All Saints Parish Paper MARGARET STREET, W.1

DECEMBER 2005 £1.00

VICAR’S LETTER

The first lesson for the Eve of All Saints is the same disc reveals something of the that great passage from Ecclesiasticus influence of the Russian composer on the which begins, “Let us now praise famous English. Until recently, this was the only men”. Among those to be praised are those requiem in the choir’s repertoire. Given that who “composed musical tunes”. I took there are a number of excellent settings this as the text for my introductions before available we have introduced a number of the sermon on a couple of occasions. alternatives but this year Vale returned on All Souls Day. Dr Vale’s other great Here at All Saints, where music plays memorial is of course the plainsong All such a central rôle in our worship of God Saints Psalter which we use at Evensong. and celebration of the Christian faith, this is an appropriate thanksgiving at any time The richness of the living tradition of but at our Festival this year it seemed composition here is a testimony both to the particularly apt. Not only were we singing devotion and skill of the individuals music from the great repertoire of the concerned and to the depth of the Church’s musical tradition, we also had worshipping life which inspires it. Part of compositions by the musicians of this our worship is that music which lifts us to place, past and present. heaven as we listen. Another part is that which lifts our hearts as we sing. Clear On the Eve of All Saints, we had Dr responses and enthusiastic hymn-singing Harry Bramma’s setting of a passage from are a central part of our worship; a making the Wisdom of Solomon, “The souls of the our own of scripture, liturgy and hymnody righteous are in the hands of God”. On so that they form and inform us. As we say All Saints Day we had Norman Caplin’s and sing words over and over again, they “Missa Omnium Sanctorum” with the become part of us. This is not just a matter newly-completed Credo being sung for the of making as much noise as possible. On first time. Then on All Souls’ Day we had All Saints Day congregation, choir and music from an earlier generation: Dr organ can lift the roof with “For all the Walter Vale’s “Requiem”. This is to be saints” and “Ye watchers and ye holy ones” found on the choir’s new CD along with but on All Souls Day there is a quieter and the Rachmaninov Mass which Vale adapted more contemplative mood. We have very for the Anglican liturgy. Hearing them on little organ music and sing all but the final

1 hymn of resurrection hope unaccompanied. too are no solitary exercise on the part of As in Advent and Lent, this gives a more the preacher. Preachers do have to put in reflective mood which can help us in the hours of preparation if their labour is listening both to the words and to each to bear fruit. There is no avoiding that by other. A congregation which knows how to praying for inspiration on the way up the pray liturgically is one in which one voice pulpit steps. Preachers have to begin with does not drown out others but sings and the text and with commentaries on it. Then prays together rather than individual- having explored the text in this way, they istically. Listening attentively to other have to ponder and ruminate on it, praying people in church is good practice for it until it becomes part of them, allowing it listening to them out of it. to speak its message to our situation. This is the business of hours, days and weeks. It Ecclesiasticus also calls us to sing the also involves reflecting on life’s events, praises of those “who spoke in prophetic great and small, on the language and images oracles… they were wise in their words of the culture in which we live as well as of instruction”. It is often said that that of the ancient setting of Scripture. This evangelicals can preach but catholics can’t; is the work of a lifetime. indeed that we are not really interested in preaching. There are places, I know, where The preparation of a sermon involves a the 5 minute sermonette endures, to the lot of solitary labour, sometimes into the shame of preachers and the detriment of small hours. But it is not really an hearers, but anyone who worships at All individualistic exercise. The preacher’s Saints, whether at Festival time or on work is done in relationship with God and ordinary Sundays, knows that is not true with the great tradition of those who have here. It is true that we combine Word and studied and preached before. And when it Sacrament in our worship, but that is not comes to the time to preach, it is done in the same as saying that we devalue the relationship with the congregation. Any Word: Word is fulfilled in Sacrament. Once preacher will tell you that they experience again our Festival preachers served us very a real difference when preaching to a well and demonstrated the truth of this. We congregation which is attentive and are grateful to them for taking time in the expectant rather than one which has midst of demanding ministries to preach for minimal expectations because it has never us. Their sermons will appear in the Parish been taken seriously, or seems to compose Paper over the next few months. We were itself to sleep before the sermon has even sorry that Fr Alan Gyle from St Paul’s in begun! It is possible to wake a congregation Knightsbridge was prevented from from its slumbers but it can be hard work. preaching on All Souls Day by changed Fr Gaskell recalls that when he was here arrangements at a conference in the United as a curate, one member of the congregation States where he was lecturing. I hope that used to say to him after every sermon he he will be able to be with us next year. preached: “So many minutes this time”. A congregation whose only interest in Just as sacraments do not work by magic sermons is how soon they will be over, is but have to be received in faith, sermons not likely to encourage good preaching; nor

