shift work and congregation and community and
gender, emotional health and despair, exploring together in which direction
cancer care and issues surrounding the God is calling us next.

4

Remembrance
Remembrance: including Seekers’ artwork

https://youtu.be/UILxSDsU_wM
This is a link for recent lockdown recording of “They
Shall Grow Not Old” by Jonathan Rathbone sung by
London Forest Choir which includes five members of
our choir at St Mary’s.

5

Life at St Mary’s

Memorial Hall update

Since 5th November, the start of a second lockdown, all hiring activity has
ceased with the exception of the Playgroup which is allowed to continue during
this period. Readers will be interested to know of the arrangements which were
put in place following the first lockdown when the Hall re-opened its doors to
hirers.
The Pre-School Playgroup leaders were in beforehand to clean, train and put in
place COVID-secure mechanisms such as drop-off points, one-way systems
and child access points.
The Hall staff put in place a system of COVID-secure practices such as room
capacities, routes and sanitiser stations.
In addition to Playgroup from 7th September the following classes also
returned:

Social Badminton Group
Taekwondo classes
Bodygroove - ladies' exercise class
Stage 1 Theatre School
Two new pre-school hirings occurred:
Baby Ballet classes
Mini-Athletics
Since October the following groups
resumed:
Soccer Days
Karate Classes
Private Tuition classes
Child Contact Centre

With thanks for this Making the Hall safe: Julie (left) and
information from Caroline (right)
Memorial Hall manager
Tamsen Mann

6

Life at St Mary’s

Ballet class with socially distanced teacher Miss Holly

Playgroup in the Memorial Hall’s Pankhurst Room

7

Life at St Mary’s

Revd Gill Hopkins Innocents at High Beach and as
Chaplain for Epping Forest and the Lee
Valley. The chaplaincy role was about
developing ways to enable visitors to
My background is in teaching and
training. After completing a PGCE at these outdoor locations to pay attention
the Urban Studies Centre in Stepney, I to their spiritual wellbeing.
taught geography in Yorkshire. I also I have ‘Permission to Officiate’ in
worked as part of the North Yorkshire the Diocese of Chelmsford following
Staff Development Team and with the my retirement from full-time ministry
Counselling and Career Development in February 2016. I continued my
Unit at Leeds University. passion for education and
served as Vice-Chair of the
On returning to Essex, I Diocesan Board of Education
ran the Teachers’ Centre
in Chelmsford and also and the Diocesan Member for
the Hearts Academy until
worked on teacher- 2019. I also undertook two
training programmes.
While my children years of training at Sarum
College on the course for
were young, I worked Spiritual Direction. I now
part-time at the FE
College in Southend-on- coordinate the Barking Area
Spiritual Directors for the
Sea and then returned to Diocese as well as offering
full-time teaching, this
time in a primary school. spiritual direction, quiet days
In the year 2000, I took up the headship and retreats. I also work as a
of a ‘failing’ Church of England volunteer for the Epping Forest
Heritage Trust at High Beach Visitor
primary school and my team and I Centre, and I am the Membership Sec-
successfully turned it round to be
graded by Ofsted as ‘Outstanding’. retary for the Wanstead and Woodford
I left the school in 2007 to be U3A. Since 2016 I’ve been involved
ordained in the Anglican Church. We with a group welcoming Syrian
moved from our family home in refugees in West Essex.
I am an Essex-girl by birth and I am
Ingatestone to Wickford, where I
served as curate in the Wickford and married to Richard, who grew up in
Runwell Team Ministry. I was a Australia. We have two children, both
of whom have followed their parents
governor at Wickford Church of
England School and helped to develop into the world of education. Richard
their link with a school in the Embu and I love travelling and walking and
region of Kenya by hosting teachers we enjoy all that London has to offer,
from the school and visiting the Mount so we have moved to live close to
Kenya region with the Diocese in 2009. Epping Forest and a tube-station in
In 2010 I joined the Waltham Holy order to facilitate our movements.
Cross Team Ministry and served as
Team Vicar at the Church of the Holy Gill Hopkins

8

Life at St Mary’s

This winter, FCENS (Forest Churches Emergency Night Shelter), is looking to
provide emergency accommodation through a hotel partnership established at
the beginning of lockdown. We hope to fund 15 individual bed spaces per
night to run from November through to the end of March 2021 (longer - if
funds permit). The video from SHP on the link below shows perfectly how it
would work. Your donations would be most welcome.
https://www.avivacommunityfund.co.uk/giving-shelter-to-the-homeless

