the church on Parliament Square

by kind permission of Clare Weatherill NEWS No 14 Winter 2020 news and features from St Margaret’s

MOTHERING SUNDAY BEHIND THE SCENES... St Margaret’s tower is being restored Each year on the fourth Sunday of Lent, in the Since June 2018, St Margaret’s tower has been undergoing detailed works behind a casing of UK and in other countries with an Anglican scaffolding and white sheeting. The restoration was originally scheduled to last until November heritage, we celebrate Mothering Sunday. This this year, but the contractors, Daedalus Conservation, have made good progress and are hoping typically involves lavishing mothers with gifts the tower can be unveiled in the summer. and attention and honouring the women who The need for restoration and repair was mainly prompted by the failure of thousands of iron have nurtured us throughout our lives. cramps which had been used in the 18th century to secure the Portland stone cladding. This had been used to bring the late medieval building up to date and – it was thought – to protect it from But with increasing commercialisation, the damage. The cramps deteriorated over two centuries as damp attacked the iron: oxidisation that day’s origins may be overlooked. In the 16th accelerated massively with the well-meaning high-pressure water jetting used in the 1990s. century, Mothering Sunday in England was less Site Manager Kevin about mothers and Oultram has recently more about church, provided a tour through the as people made an scaffolding to show off just annual journey to what has been going for the their ‘mother’ past 19 months. church. This might Some 6000 stones, mainly have been their ashlar, have been removed, home church, refurbished and replaced. nearest cathedral or The elevations required only a major parish about 10 to 15% new church in a bigger stones, but up to 80% of the town. The service stone in the turrets needed which took place at to be replaced. The windows the ‘mother’ church (above left), which have might represent a decorative mullions and putti significant journey motifs, are mostly in for many, and symbolised the coming together reasonable condition, so will only be cleaned and pointed. Behind these windows, stairs at the top of families. This family emphasis only increased of the tower have been tied back and a new hatch installed in the sounding room of the belfry. as a tradition arose for those working in service The iron cramps of various sizes and shapes have been kept to give Abbey staff a chance to or on farms and estates to have a rare day off guess the weight before they are recycled. They are being replaced by very high grade stainless to visit their mothers and go to church. Even steel brackets under the string course (above right). The works are progressing three courses at a today, adult children often make a point of time, from both the bottom and the top, with scaffolding being adjusted weekly. The restoration Inside…visiting their parents on Mothering Sunday. will be completed with a middle section. Churches● ’s recognise reflections that as well as offering a As ever, the works uncovered a few surprises. An unusual, heavy-duty ring of iron encased in ● day Clergy of thanks profile and celebration, Mothering lead was found behind the facing stones. Still in reasonable condition and embedded deep in the Sunday can be a difficult time for some, and ● elevation, this will be left in situ, with further protection and new stonework installed around it. prayers are said to acknowledge this. At the Daedalus was also surprised to find stone from the Abbey sacristy reused in the 1740 recladding ●annual Chorister service at returnsSt Margaret’s, at 80bunches of of the tower. flowers● Diary are traditionally dates and blessed milestones and given to And one new surprise feature will be revealed when the scaffolding comes down. The church mothers, and to others who might want to ● Did you know...? clock, first installed in 1712 and replaced by the sundials in 1982, was found under a tarpaulin in remember the mothers in their own families. the stone yard. It too is being restored, and will be replaced on the north side of the tower, using …and more the original style of numbering which was revealed behind a sundial by the conservators. OLIVER PERRY TO MARRY THOMAS TROTTER 800 DEAN PREACHES

Congratulations to Oliver Perry and At about the same time as Thomas Trotter St Margaret’s welcomed The Very Reverend Georgina Killick who will marry at Temple became St Margaret’s organist, he was also Dr as our preacher for the first Church on 25th April. Oliver, Gillian Perry’s appointed Birmingham City Organist. On time on 12th January. Having been officially younger son, has been a member of the St Monday 10th February the city celebrates his installed as in Margaret’s family from birth. He was landmark 800th recital with a concert at November last year, Dean Hoyle also joined baptised and confirmed here, and sang as a Birmingham Symphony Hall featuring music St Margaret’s Christmas party in December chorister in our boys’ choir. from Bach to Dukas’s . to meet the congregation.