2 is it likely to grow in the faith. We do live Fr John Cullen, who was Director of the in the age of the sound-bite, of the brief Institute of Christian Studies here, was attention span, and preachers have to live instituted as Vicar of St John’s, Palmers with that. However, it is part of the Green, on Monday November 14th. discipline, the discipleship, of a Christian congregation, to rediscover and practice the Baptism dying art of attentive listening. We can do Felix Stanley Thomas Wright was it, even if many have forgotten or never baptised at High Mass on Sunday October learned how. It is of benefit not only to 21st. ourselves but to newcomers and visitors who worship with us. Halloween Yours in Christ, Fr Alan was interviewed on Premier Radio Alan Moses about Halloween. You can find something of what he said in his All Souls Day sermon PARISH NOTES in this issue. At least one person heard the broadcast and came to Evensong that night Fr John Gaskell as a result. High Mass on Festival Sunday gave us the Some Church History opportunity to congratulate Fr Gaskell on being awarded the Cross of St Augustine Our archdeacon, Dr William Jacob, is a by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The distinguished church historian. He gave a Archbishop’s remarks at the award lecture recently, which a number of us ceremony in Lambeth Palace can be read attended, for the Anglo-Catholic History in this issue. Society. His subject was “Being High Church in the early 18th Century”. Just St Luke’s Hospital for the Clergy as many evangelical Christians seem to assume that nothing of worth happened Fr Alan and Theresa have also been to between the close of the New Testament Lambeth Palace; not to receive an award and the Evangelical Revival, so there is a but to attend a reception for the consultants tendency among those who draw their who give their services to the hospital free inspiration from the Oxford Movement of of charge. The reception took place in the the 19th century to assume that all before guardroom which is much grander than it was a wasteland. This was far from being sounds. An array of past archbishops the case as Doctor Jacob demonstrated with looked down upon us as we consumed wine evidence of the daily worship in London and canapés and chatted happily. churches, the building and decoration of new churches, by no means the “preaching Fr Martin Lawrence, formerly a member boxes” they are often labelled, and the of our choir, was licensed as Priest-in- wealth of devotional literature and Charge of All Saints, the Chase, Cranham, societies. in the diocese of Chelmsford on October 20th.

3 Fr Nicholas Davis, a classmate of Fr Ivan’s pauses during which the people were left at Mirfield, took us through some of the to pray by themselves using devotional arcane corridors of Anglo-Catholic worship manuals. in his talk on The Anglican Missals. In the Book of Common Prayer, Archbishop Much of this work was done in a “private Cranmer undertook a deliberate simpli- enterprise” and sometimes eccentric way fication of the Church’s rites. The Oxford by individuals or groups like the Society Movement was strongly loyal to the Prayer of St Peter and St Paul. book against those who were keen to modernise it. However, the experience of Nowadays, these missals are usually only using it led many to see the need to enrich to be found in the libraries of the clergy or its rather Spartan provisions. The Non- second-hand bookshops. Those parishes of Jurors of the 18th century had done this too. a more ‘papalist’ hue have tended to adopt the revised Roman liturgy; in spite of the This effort took two main courses in the promises their clergy make when instituted latter part of the 19th and then the 20th or licensed. The more Anglican, like All centuries. One was to supplement and Saints, use “Common Worship” for their enrich its basic rites with material from Eucharistic worship. These rites have much mediæval and contemporary Roman in common in fact, being the fruit of much sources. In parishes like ours, the better liturgical scholarship than was ceremonies of Candlemas, Lent, Holy available to those who produced the various Week and Easter were adopted. missals.

The other was to rework Cranmer’s We are grateful to Fr Nicholas for this Communion Service so that the unity of the fascinating piece of historical detective Eucharistic Prayer was restored. Here at All work. We hope to have copies of both Saints, this was done by using what was lectures available soon. known as the “Interim Rite” which continued the Prayer of Consecration with An Exhibition from the Archives the Prayer of Oblation. While this was not Frances O’Neil and Margaret Leggett entirely satisfactory, it was considered to produced a fascinating exhibition of photo- be more loyal to the , graphs and books from our archive material and All Saints has always been that, than which has been on display in the Parish the alternative which was to use the Room. One of the purposes of this was to of the Roman Mass with Cranmer’s Prayer identify many of the people in photographs of Consecration sandwiched in the middle. before the material goes off to be stored As Fr Nicholas’s celebration of the rite of properly in the diocesan archives. We are the English Missal demonstrated, the grateful to Frances and Margaret for this congregation would not notice much duty work. difference in wording because the Canon AM was said silently — but there would be long

4 Visitors from San Francisco of the Advent will be on tour in England in December and will join our choir at The Church of the Advent of Christ the Evensong on the 4th Sunday of Advent. The King (to give it its full title) is, like All Rector of the Advent, Fr Paul Burrows, will Saints, a city centre church with a be our preacher. reputation for music and liturgy. The choir DIARY DATES

Sunday 27 November — Advent Sunday 11.00 a.m. Litany in Procession and High Mass 6.00 p.m. Advent Carol Service

Thursday 1 December 7.05 p.m. Holy Hour led by Fr Ivan Aquilina

Thursday 8 December — The Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary The Cell of Our Lady of Walsingham and All Saints 6.30 p.m. Low Mass with Hymns Preacher: The Revd Canon Dr Nicholas Sagovsky, Canon Theologian of Westminster Abbey

Friday 9 December 4.00 p.m. University of Westminster Carol Service. All are welcome to attend.