I often think that one cannot give BACK to acknowledge the
generosity of spirit -but give FORWARD - on to someone
else.
Judy Noble

9

An eccentric priest

On a recent trip to Cornwall we stayed cross marked ‘Unknown Yet Well
in Morwenstow, north of Bude, a place Known’ close to the graves of 30 or
we hadn’t visited before. I have since more drowned sailors. A figure head,
become interested in finding out more now inside the church, from the ship
about Revd. Robert Hawker who lived ‘The Caledonia’ recalls the burial of
and worked there for forty years. five of the nine-man crew in 1843.
Born in 1803, the son of a Cornish
curate, he became rector of Hawker’s life is as mysterious as it
Morwenstow in 1834. When he is fascinating. During his lifetime
arrived wreckers and smugglers were Revd. Hawker married twice: first to
numerous in the area - no vicar had Charlotte, his godmother, who was 41
been appointed there for over a years old while he was still an
hundred years. He built his own undergraduate at Oxford University,
rectory with chimneys that resembled then, nearly 40 years later, to Pauline,
significant church towers in his life: who was twenty years younger and
Tamerton, where he had been curate; bore him three daughters. On his
Morwenstow and Welcombe, his other deathbed in Plymouth in 1863 he
living, in addition to his Oxford chose to embrace Roman Catholicism
college, Magdalen. The kitchen and requested that mourners wear
chimney is a replica of his mother’s purple rather than traditional black to
tomb. his funeral.

The eccentric priest, who loved to Several booklets have been written
dress in bright colours, smoked opium about Morwenstow and Revd. Hawker
in a driftwood hut on the cliffs, that over the years. I recommend reading
still stands today, writing poetry and ‘Hawker of Morwenstow’ by Piers
looking out to sea. He is most famous Brendon (Anthony Mott Ltd.) to find
for his composition ‘Song of the out more.
Western Men’ which subsequently has Penny Freeston
become Cornwall’s anthem. On
reading ‘The Quest of the Sangraal’
Tennyson wrote: ‘Hawker has beaten
me on my own ground’. Revd.
Hawker is also believed to have
brought back the mediaeval tradition
of Harvest Festival.

Concerned that the bodies of
drowned men receive a Christian
burial, Hawker was obliged to dose his
burial party liberally with gin to help
him retrieve remains washed ashore.
The church yard contains a mortuary
built for this purpose and a granite

10

Christmas
THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

1. The true love is the love of God.
2. The two turtle doves represent the Old and New Testaments.
3. The three French hens represent Faith, Hope and Charity.
4. The four calling birds represent the four Gospels and the Gospel writers.
5. The golden rings represent the first five books of the Old Testament or the

Pentateuch.
6. The six geese a-laying represent the first six days of creation.
7. The seven swans a-swimming represent the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
8. The eight maids a-milking represent the Beatitudes.
9. The nine ladies dancing represent the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
10. The ten lords a-leaping represent the Ten Commandments.
11. The eleven pipers piping represent the eleven faithful Apostles.
12. The twelve drummers drumming represent the twelve points of doctrine in

the Apostles Creed.
I have heard it said that the partridge in a pear tree is a
miracle or a mystery as partridges do not inhabit a pear
tree.
Rowena Rudkin

I believe Faith is part of what makes us human. It is a basic attitude of trust
that always goes beyond the available evidence, but without which we would
do nothing great. Without faith in one another we could not risk the
vulnerability of love. Without faith in the future we would not choose to have
a child. Without faith in the intelligibility of the universe we would not do
science. Without faith in our fellow citizens we would not have a free society.
Rabbi Lord Sacks 1948- 2020
Chief Rabbi of the UK, 1991 - 2013