PICTURE TO COME PICTURE TO COME

REFLECTIONS: LIGHT AND DARK

As our Rector is on leave (see p 4), Ralph the infant Jesus was brought to the temple, fragile, for the dark and the cold will cling on for Godsall, who is acting as lead Vicar in received by Simeon, and blessed by God. Those a few weeks yet. her absence, has kindly provided his young parents, and old Simeon and Anna nearing There is the gladness of the crib and the thoughts for our regular Reflections article. their deaths, and the little tiny child: all of sadness of the cross and they belong together: humanity is there. Candlemas has a poignancy as ‘joy and woe are woven fine, a product of the well as joy about it. We have said goodbye to life divine,’ said the poet. It makes you wonder the festive cheerfulness that lit up a bleak at the mystery of things, how our light is as yet midwinter. Briefly we re-enter ordinary time, only partial, how spring tries to prize this world and then Lent and ashes: ‘Dust you are and to out of winter’s clasp while frost clings on to its It sounds like a poem about Twelfth Night, but dust you shall return’. soul. Yet the days are getting longer now. The it's called ‘Ceremony upon Candlemas Eve’. It Christians in the East call Candlemas ‘the worst of winter may not yet be over, but was written by Robert Herrick in the 17th meeting’, the strange meeting between old and February doesn’t last forever. Soon we shall century. In those days they kept the Christmas new covenant, between Christmas and Lent, climb towards Easter. To turn from the decorations up for 40 days. Then, on 2nd light and dark, nativity and cross. It is a truth of Christmas liturgical cycle to the Paschal cycle is February, the last day of Christmas, they took our humanity. We exist in a kind of twilight to turn from winter to spring. The sap is rising. them down. zone. Light and dark mingle at this time of year. In the Christian calendar, Candlemas recalls how The light, glorious as it is, is still partial and Canon Ralph Godsall

SEASONAL SERVICES AND CONGREGATIONAL MILESTONES

Lenten services Speaker’s Chaplain inauguration Birthday, deaths...

Ash Wednesday: Wednesday 26th February Wednesday 4th March 9.30am: The new : Freddie Livingstone, 5th Eucharist and Imposition of Ashes Speaker’s Chaplain, Rev Canon Patricia Hillas, birthday 8am, 12.30pm, 5pm – will be inaugurated at a service at St 27th July 2019: death of Malcolm Godwin, boy Margaret’s, to which all are invited. She will chorister at St Margaret’s 1950-1955, whose Sundays in Lent at St Margaret’s: 11am, Sung Eucharist – 1st , 8th, 15th, 22nd also be appointed a Priest Vicar of 80th birthday visit featured in the last issue. (Mothering Sunday), 29th March Westminster Abbey. We look forward to 30th November 2019: death of Terry Cooper, fruitful relationships developing between St also a boy chorister here, father of Suzannah 5th April: Palm Sunday Processsion and Margaret’s, the new Chaplain and the new Gray and presenter each year of the Cooper Sung Eucharist, 10.30am at the Abbey Speaker of the House of Commons. prize. We will write further in the Spring issue.