Thursday 15 December 6.30 p.m. (starting from the Courtyard) Carol Singing in the local vicinity All welcome, particularly those with good voices!

Friday 16 December 12.30 p.m. Lunchtime Carol Service Followed by mince pies and mulled wine in the Courtyard.

Saturday 24 December — Christmas Eve 11.00 p.m. High Mass of Midnight Preacher: The Vicar

Sunday 25 December — Christmas Day 8.00 a.m. Low Mass; 10.20 a.m. Morning Prayer 11.00 a.m. High Mass of the Day Preacher: Fr Ivan Aquilina

5 Friday 6 January — The Epiphany 6.30 p.m. Procession and High Mass Preacher: The Rt Revd Stephen Oliver, of Stepney

Sunday 8 January 6.00 p.m. Epiphany Carol Service

CONFESSIONS BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Monday 19 December 12.00 - 1.00 p.m. Fr Gaskell 5.00 - 6.00 p.m. The Vicar Tuesday 20 December 12.00 - 1.00 p.m. The Vicar 5.00 - 6.00 p.m. Fr Aquilina Wednesday 21 December 12.00 - 1.00 p.m. Fr Aquilina No evening Confessional Thursday 22 December 12.00 - 1.00 p.m. Fr Gaskell 5.00 - 6.00 p.m. Fr Aquilina Friday 23 December 12.00 - 1.00 p.m. The Vicar 5.00 - 6.00 p.m. Fr Gaskell Saturday 24 December 5.00 - 6.00 p.m. The Vicar

For more information about the appeal, SPONSORED CYCLE RIDE visit: www.walsinghamanglican.org.uk/ — THE CELL OF OUR LADY OF appeal. WALSINGHAM AND ALL SAINTS IDA

Next May a group from All Saints, Margaret ALL SAINTS FESTIVAL Street, will be cycling to Walsingham to raise money for the 2006 Walsingham Appeal. APPEAL Leaving All Saints on 26 May, they will aim to cover the 130 miles in three days, arriving The Festival Appeal in support of our on Sunday 28 May in time for the National current mission projects (The Church Army Pilgrimage the following day. St Marylebone Hostels; West London Day If you are interested in joining them, or Centre Meal Vouchers scheme; St finding out more, pick up a leaflet in church Cyprian’s Theological College, Masasi) or e-mail Richard Hyslop at: raised £6,994.66 (including tax). [email protected]. Thank you for your generous response.

6 NEW PRIORY CD, ‘THE ENGLISH RACHMANINOV’ BY THE CHOIR OF ALL SAINTS, MARGARET STREET CONDUCTED BY PAUL BROUGH ON SALE NOW

The English Rachmaninov PRCD 860 Rachmaninov visited All Saints, Margaret Street, and heard, enjoyed and approved Dr Walter Vale’s English adaptation of his ‘Liturgy of St John Chrysostom’, known affectionately as the ‘Rachmaninov in B flat’ Mass. In the light of this approval the further developed tradition of Rachmaninov’s music in use at All Saints is here recorded, together with Dr Vale’s ‘Requiem’. Price £14.95 from the All Saints Sunday Shop, the Parish Office and in church at certain times during the week. Also available by post priced £15.75 in the UK (to include p & p), Overseas £16.10 (surface mail). Cheques please to All Saints Shop sent with your order to The Parish Office, 7 Margaret Street, London W1W 8JG, UK. Orders are normally despatched by return of post but please allow up to 28 days for delivery (especially overseas). Our CDs are also available from your local Priory stockist.

Also available by the Choir of All Saints on Priory Records (same price as above) GAUDEAMUS Music for the Feasts of All Saints and All Souls PRCD 740 The Complete New English Hymnal Volume 7 PRCD 707 Sacred Choral Music of William Lloyd Webber PRCD 677 ADOREMUS Anthems in Honour of the Blessed Sacrament PRCD 490

Also newly available on Priory by ANDREW ARTHUR Associate Director of Music & Assistant Organist at All Saints JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH Organ Chorales from the Leipzig Manuscript Vol 1 on the Swiss organ by Rieger, Church of St Marylebone, London PRCD 820 Already available by Andrew Arthur on Priory Organ Music for Passiontide from All Saints, Margaret Street On the newly restored Harrison & Harrison Organ of 1910 PRCD 818 Same prices and terms as above

7 ALL SAINTS PCC RESTORATION APPEAL

2009 will be the 150th anniversary of the consecration of All Saints. Our intention is to complete the restoration of this wonderful building in time for that celebration. All Saints is not just a great building, it is a living and working church.