11

the Blitz

A memory of the first daylight air raid on
London on 7th September 1940

John Goldsmith’s sketch
12

the Blitz

It was a beautiful day. The weather had NOTE The sketch (right) combines an
been fine and warm for about a month. impression of the scene as I saw it. The
I had been to the pictures in the upper sky scene would have been at
morning but at about 3.30pm the air about 4.0pm and the lower panorama
raid warning wailed. I was standing on would have been at about 6.30pm.
the corner of St Stephens Road and
Saxon Row in Bow. Suddenly a John Goldsmith
growing rumble of aircraft engines
became clear. It was a raid, a massive Editor writes: I asked John why he
one. The Nazi planes came in waves and his pals were on the top balcony in
from the south east. They wheeled and a block of flats rather than in an air raid
circled as if looking for their prey. shelter. John replied:-
There were several hundred at three or
four layers. As a nine year old who had There had been one raid on London, I
flown in his father’s light plane, I was think, prior to September 1940. We
initially fascinated by the way the went to the pictures with no fear. As to
planes appeared to fill the sky. I had taking cover, there had been no need in
never seen so many aircraft. Bow, but my father had built a
Then I became angry. Where was reinforced concrete air raid shelter in
the ack-ack firing at them? Where were the front garden of my uncle’s house,
our planes? The Nazi cloud continues 37, St Stephens Road, which slept 12.
to threaten and then I saw the effect of From my observation point in my
their raid on the London Docks. Huge script, it was a few yards to the hatch, I
fires sent flames and smoke skywards was pretty quick in those days!
so that the southern horizon was a wall But, my father’s business was road
of red flame and smoke. I joined a transport and half the trucks hauled oil
group of us kids on the top balcony of a or petrol. They were parked at the back
block of flats on the Roman Road and of our property. I have since imagined
gazed with an awful sense that the so what might have happened if a stray
called ‘phoney war’ was over. bomb had...........
Subsequent reading reports of the So Dad was busy, so I was free to
High Command reaction to the raid follow my mates in whatever we
said that they, the High Command, decided to do. By the evening, when
thought that the raid was the start of the my memory recalls the blood red sky to
invasion. As a result they decided to the south of us, the bombers had left
withdraw the anti-aircraft guns to pro- and I think the ‘all clear’ had sounded.
tect the airfields and kept the RAF One of the lads lived in the block so we
fighters in reserve, again because they followed him up the stairs to the access
concluded that they would be needed to balcony at roof level. It commanded a
attack the invasion forces. As a result a clear view of the docks on fire.
large area of the East End was
sacrificed.

13

Life at St Mary’s

The tapestries behind the altar in the chapel

of St Philip and St James

When was the last time you looked before us’. So we see the sea and the
at the tapestries in our chapel at St fish and the anchor firmly grounded in
Mary’s. Did you wonder what they God’s strength to keep our frail craft
were depicting? Jane Fone came steady and safe.
across a paper explaining this when
sorting through some of Rev Alison Moving up the panel we come to
Clarke’s papers. Alison told me that the fields which, because it is Winter,
she did not write the article herself are barren and bare. There are periods
and thought that it had probably been in our lives when we feel our lives are
written by Bob Birchnall. Alison, cold and dead and we are fruitless.
one of the magazine’s readers from Over the fields and trees broods the
afar, sends us her best wishes as do Spirit of God as it did over Creation.
we all to her in Leamington Spa. The crosses remind us that we must
die to self to be reborn into a richer,
fuller life, the life seen in Christ, who
conquered death.
Peter Wall The second panel is ‘Spring’.

It all started with the quotation: “I sat Starting at the top we see the dove
down under his shadow and the returning to Noah with the twig of the
banner of his love was over me.” The hope of a new beginning. The trees
wall rug which had hung behind the are beginning to grow their leaves,
altar in the chapel was in need of figs and pomegranates, the corn is
replacement. Why not have a ‘banner’ sprouting in the ploughed field, God
behind the altar? and man are co-operating to produce
An exhibition of wall hangings the fruits of the earth. The anchor
was on showing the work of a weaver reminds us to keep looking for signs
Ethel Shule and, after discussions, she of hope.
agreed to accept our commission. Her The theme of the third panel is
original drawings set out her theme ‘Autumn’. The fields stand thick with
for the three panels i.e.: Winter, corn. The grapes, figs, pomegranates
Spring and Autumn. are showing their fruit. The dove has
The first panel, Winter, starting disappeared from this picture. He has
from the bottom, depicts the anchor, become the Holy Dove, the Holy
an age old Christian symbol. St. Paul Spirit now dwelling within us so that
speaks of the hope set before us as an we may grow and develop and show
anchor of the soul and the the fruits of the spirit, love, joy, peace,
thanksgiving prayer for the Eucharist gentleness, goodness and truth. Let us
in its first draft used to read, ‘anchor sit down under his shadow, under the
us in this hope that you have set banner of his love and feed on him in

14

Life at St Mary’s

our hearts with thanksgiving. Holy places are dark places. It is
You are always welcome in this life and strength, not knowledge
and words, that we get in them.
chapel. It is dedicated to S.S. Philip and Holy wisdom is not clear and thin
James in memory of that church which like water, but thick and dark like
serves the area around Grove Hill and blood.
which, when it was closed, brought C. S. Lewis
such life to St Mary’s.