2 DATES FOR YOUR LANDMARK EVENTS AT ST MARGARET’S DIARY Opening of Field of Remembrance Sermon series in Lent TRH The Duke and Duchess of Sussex opened the Sundays 1st March through 29th March 91st Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey A series of sermons will be preached at the on Thursday 7th November. 11am Sung Eucharist during Lent on the The annual event has been taking place since theme, ‘Shaped by the Cross’. Further November 1928 when The Poppy Factory and a information about the series will be group of disabled veterans planted a handful of advertised on service sheets and notice poppies around a cross in the grounds of St boards nearer the time. Margaret's Church. This may be the last time that Prince Harry, seen St Margaret’s Congregational as an especially apt and empathetic figure, and the Forum meetings Duchess attend the national observance. They both th th Tuesday 10 March; Mondays 18 May met wardens and clergy and signed St Margaret’s visitors’ book after visiting the veterans. and 13th July; all 6pm Service for opening of Parliament St Margaret’s Poetry and Arts Group Saturdays 29th February, 28th March, The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend 25th April at 7pm and Right Honourable Justin Welby, gave the address Details of these sociable meetings can be at Service for the New Parliament at St Margaret's found in weekly service sheets, or from Church on 8th January. Alan Stourton. All are welcome. The service, which was attended by MPs, peers and parliamentary staff, and by representatives of St Margaret’s Annual Meeting Christian denominations and other faiths, was rd Monday 23 March at 6pm in the church conducted by the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, see p4 for voting registration details Dean of Westminster. The service was sung by St Margaret's choir conducted by Greg Morris, th Vigil for 9 anniversary of Japanese Director of Music, with organ played by Matthew Jorysz, Assistant Organist, Westminster Abbey. Earthquake th Wednesday 11 March; 12 noon to 3pm Giving thanks for the life of Tissa Jayasekera 3rd anniversary of Westminster On Sunday 19th January. to mark the first anniversary Bridge Attack of the death of Tissa Jayasekera, his wife Devika Sunday 22nd March (right) and daughter Tammy (left), provided church open for prayer following the service beautiful floral arrangements at St Margaret’s, where they are both members of the congregation. Prayers Churches Together in Westminster were said and a tribute made to Tissa’s life. CTiW represents around 80 churches A devoted father and husband, he had also been across Westminster, and arranges a central figure in a programme in which the conferences, ‘meet the neighbours’ petroleum industry, academia and government evenings and other events. collaborated to maximise the sustainable recovery of To be informed of activities, contact our hydrocarbons from the UK continental shelf, and had been awarded an OBE for his work. representative, Victoria Dearborn. DID YOU KNOW...? Tudor machinations STEWARDSHIP As a newly rebuilt church in the heart of Westminster, St Margaret’s attracted notable members of We haven’t been able to publish the newsletter the Tudor court, including Cornelius van Dun (News No 2) and Blanche Parry (News No 9). A since our summer 2019 issue, so here are the lesser known figure with eminent connections was stewardship figures through early autumn. Thomas Seymour whose colourful monument near the vestry door, is shared with his wife Isabel. collections donations Nephew of Lady Jane Grey, the nine day queen, June £1,743 £1,408 he was the second son born to Jane’s sister Lady July £846 £819 Katherine while she and her husband Edward August £1,976 £1,813 Seymour, Lord Hertford, were incarcerated in the September £574 £1,015 Tower – apparently with a pet monkey and dogs. Thomas’s parents had married in secret as Queen October £996 £1,069 Elizabeth felt threatened by Katherine as a potential It is now possible to arrange a standing order heir to the throne. When Katherine’s pregnancy and marriage were discovered, the Queen had the for regular giving to St Margaret’s, and to marriage annulled, and Lord Hertford fined £15,000 for ‘seducing a virgin of blood royal’. Thomas ensure that Gift Aid can be claimed where (born 1563) and his elder brother (also Edward, born 1561) were declared illegitimate, and appropriate. Contact Edward Osterwald for Katherine and both her sons were kept in captivity in various places until her death in 1568. details of the process – Thomas died in 1600, having married Isabel Onley of Catesby in Northampton who died in m: 07770584696 t (work): 020 7406 7487 1619. She was the eldest daughter of Edward Onley, MP for Brackley. Onley had been embroiled 3 e: [email protected], in strife in support of his cousin Mary, estranged wife of the 3rd Earl of Derby, who was seeking the Brackley estate as a dower. She duly rewarded Onley with the lease of the estate in 1572.

Trinity College Cambridge organ originally by Father Smith STAFF PROFILE Greg Morris