It stands open every day to serve not only its congregation but the thousands of people who come to this part of London for work, education, healthcare, shopping and recreation.

Our forebears have given us this wonderful place. It is now our responsibility to care for it and continue the mission they began. How can you help? We need to raise £2,470,000. To raise such a sum is a major challenge. We are asking everyone connected with All Saints to think and pray about how they can help. Do you have any ideas about fund-raising? What practical help can you give? How much can you give? It is important that when we approach grant-giving bodies we are able to demonstrate our commitment to the project.

The All Saints Foundation and the PCC have already committed £300,000 and this, together with donations from individuals, gratefully received, brings the total raised, at the time of writing, to £332,250.

Our pledges to the Restoration Appeal will be offered at the altar at High Mass on the Feast of the Presentation (February 2nd, 2006 at 6.30 p.m.). Budget Cost Summary for the Restoration These figures have been produced by our architect and quantity surveyor after thorough research into the work which needs to be done.

The PCC is convinced that the works should be undertaken as one programme to minimise disruption to the life and work of the church. This will also reduce costs on scaffolding.

8 The figures are: £ 1. Walls and Doors 598,000 2. Ceilings 174,000 3. Windows and Glazing 544,000 4. Floors 141,000 5. Heating installations 224,000 6. Lighting and Electrical Installations 485,000 7. Fittings 11,000 8. Courtyard and Railings 124,000 9. Undercroft works 169,000 Total (including contingencies, fees and VAT) £2,470,000

The Bishop of London, The Rt Revd had already been raised to help with the , has written: restoration of the interior by the All Saints Foundation and the PCC. I shall “I love All Saints. It is a vital oasis of be making my own rather more modest deep peace in a very hectic area and contribution to your efforts but you will points to the beauty which is beyond certainly have my prayers and any rubies. encouragement that I can offer”. “I was impressed to hear that £300,000

ALL SAINTS FESTIVAL 2005 THE SERMON BY THE BISHOP OF LEICESTER, THE RT REVD TIMOTHY STEVENS, ON ALL SAINTS DAY

“After this, I looked and saw a vast throng, many colours, cultures and creeds live and which no one could count, from every work together. This inspiring vision nation, of all tribes, peoples and languages, reminds us of the “new humanity” which standing in front of the throne and before St Paul refers to in his letter to the the lamb.” Revelation 7 vs 9 Ephesians in which distinctions between Jew and Greek, male and female, no longer This offers us an inspiring vision of a multi- count. And yet it is in those very places racial humanity, standing before God and where people of different cultures and reflecting His Holiness. It is inspiring for creeds and races live together that the us here in the heart of London on this hardest questions about what makes for Patronal festival at the centre of a diverse Holiness are being asked. What can we call world city, and it is an inspiration for my good religion? What kind of religious belief home city of Leicester where people of and practice leads us towards God? And

9 what are the religious instincts which can that it is only other people’s religions that so easily lead us away from Him? How can increase the violence of the world. But we we distinguish good religion from bad know there is much in our Christian religion? tradition of a war-like character. The stories of Exodus and the invasion of the Promised These are important questions for All Land, the exclusive claims of Israel’s God Saints tide — the celebration of those men and his command to destroy all traces of and women who have shown us what the enemy’s cultures and religions, the holiness means. And perhaps it is especially brightly coloured images of Apocalypse — important this year when the Christian all these have at various times inspired the festival coincides with the Hindu festival violence which lies below the surface of of Diwali and the Muslim celebration of much religious language and practice. Eid. As countless millions across the globe celebrate in different ways and in different And perhaps this is because sometimes traditions the triumph of light over religious faith has an ambiguous darkness, of the God-ward struggle of relationship with anger. It is not unknown human beings, of the longing for the Holy for religious people to try to use their faith which is reflected in the lives of the saints. to keep their rage under control, but they find themselves at critical points making it The Book of Revelation offers us a vision the vehicle on which their anger travels. of the company of the Saints in which the apocalyptic vision of the new Jerusalem is The effect of all this is that many people set before us. This is the Heavenly city in in our society come to misguided which a new world order of restored, conclusions about what it is to be religious redeemed and ordered humanity live in — to be seekers after God. peace and harmony as God would have it be. First there are those who assume that God is essentially vengeful. He sends We need to continually have this vision earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, and other held before us in a world in which religion signs of his indignation with us. These (so is seen not as a uniting force but as a it is supposed) are the messages God sends divisive one. Religion is seen for the most us to remind us that he is still in control: part not as rational but as a perverted form that his power cannot be refuted and that of intelligence. And only this week, his purpose is to discipline us until we following the terrorist bombs exploding in become the obedient creatures he would Delhi, we have seen more evidence of have us be. Interpretations of recent events perverted and destructive religious instinct — the earthquake in Pakistan, the tsunami, paraded on our television sets. the havoc wreaked on New Orleans — have sometimes suggested that these are So hardly a day goes by when we are not deliberate actions of God to bring human reminded that religion can be seriously bad beings back to obedience. for us. There are those who seem to think