The two saints brought the lad with
the loaves and fishes to Jesus. You can
see the bread of life and the fishes and
indeed the club with which the two
apostles were reputed to have been
killed, in the shields around the chapel
ceiling. The sacrament is reserved in
the aumbry on the North wall.
Attributed Bob Birchnall

15

The way

PILGRIM Prayer, the Beatitudes
and the
Commandments.
A COURSE FOR THE There is a booklet on

CHRISTIAN JOURNEY each text, using the
same format over six
by Stephen Cottrell, Steven sessions. After some
Croft, Paula Gooder and Robert opening prayers, there is
Atwell a ‘conversation-starter’,

‘Teach me your way, O Lord, and an opportunity to
and I will walk in your truth.’ reflect on a bible-
reading based on the Lectio Divina
Psalm 86,11 method. (This means reading the same

We can live and travel as pilgrims. passage three times, with space between
As the verse of the well-known to reflect and offer a word or phrase that
twentieth century hymn states: ‘We strikes one before sharing what this word
are pilgrims on a journey, fellow or phrase might mean, and questions
travellers on the road; we are here to raised.) There is then a short article from a
help each other walk the mile and contemporary Christian writer on the
bear the load.’ theme, some questions to address, and
further time of prayer. Finally, a ‘sending
‘Pilgrim’ is a course for the out’ section has suggestions for further
Christian journey which can help us reflection and selected quotations from the
to nurture our journey. It is great tradition of Christian writing. This
important that we find out more format enables everyone to contribute,
about our faith; what it means to be with no right or wrong answers.
a follower of Jesus Christ and to
learn how to walk in the light of The reflective and conversational
Christ. The Psalmist in the bible approach makes it suitable for people on
states: ‘Happy are those whose their different stages of the Christian
hearts are set on the pilgrim way’. journey: those exploring faith issues for
Psalm 84,5. the first time and those who are seeking a
refresher course. Consequently, the course
The Pilgrim Course unpacks the can be used for confirmation preparation,
basic message and teaching of the house groups or during Lent. By
Christian faith and helps us to participating in the course, people are
explore what it means to become encouraged to practise the ancient
disciples of Jesus Christ, to live like disciplines of biblical reflection and prayer
Jesus and to rediscover the Christian which have been at the heart of living-out
way of life. It does this by taking the Christian faith.
some of the great texts that have
been particularly significant to
Christians since the earliest days of
the Church - the Creeds, the Lord’s Gill Hopkins

16

The way

Thriving in a time of coronavirus and beyond
by Paul Swan

I came across this article on the Inspire: Take time to breathe in, as
Bible Reading Fellowship website, well as breathe out. Discover that which
and after finding it very helpful, genuinely inspires and restores you.
recommended it to others who Validation: a tough but critical
agreed with me. question for us all. Your relationship
https://www.brf.org.uk/wp- with God is all that really matters.
content/uploads/2020/07/Thriving Evaluate: what works best to bring out
-in-a-time-of-coronavirus.pdf the best in us? What has brought me
It is divided into five sections closer to God and enabled my
(THRIVE) which I will attempt to flourishing? What has taken me away
précis. This is no substitute, merely from God and inhibited my flourishing?
to tempt you to read the whole Draw up a list of those things you want
article, based on the author drawing to leave behind in the ‘old normal’ and
on his current experience and his those things you would like to carry
book ‘Sustaining Leadership: You with you or even initiate in the ‘new
are more important than your normal’.
ministry’, published by BRF. Penny Freeston
Time: Take time to check out how
you are. To quote Richard Rohr:
‘Whatever is not transformed will
be transferred’. How we feel
emotionally may impact on those
we have dealings with on a daily
basis.

Hurry is your enemy. Busyness
can be a distraction. There is very
little that we do that can be
improved by hurry...

Rest more than you would Epping Forest
normally do. What we’re going
through globally is more tiring than
we think. Also video conferencing
is draining in different ways.

17

Neighbours near and far in lockdown

A reflection from the new Advent book Comfort and Joy
https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/preparing-advent-
christmas-2020-comfort-and-joy

Although the epidemic might have groups helpful as illustrated in the
been expected to make examples on the opposite page .
communication more difficult, many, People have also spoken of other
as our Archbishop says, have found non WhatsApp means of
the opposite to be true. I was struck facilitating good neighbourliness. I
by an outbreak of ‘good have heard examples of
neighbourliness’ with people ’neighbourliness’ of support for
previously unknown to me but living those facing extreme challenges
less than 300 yards away. The tool such as homelessness and major
for this was a local WhatsApp group. health problems, not just in the
WhatsApp enables a good idea or UK or Europe.
problem to be picked up quickly. Peter Wall
Others too have found WhatsApp

18

From the beginning of Lockdown
Derby Road residents were able to
support one another through
WhatsApp. This included collecting
prescriptions and groceries for people
shielding, and generally keeping in
touch and lifting each other's spirits.
Martin and I organised three live
classical concerts (socially-distanced)
for residents on summer evenings
performed by our friends Lucy
Crowe and Joe Walters whose pro-
fessional engagements came to an
abrupt halt due to COVID-19.