The high quality of our music is undoubtedly a he joined the voluntary choir at Manchester feature highly valued by the regular congregation Cathedral at 7, he was drawn to the organ at an of St Margaret’s – and one that visitors almost early age, becoming church organist at 11 (at the always mention too. Our new Director of Music, church where his father was vicar) and Greg Morris is well aware of the reputation, and, continuing to study it at Manchester Grammar, on the evidence so far, very much up to the where Andrew Dean was a key influence. His challenge. abilities led him to scholarships at St George’s He joined us in July 2019 from Temple Chapel, Windsor, Jesus College, Cambridge, and Church, where he happily spent 13 years as St Martin in the Fields, and to Blackburn assistant director of music and organist. So why Cathedral as assistant director of music. He cites seek a change now? ‘The chance to direct a Richard Tanner at Blackburn as another mentor, quality professional choir on a regular basis was and has also studied with Paul Stubbings, John appealing of course, and I also like the liturgy Kitchen and one Thomas Trotter. here very much. The relationship with the Abbey His proudest achievement to date has been ª What’s your favourite hymn? and Parliament broadens the horizon performing the complete organ works of JS Bach words and setting by the considerably. And it’s in London.’ in 2018 in venues across London. ‘It was two Wesleys. Service? Advent Carol Service. That’s important for two reasons. First, like exhausting,’ he says, ‘but it actually left me ª And your favourite author? Thomas many musicians, Greg has a portfolio career, and wanting to do more, not less, Bach.’ The Hardy. Artist? Van Gogh. Film? Gosford Park. continues to direct two choirs he conducted opportunity to conduct Purcell’s at Animal? Elephant. Holiday? Italy. Conductor? while at the Temple (Collegium Musicum of Middle Temple Hall was a highlight of his time at John Eliot Gardner. Food? Any food. London and the Bar Choral Society). Secondly, it Temple Church, and he relishes the chance to ª What’s your guilty pleasure? Cake: I’m had to be in either London or Cambridge where perform everything from madrigals to musicals fortunate that I can eat what I want… so I do. his family lives. ‘My wife is a neurologist, with with the two choral societies he directs. ª Who has been the greatest influence on positions at both Adenbrooks and Great In his first months at St Margaret’s, as well as your life? My wife. Ormond Street hospitals. We’ve adapted our getting to know the adult professional choir, ª In your new time machine, where and family life around us both commuting between Greg has been exploring ideas for having children when would you travel? Thomaskirche, the two cities and working round our own busy sing in the choir, looking at models that work in Leipzig, Good Friday, 1727, when Bach’s St diaries…and our children’s.’ The children – other churches and establishments and discussing Matthew Passion was premiered, and the Anna, 14, Joseph, 11, and Madeleine, 7 – have options widely. He joined on the understanding congregation grumbled about its length. managed the occasional visit to St Margaret’s that this would be a key part of the job, and is ª What’s your favourite activity outside with Greg when those busy diaries coincide. eagerly looking forward to choristers once again work? Driving children around? I’m doing more After the first six months, it’s clear that Greg being an integral part of the music at the church. in the garden lately – even if it’s just letting it brings a wealth of experience and a fresh To probe beyond Greg’s professional life, grow and clearing it out again. And walking has approach to our choral music. In fact, although we’ve posed some of our quick-fire questions … always been a great pleasure.

ANNUAL MEETING CANON JANE SINCLAIR Register on Community Role to vote in elections to be held in March As most of the congregation will know, our Rector Jane Sinclair was diagnosed with a St Margaret’s 2020 Annual Meeting will be Since there will be elections this year for the recurrence of cancer in late summer 2019. She held on Monday 23rd March at 6.00 pm in St four elected Wardens, it will be necessary for received treatment for many weeks and then Margaret’s Church. those wishing to attend the Annual Meeting and had major surgery on her spine early in January vote to submit an application to be entered on this year. Jane is in good spirits, recuperating at the Community Roll. Forms are available in the home in London and in Somerset. She will Vestry or by emailing the Rector’s Secretary (see write a short piece for the next issue of the below right for address). Completed forms must News, to be published in April, and is grateful be submitted on or before Monday 2nd March. that she and her partner Gillian have been in all Please note that even those who were on the our prayers. Community Roll compiled in 2017

Nominations for the four Wardens must be Contacts for St Margaret’s submitted on or before Monday 16th March. The current postholders are Mr John Durham [Congregation], Mr Brian Miller [Fabric], Ms Vestry / Senior Verger, Nigel Harris: Terry Riggs [Sidemen/Readers], Mr Edward t: 020 7654 4840 Osterwald [Stewardship]. Nomination forms will e: [email protected] be available in the Vestry or by emailing the Rector’s Secretary, Pamela Carrington: Rector’s Secretary at the address right. t: 020 7654 4847 (Monday to Friday, 9 to 5) Those who are on the Community Roll will be e: [email protected] notified of the nominees on Tuesday 17th March. Newsletter: suggestions for content, queries Please note that anyone wishing to vote must and distribution list matters to Becky Wallower: be present at the meeting. e: [email protected] 4