10 And the alternative view of religion is that driven life understand the need for silence it is about the worship of a God who is entirely and stillness; those who treasure the earth powerless and therefore irrelevant. In the and walk gently upon it because they wake of world disasters and untold human receive it as a gift — these are those also suffering, God (so it is said) either cannot be who find blessedness. almighty, or cannot be all loving. A God who could prevent this suffering and chooses not “Those who hunger and thirst for to, must be a callous indifferent God. righteousness” These are the ones who long to make poverty All Saints-tide, the celebration of those history; who understand that trade justice who have shone the light of God’s love and fair dealing is an essential expression amongst us, are reminders of a different of God’s kingdom and therefore of holiness way of being religious. From the Sermon of living; those who, in spite of repeated on the Mount come pointers to the defeats, remain steadfast in their passion for characteristics of holiness. Essentially it is justice and will not rest. made clear that it is not our allegiance that is the primary requirement, or even our way “Blessed are the peace-makers” of believing, but rather the orientation of The Holy are those who create dialogue; our hearts. The Sermon on the Mount offers those who know how to be patient enough us an understanding of the qualities of to listen; those who enable the voices of holiness which transcend categories of the marginalised to be heard; those who do time, geography, culture or perhaps even not allow their egos to get in the way of creed — here are to be found what makes reconciliation; those who understand that for holiness. And these guidelines merit a shalom, God’s peace, grows primarily in lifetime’s study and reflection. the soil of prayerful attention to God.

“Blessed are the sorrowful” To live out these qualities is to discover Those who grieve for the lost opportunities that holiness nearly always leads us to live to love; those who understand the effects at a tangent to organised religion. It may of their actions on others; those who have well be formal institutional religion which insight into their own potential for feeds and nourishes our faith, but always it destructiveness; those who are sorrowful will remind us that the institution is and who weep for the suffering of others something less than God. Holy people can — these are the ones who find blessedness. never be entirely at home in the synods, These are the ones whose personal the committees, the structures of sensitivity is heightened by their experience institutional faith. Like our Lord, holy of life. people know only too well how dangerous to the spiritual health religiousness can be. “Blessed are those of a gentle spirit” One such was Brother Roger of Taizé who Those who allow space for others; those was put to death violently while at prayer who are therefore approachable and in his own church at the heart of his vulnerable; those who in a busy and often community in Burgundy. Brother Roger’s

11 kind of holiness allowed an openness both supremely one of a gentle spirit, a peace to Protestant and to Catholic; to young maker. It is in his name, and in the name of people who were beyond the reach of most so many others of the Saints like him that parts of the Church. His holiness meant that we pray today that God will reveal to us he exercised no hierarchical position in the those unspeakable joys which he has formal Church and no ecclesiastical prepared for those who love him. political power of any kind. He was

ALL SAINTS FESTIVAL 2005 THE SERMON BY THE VICAR, FR ALAN MOSES, ON ALL SOULS DAY

On Sunday morning I was preaching at the that morning. Church of the Annunciation, Marble Arch. Some time before the service began, I He was still in my thoughts when the next noticed an elderly gentleman in the church day I had to do a telephone interview on — he had his hat on — but then I spotted Premier Radio, the Christian radio station, the prayer fringes hanging down below his about Halloween. The Bishop of Bolton jacket — and realised that he was an had complained about its growing and orthodox Jew. His hat was on out of negative influence on children. Those of reverence for a holy place. you who get up early on Sunday mornings may have heard a report about it on Radio It turned out that he had been on his way 4’s Sunday programme. One of the bishop’s to a Bar Mitzvah that morning when he had churches has introduced an alternative to witnessed a road accident at Marble Arch in Halloween, a service called “Night Light” which a young woman who was on her way — or is it spelled “Lite”? — with lots of to church somewhere had been killed. He candles. We were struck by the fact that was so upset by this that he decided to find neither the bishop nor someone speaking a church in which he could say Kaddish the for the church where this service happens Jewish mourner’s prayer — for her. made any mention of All Saints and All Souls. When we processed into church we found him standing in the front row The interviewer said to me: “You’re wrapped in his prayer shawl, wearing his having a big service for All Souls skull cap and holding his prayer book. He tonight”. stayed for the whole service and we had a “No”, I replied, “We are having a big delightful conversation at the church door service for All Souls on Wednesday — afterwards. He told us that to say Kaddish All Souls Day. was a Mitzvah — a good work. That Tonight we are having a big service gracious son of Abraham had done a better because it’s the Eve of All Saints — All and greater work than he perhaps realised Hallows in old English.”