Penny Freeston Very early in lockdown and within
Below - A good response when 100 yards of our back gate onto the
Sheba Lockley uses her road’s forest a "Tree of Hope" suddenly ap-
WhatsApp to find a good use for peared, adorned with coloured objects
Lego cards that she and others pick and thoughtful sentiments that echoed
up from Sainsburys. Also (right) a the positive zeitgeist of those "Clap for
card and £115 for unexpectedly the Carers" days. Set up by an after-
missing local postman with people school group, it quickly became a
each chipping a suggested £5 (in broader community "installation" with
confidence from other WhatsApp additions appearing regularly. Always
members). on our daily walks we looked for what
was new, frequently talking to curious
passers-by and invariably picking up
the shared sense of concern but also
hope. Ironically we got to know a
number of our immediate neighbours
better from meeting them at "The
Tree". It brought us together.

John and Kathy Wiltshire

19

Music

performers
Anita Datta and the Swan Consort which was
appropriate in the
circumstances
both then and now. (A motet
is a piece of music in several
parts with words.) The
Consort consisted of a
harpsichord, two violins and
five singers. The four pieces
featured two, three or five
singers one of whom was
Anita who conducted when she
was not singing. The video
was very well produced and
had been made at Holy Trinity,
Mitzi and I received an email in mid Rotherhithe.
September from Anita Datta, St Mary’s It was an interesting and enjoyable
former Director of Music. We were experience hearing the music and
invited to a Zoom “watch party” to listening to the discussion and
view the premier of a Swan Consort explanation coming from a group of
concert of Cavalli music on You Tube. charming and enthusiastic musical
The Swan Consort had previously experts and performers.
performed at St Mary’s about a year
ago. We joined some 20 people on You too may experience the video
Zoom including two from the USA. performance of “Music from a Time of
Plague” on YouTube with this link :-

One of them was an expert on the https://www.youtube.com/watch?
featured composer, Cavalli, on whom v=66HH0xb-oOQ
he had written his PhD. Anita and he
introduced us to the context under
which the concert was taking place and The expenses of producing the
the composer, the music and the video are to be covered by friends and
context in which it was written. supporters through:-

Francesco Cavalli was an early https://www.justgiving.com/
Baroque composer working in Venice
in the 1600s during the series of crowdfunding/support-swan

plagues which Venice suffered at this and any surplus will go to the
time. He lost his job due to the plague professional musicians of the Consort.
and was unable to work like some of
the musicians of the Consort in the
present pandemic. The motets featured Dick Walker
were written for a small number of

20

Quiz

A Christmas Quiz - Who or what are
we? We are all part of the Christmas story.

1 I am the town where Jesus was born.
2 I was the king when Jesus was born.
3 We are the three gifts which the wise men brought.
4 We were under two years old and were in Bethlehem. We were killed

by Herod and his men.
5 I am the angel who appeared and spoke to Mary.
6 I am Mary’s cousin. I also had a child.
7 I sent out a decree saying that all the world should be taxed.
8 Mary wrapped Jesus in us.
9 We were in the fields keeping watch over the sheep.
10 We were with the angel who spoke to the shepherds.
11 The baby Jesus was found lying in me.
12 I am the age at which Jesus was circumcised.
13 The wise men followed me.

21

Local support for refugees

Refugees Welcome Wanstead – An experience, but we are pleased to say
update from our five churches: St that our application has recently
been successful.
Mary's Woodford, St Gabriel's
Aldersbrook, St Peter's in the Forest, The timing couldn't be better, as the
Our Lady of Lourdes and Wanstead situation for refugees across the world
Parish taken from an article has become even more dangerous over
published in the Wanstead Village the summer. The devastating explosion
Directory. in the port of Beirut is estimated to
have impacted thousands of Syrian

Thanks to all the
support we've
received from
people in our local
churches and
communities,
we've been
pressing ahead
with our project to
welcome a Syrian
refugee family to
the area, and we're
delighted that our
application has
been accepted.
When we last
wrote, we were in
the process of writing our application refugees who had been forced to move
to the Home Office, a complex task to Lebanon, having already endured
that involved working with the disaster in their home country. The
Community Sponsorship Team at the family we will be welcoming to
Resettlement, Asylum Support and Wanstead will also be Syrian,
Integration department. We completed displaced by the conflict there and
a long questionnaire, detailing how we currently living in a refugee camp in
will support the family and help them the Middle East. We have the
work towards independence once they opportunity to help one family escape
are here. Our core group of volunteers from the constant dangers that life as a
was working for a number of months refugee can inflict.
to complete the process. There are still delays to the process
Following submission, we had a due to COVID-19 restrictions, with
detailed pre-approval meeting UK embassies shut for visa
(virtually) with the Home Office in applications. But the United Nations
July. This was a nerve-racking High Commissioner for Refugees, the

22

A response to Philip
Swallow’s article
‘Life at 95’

UN Refugee Agency and I read Philip Swallow's article and felt
the International Organization for grateful that I live in a time and place
Migration announced in mid-June that where my biggest worry is catching
resettlement departures for refugees coronavirus, with no fear of bombs
would be resuming, so we are looking and impending explosions.
forward to pressing ahead.
I am 21 and, if the inevitable
Our next steps are to prepare as nuclear war or environmental disaster
much as we can while we wait for the allows, will be 95 in 2094. I agree
various agencies to match us with a with Philip, I too can see no way now
suitable family. We are preparing a to prevent these unfortunate events.
guide to Wanstead, which we hope will
tell the family everything they need to However, I do see, through his
know about our community, and help article and service to his community,
them feel welcome as soon as they that there are things I can change.
arrive. There are people today for whom
reaching 95 would be a miracle; there
We are so grateful for the ongoing are so many people who will not even
support shown by everyone in reach halfway, or children who will
Wanstead, Woodford and the not even reach my current age, - and
surrounding areas, and as soon as we for reasons that can easily be
know more about the family who will changed.
be joining us, we will need lots more
help, especially from people who have Philip's article, particularly his
experienced the system or who have influence on the Lesbian & Gay
relevant language skills. In the Christian Movement, has inspired me
meantime, if you are able to help or to self-reflect more closely, and focus
would like donate to our project, please less energy on complaining about
get in touch. current affairs that are beyond my
control, and channel more energy into
ways I can make my own mark.

[email protected]. Isobel Lockley

Eleanor Taylor
Sheba Lockley

23

Quiz

As Chris Whitfield says
opposite, the wren is the
most common wild bird in
the UK. But where did it
figure in the results of the
RSPB 2020 Great Britain
garden birdwatch in which
nearly half a million people
participated? Try guessing
the ‘top ten’ for the most
numerous birds from that
survey and can you identify
all the birds on this page?

Answers on page 31
24

Ornithology

The Wren

Do you remember the farthing? On 80% in 1963. The population bounced
it, the wren, that little bird of back very quickly. Communal
endless energy, an indomitable sprit winter roosts, 'cock nests' are regularly
whose joyful song can be heard used, it is a heat conservation device.
every day of the year. The song comes By dusk up to 50 - 60 birds will crowd
in five second bursts of incredible into tiny spaces. 60 birds managed to
complexity. To many people's surprise squeeze into one standard nest box in a
the wren is the commonest wild garden in High Kelling, Norfolk.
bird in the U.K. It’s a rarity in having
a personalised name, Jenny, as well as "Hunting the wren" a tradition of
a huge scientific name, Troglodyts great antiquity, is still alive in
troglodytes troglodytes, literally a south west Ireland but no harm comes
cave dweller. to any wren.

There are ever so slightly different "The wren, the wren, the king of all
wrens living on four nearby North birds/ St Stephen's Day, was
Atlantic islands, St Kilda, Fair Isle, caught in the furze/ Although he is
Shetland and Orkney. Somehow little, his family is great/ I
the St Kilda wren epitomises the wild pray you good landlady, give us a
spirit of that storm tossed island. treat." Much dressing up, straw
hats, masks of the unpopular (Maggie
Shakespeare has Lady Macduff Thatcher) etc.. Money is raised
praise the bravery of wrens when for charity or a communal event. The
railing at her husband who has word for druid and wren seem to
abandoned his family. The wren she have a common root in Irish and the
says will be brave enough to defend activity may have had some magical
even if an owl attacks. or religious meaning.
Chris Whitfield
Like robins they nest in unusual
places, but wrens are indifferent to
humans. The male makes a start on
average of six nests each breeding
season, from which his mate selects
one. The nest is egg shaped with a side
entrance. Broods are large and
multiple. The bird is an insect eater
and parent activity is intense during
fledging.