12 Having got that sorted out, I was then of praying for the dead was regarded as rank asked what I thought of the dangers of popery. children dressing up as witches and ghosts for Halloween. Would it encourage them A Church may say that it believes in the to engage in the occult? I had to confess Communion of Saints as an article of the that when it comes to children’s games I Creed but when it does nothing to celebrate am a cavalier not a roundhead — not much it, then that belief is likely to wither and given to puritan denunciation; suppressing die. When it does, something of the Christmas like Oliver Cromwell and his Christian hope dies, and then people often puritan friends. I suspect there would be turn to spiritualism because the Church has no room for me in the ranks of the latter given them no sense of a continuing day New Model Army of militant relationship with loved ones who have died. evangelical Christianity. There was, I said, an older Christian In my childhood we made our Halloween tradition, one of holding the dead in lanterns out of turnips — pumpkins not remembrance, expressing our enduring being readily available in the dales in those love for them, by praying for them. It was days. It never had anything to do with the in that tradition that the Archbishop of occult. In my experience the people who Canterbury spoke yesterday in his sermon get involved in that are usually rather sad at the Memorial Service in St Paul’s for the adults who need to get out more; go to victims of the July 7 bombings: church. At the same time my brother and I, with the boys next door, were doing our “…there is another thing worth bit to collect material for the bonfire on the remembering” — he said “something true village green. Just because we burned the of every bereavement… Those we have guy every year, didn’t mean that we wanted lost are alive in and with God; but there to burn Roman Catholics — the boys next is a sense in which they are alive in us door were Roman Catholics. too…”

I tried to point out to the interviewer and “When we are aware of a deep bond his listeners that it is often when the Church with the departed, it sometimes helps us or society denies or suppresses something to see that death in itself is not the thing like death that strange practices develop to most to be feared. We acknowledge the fill the gap. It’s interesting that “Trick and awful hurt of bereavement, especially of Treat” which has replaced the “penny for violent bereavement. Yet we have some the guy” of my childhood, has come to us abiding sense that death, even violent from New England, the land of the Pilgrim and untimely death, cannot destroy our fathers, that puritan city set on a hill, that relationships at the most important level; stronghold of reformed religion, purified of that love is indeed, as the Bible says, all taints of , where the very idea strong as death.”

13 The Archbishop of Canterbury Cross of St Augustine Awards 2005 COMMENDATION The Revd Prebendary John Gaskell

Victor Stock, the Dean of Guildford, remembers as a young theological student hearing John Gaskell preach at All Saints’, Margaret Street, and saying to him afterwards, “That was the worst sermon I’ve ever heard”. He realises that it shows how arrogant and stupid students can be, for Sir John Betjeman, who heard him preach week after week, has said he was the best preacher in the Church of England! In a foreword to a book about Grosvenor Chapel, Mayfair, John Betjeman said, “The preaching tradition is fine. The best preacher I know is John Gaskell. I am very glad to say that I am a sermon taster, and I have never heard better sermons than his. He has the natural melody of language in his words. He is obviously a poet.” This is praise indeed from one of our greatest 20th century poets. Today we are thanking John for his distinguished service as a priest in the Church of England. While many know of his preaching, his influence in the confessional and as a spiritual director, especially among the clergy, has been more hidden. In retirement Fr Gaskell is often asked to speak about the Ministry of Reconciliation and through his experience, humour and humanity, a neglected sacramental grace is being rediscovered. This ministry continues to bring fresh discernment, healing and hope to many within the confidentiality and silence of the confessional and many lives have been changed through his work as a spiritual director. The fruits of this ministry have been shared even more widely through his short book, Making a Rule of Life, which has sold extremely well.

John is a man of immense courage. When he hosted the first meeting of Mainstream, which later became Affirming Catholicism, at St Alban’s, Holborn, he was much criticised by fellow Anglo-Catholic clergy. Holding the first eucharistic meeting of Affirming Catholicism at the conservative St Alban’s was significant and symbolic for the movement’s future. It helped many of the same tradition to exchange rigidity and exclusiveness for an honest engagement with the demands of an open and exploring catholic faith. John has been a great exemplar of the best traditional catholic values in their fully, all-embracing sense, without aggression or narrow ‘sectarianism’.