Food is very scarce in hard winters
which cause large die offs, up to

25

Prayer

Ripples of Prayer around us in the community eg.
neighbours, teachers, schoolchildren
I suspect that we all have our own street cleaners, postmen and women,
ways of formulating personal prayer care workers, our GP’s practice, the
but it was in the light of the format of staff and residents of local nursing
the intercessions that I led recently homes and, sadly, the homeless and
during the Eucharist that I the lonely………………. Response
subsequently received a request from or silence.
one of our members to outline that
format in a magazine article. The circles spread wider to
include those with a national profile
I must first acknowledge that the and responsibility, H.M. the Queen,
original idea was not my own but that her ministers of government, the staff
of the Rt Rev John Pritchard, formerly of the NHS and social services and
Bishop of Oxford. His idea was others according to current
designed to give a different sense of need...........Response or silence.
structure to prayer by stimulating the
imagination. The ripples continue to spread out
and reach the far edges of the pond
One begins by visualising a pond giving a wider international
which is quite still which suggests to dimension to our prayers for our
me the presence of God. Into the centre mission partners working in Uganda,
of this pond is dropped a pebble the worldwide Christian church, for
creating circles which ripple gently those suffering the traumas of war,
outwards. Each ripple or circle slavery and homelessness. This list
represents the focus of our prayer and goes on...........Response or silence.
it seems logical to me to see the first
ripple encircling those closest to us, The subject matter within each
our families-our friends. especially circle will, of course, be different
those in particular need…………... according to individual priority but
Response or silence. it’s the use of the imagination of
prayer extending outwards which I
As the ripples slowly spread, the believe is helpful.
next circle created could represent our
church, including the whole gamut of Ripples of prayer created by our
people who are responsible for its concerns for the needs of so many,
smooth running, its members maybe small, but nonetheless prayers
particularly those who are ill or in that Jesus assured us which we
need and those who have passed into should persist in offering and that
God’s heavenly care………………. God will hear ............Response or
Response or silence. silence.
Chris Winward
Within the next circle created by the
ripples we might include those living

26

For reflection
Travel

Like all great travellers, I have seen
more than I remember and remember
more than I have seen.
Benjamin Disraeli

How far we travel in life matters far All journeys have secret destinations
less than those we meet along the way of which the traveller is unaware.
John Barth Martin Buber
You can’t see the whole sky through a Never go on trips with anyone you do
bamboo tube not love.
Japanese proverb Ernest Hemmingway
Travel far enough—you meet yourself Every moment is travel—if
David Mitchell understood.
When was the last time you did Benjamin Disraeli
something for the first time? Climb the mountain so that you can
Anon see the world, not so that the world
A journey is like a marriage. The can see you.
certain way to be wrong is to think that David McCullough
you control it. Travel is only glamourous in
John Steinbeck retrospect.
If you are going through hell, keep Paul Theroux
going. Keep your face always toward the
Winston Churchill sunshine—and the shadows will fall
Why is the place you want to go to behind you.
always on the edge of the map? Walt Whitman
Anon

The real voyage of discovery consists A man’s mind plans his way, but the
not in seeking new landscapes, but in Lord directs his steps
having new eyes. Proverbs 16:9
Marcel Proust

27

Book reviews

Burial Rites by Hannah comes the hard conditions mean that
Kent people have to work side by side. The
day of Agnes’ death approaches and
Publisher: Picador tensions rise……
IBSN: 978-1-4472-3317-6
This book has won a number of
awards.
This is the
story of Agnes Cheryl Corney
Magnύsdόttir,
who is
condemned to
death for Tell it like it is – Reclaiming
the practice of Testimony
murdering her
lover. A family by Lillian Daniel
is forced to take
her in and a Publisher: the Alban Institute
priest has the IBSN: 1-56699-318-0