On a lighter note John is also a great friend to many and is known as a generous host and appreciates his reputation as a bon viveur. His interests extend beyond the church; he is particularly knowledgeable on the subject of Wagner and maintains a regular progress around the art galleries of London.

I have great pleasure in awarding John the Cross of St Augustine for, as one of his friends puts it, ‘representing the finest and best of rounded Anglicanism’.

14 THE SERMON PREACHED BY FR IVAN AQUILINA AT HIGH MASS ON TRINITY 21, 2005

“Render therefore to Caesar the things that “Thirsty, they begged Moses to smite are Caesar’s, and to God the things that the rock and bring forth water. He replied, are God’s.” ‘Dost thou ask a man of God to develop a Sinai Water Plan? Call thee a plumber.’ Countless are the times that this famous quote from the sayings of Jesus is thrown Moses went up to Mount Sinai. The back at us. It is a sentence loved by those Lord said, ‘I have writ ten command- who think that as Church we should keep ments’. Moses asked, ‘Lord, shall I read our mouths shut. There is a newly created them to your people?’ The Lord replied, ‘myth’ in which those who profess no faith ‘It is not for thee to introduce legislative are the ones who really know what is best programmes. Moses, don’t meddle in for us. They see Faith communities as politics.’ biased, therefore should not meddle in politics. “The Jews approached the promised land. Moses taught them how to have an Before looking closely at this famous AGM and a PCC, how to organise coffee quote from Jesus let me share with you mornings and Christmas fairs. He grew another rendition of the Exodus written by in the respect of his flock. On his death an unknown author: bed, he advised his successor Joshua, ‘Avoid controversy. Flee strife. Care not “And the Lord spake unto Moses, ‘I have for the hunger or thirst of thy flock. All seen the affliction of my people and I who follow this creed will be respected would deliver them from the pharaoh’. men of God. Thou wilt be dull and Moses replied, saying, ‘Lord, perhaps I alienate the young, but at least no one should say unto pharaoh, “Let my people will attack thee.’ ” go”.’ The Lord said unto Moses, ‘Thou art a man of God, not a politician. Mind If this basic event that shaped Israel and thine own business.’ therefore also us happened according to this rendition then I am pretty sure we would “The Jews went out of Egypt to the not be sitting here today. If Jesus did not Red Sea. The Egyptians pursued them. challenge politics than he would not have The Jews cried to Moses, ‘Part the Red been nailed to the cross. No Cross, no Easter. Sea so that we may pass on dry ground. No Easter, no us. The basic events that shape Then allow the waters to close again and us, Exodus and Easter, are all about Faith swallow up our enemies.’ Moses replied, informing, enlightening and directing ‘I am a man of God, not a hydraulic politics, it should not be different now. engineer. Nor do I concern myself with military matters. Buy thee a nuclear So why did Jesus say: “Render therefore submarine.’ to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s”?

15 Apart from the common dislike to taxes, environment. Today we are called to the problem was the coin itself as it had influence our environment, politics being impressed on it Caesar’s face. This meant a vital part of it. that the coin belonged to this pagan emperor who was venerated as a god; it also On Sunday March 13th 1927 that great meant that the emperor was being touched Parish Priest of this Church, Fr Mackay, and carried about whenever the coin was was standing in this same pulpit and was held. So the question was not simply about preaching about the slum priest Fr Robert the tax but more importantly the use of an Dolling. I would like to end my sermon by unclean coin that was prohibited within the quoting Fr Mackay and making mine his temple precincts. This controversy drained own cry with his same prayer that one day a lot of energy from those who had the this vision will come true; he said: “A true spiritual care of the chosen people of God. Anglo-Catholic movement must not be In saying what he said Jesus was saying to content with curing examples of evil when them: “Stop looking at the footnote and it finds them — it must find wrong and look at the text. Pay what you have to pay oppression on a large scale. It must seek to to the state and do not let this issue hinder remedy the conditions which maintain the work of God. Rather than looking at social wrong. If we are going to lead the coin with the emperor’s impression England forward to a better state of things upon it, look at the book of Genesis and we must have the grit to work and also the there you will find that every one of us, pluck to speak… In politics, ethics, including the emperor, is created in the economics, as a Christian you must make image of God. The face of God is not to be yourself felt.” found on coins but in each and every one of us. In us God is present and tangible. What a different day it would be that day Give to the state what is its due; more when all Anglo-Catholics are felt and importantly give to those impressed by the missed in the places they live, work and face of God what is God’s due.” play. Make the utmost of whatever place in life you occupy so that our Anglo- Jesus wanted to diffuse a strange Catholic ethos is felt and the Gospel of situation by trying to show that there are Christ proclaimed. Our movement grew bigger fish to catch. If paying Cesar’s tax when we strived to serve Christ in liturgy will secure a serene environment in which and in the needy like in Plymouth, London souls are saved then it is a price worth Docks and here in Margaret Street. As soon paying. It might be that the problem comes as our movement relaxed to rubrics only it from pride rather than theology. dwindled. We need to recapture the spirit offered by that Bishop who once said that Today we also are summoned by Jesus it is useless to worship Christ in our to focus on the bigger picture, the one in tabernacles and then ignore him in the which we need to be salt and yeast, the one streets and alleys. Let us not be shy and in which we are to serve all those created stand up for our Faith. It is only than that in the image of God. Our faith informs our we will be rendering to God what is His actions and our actions influence our and in due process also serving Ceasar.