task of absolving
her.
The story is set in Northern Iceland
in 1829. It is a gripping read. Church A couple of members of the
members may be particularly interested congregation at St Mary’s mentioned
in looking at the role of the priest in the this book to me and so I read it.
story, the Assistant Reverend
Thorvardur Jόnsson, known as Tόti. Lillian Daniel describes the practice
Tόti was a young inexperienced priest of testimony, of people standing up in
who was not expecting to take on the community worship and telling stories
task of absolving Agnes and preparing about how they have experienced God.
Lillian Daniel shows us that this can be
her for death, but, having been asked, a powerful, complex, risky and life
he agreed to see Agnes and to be her changing activity, changing not only
spiritual adviser. As there were no the lives of those who give the
prisons in Iceland, the condemned testimonies but also the lives of those
woman was held for the winter before who listen. The lives of individuals and
her execution at a farm guarded by the congregations can be transformed.
farmer’s wife and daughters. Courage and honesty are required, as
are patience, tolerance and a willing-
The Iceland of two centuries ago ness to listen.
was a cruel, hard land. It was a society
of subsistence farmers who scratched a In the book we read of members of
living. Members of the family were the congregation who one year in Lent
afraid of Agnes and sought to avoid her give testimonies in church. We read of
and so it is Tόti, her spiritual guardian, hospitality and the opening of hearts.
who tries to understand her. As winter New members of the church speak, as

28

Book reviews

do some who come from other churches and have
not yet decided whether to join this church. There
are chapters about money, the gift of time, making
connections, preaching and testimony, children and
youth, grief, leaders and speaking about vision.
The church is the Church of the Redeemer in New
Haven, Connecticut.
Cheryl Corney

_____________________________________________________________

An historical perspective on the pandemic

The plague of 1665 is estimated to have killed 1000,000 Londoners, nearly a
quarter of London’s population. Extracts from Pepys’ diary below on the last
day of 1665 show hope that the plague would be coming to an end. King
Charles II thought that things had sufficiently improved by February 1666 to
return to London with his court. Where will we be on 31st December 2020?
It is true we have gone through great melancholy because of the
great plague, and I put to great charges by it, by keeping my family long
at Woolwich, and myself and another part of my family, my clerks, at my
charge at Greenwich, and a mayde (maid) at London; but I hope the
King will give us some satisfaction for that. But now the plague is abated
almost to nothing, and I intending to get to London as fast as I can. My
family, that is my wife and maids, having been there these two or three
weeks.
My whole family hath been well all this while, and all my friends I know
of, saving my aunt Bell, who is dead, and some children of my cozen
Sarah’s, of the plague. But many of such as I know very well, dead; yet, to
our great joy, the town fills apace, and shops begin to be open again. Pray
God continue the plague’s decrease! for that keeps the Court away from
the place of business, and so all goes to rack as to publick matters, they at
this distance not thinking of it.

29

fFoamcilyus

Do you have slightly less than TEACHER David, what is the
happy memories of home chemical formula for water?
schooling in the first lockdown? DAVID H-I-J-L-M-N-O
This may put a smile on your TEACHER: What are you talking
face. about?
DAVID: Yesterday you said the
TEACHER: Maria, go to the map chemical formula for water is H to
and find North America. O.
MARIA: Here it is. —————————————--
TEACHER: Correct. Now, class, TEACHER: Andrew, your
who discovered north America? composition on ‘My Dog’ is the
CLASS: Maria same as your brother’s. Did you
———————————— copy his?
TEACHER: Gareth, how do you ANDREW: No miss. It’s the same
spell ‘crocodile’? dog.
GARETH: K-R-O-C-K-O-D-I-A-L __________________________
TEACHER : No, that’s wrong.
GARETH: Maybe it is wrong but
you asked me how I spell it.
__________________________
TEACHER: Naomi, what is the
shortest month?
Naomi: May. It only has three
letters.

30

TEACHER: Kevin, if five people
give you £20.0 what do you get?
KEVIN: A new bicycle.
____________________________
TEACHER: Aisha, which month
has 28 days?
AISHA: Every month!
—————————————-

Answers to a Christmas quiz on page 21
1 Bethlehem; 2 Herod; 3 gold, frankincense, myrrh; 4 the male children;
5 Gabriel; 6 Elizabeth; 7 Caesar Augustus; 8 swaddling bands;
9 shepherds; 10 the Heavenly Host; 11 manger; 12 8 days; 13 star.
Answers to the RSPB 2020 Garden Birdwatch quiz on page 24
Identity of birds from top left clockwise: robin, wren, great tit, wood
pigeon, ring necked parakeet, common crow, magpie, blue tit, chaffinch,
house sparrow, blackbird, long tailed tit, collared dove, goldfinch, starling.
The most numerous: 1 house sparrow 2 starling 3 blue tit 4 wood pigeon
5 blackbird 6 goldfinch 7 great tit 8 robin 9 long tailed tit 10 magpie
So the wren was not in the top ten of this year’s RSPB UK garden survey
(which took place from 25th –27th January).
Back cover: Audrey Hopkins memorial flowers

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 February 2021

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

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