16 Introit: Gaudete SUNDAYS AND Mass: Missa Brevis in G — Mozart SOLEMNITIES Lessons: Isaiah 61: 1 - 4, 8 - 11 MUSIC AND READINGS Psalm 126 1 Thessalonians 5: 16 - 24 Hymn: 388 (i) SUNDAY 4 DECEMBER Gospel: John 1: 6 - 8, 19 - 28 ADVENT II Preacher: The Vicar Creed: Credo II HIGH MASS AT 11.00 a.m. Anthem: Komm, Jesu, komm — Bach Entrance Hymn: 55 Hymns: 501, 431, 495 Introit: Populus Syon Voluntary: Wachet auf — Bach Mass: Missa ‘Alma redemptoris Mater’ — Victoria SOLEMN EVENSONG at 6.00 p.m. Lessons: Isaiah 40: 1 - 11 Psalm: 68: 1 - 19 Psalm 85 Lessons: Malachi 3: 1 Ð 4, Ch 4 2 Peter 3: 8 - 15a Philippians 4: 4 - 7 Hymn: 12 Office Hymn: 1 Gospel: Mark 1: 1 - 8 Canticles: The Fifth Service — Tomkins Preacher: Fr Ivan Aquilina Anthem: Lord, let me know mine end Anthem: Virga Jesse — Bruckner — Greene Hymns: 501, 5, 7 Preacher: Fr Ivan Aquilina Hymn: 9 SOLEMN EVENSONG at 6.00 p.m. Psalm: 40 BENEDICTION Lessons: 1 Kings 22: 1 - 28 O Salutaris: Tallis Romans 15: 4 - 13 Hymn: 8 (T 128 (ii)) Office Hymn: 1 Tantum Ergo: Victoria (No 2) Canticles: The Short Service Voluntary: Improvisation on ‘Alma — Ayleward redemptoris’ Anthem: Rorate cœli desuper — Byrd — Paul Brough Preacher: The Vicar Hymn: 13 SUNDAY 18 DECEMBER BENEDICTION ADVENT IV O Salutaris: 493 Hymn: 3 (ii) HIGH MASS AT 11.00 a.m. Tantum Ergo: 393 Entrance Hymn: 470 Introit: Rorate SUNDAY 11 DECEMBER Mass: Mass in G — Poulenc ADVENT III Lessons: 2 Samuel 7: 1 - 11, 16 Psalm 89 HIGH MASS AT 11.00 a.m. Romans 16: 25 - end Entrance Hymn: 16 Hymn: 161 (T 385)

17 Gospel: Luke 1: 26 - 38 Hymn: 42 (vv 3 & 6 Descant Preacher: Prebendary John Gaskell — Gray) Creed: Credo III Gospel: Luke 2: 1 - 14 Anthem: Vox dicentis: Clama Preacher: The Vicar — Naylor Anthem: Videte Miraculum — Tallis Hymns: 501, 4, 186 Hymns: 32 (v 5 Descant — Armstrong) 35 SOLEMN EVENSONG at 6.00 p.m. Motet: Hodie Christus natus est Psalms: 113, 131 — Poulenc Lessons: Zecharia 2: 10 - end At the Procession Luke 1: 39 - 55 to the Crib: 30 (omit v 4, vv 6 & 7 arr Office Hymn: 1 Willcocks) Antiphon: Adoniä At the Crib: Infant holy, Infant lowly Canticles: The Short Service — Byrd — Polish trad Anthem: Rorate cÏli desuper Voluntary: Dieu parmi nous — Messiaen — Handl Preacher: Fr Paul Burroughs, Rector, SUNDAY 25 DECEMBER Church of the Advent of Christ the King, San Francisco CHRISTMAS DAY Hymn: 443 HIGH MASS OF THE DAY BENEDICTION AT 11.00 a.m. O Salutaris: David Conte Entrance Hymn: 30 (omit v 4; Hymn: 6 v 7 Descant — Fleming) Tantum Ergo: David Conte Introit: Puer natus est Mass: Jugendmesse — Haydn SATURDAY 24 Lessons: Isaiah 52: 7 - 10 Psalm 98 DECEMBER Hebrews 1: 1 - 12 CHRISTMAS EVE Hymn: 21 (v 5 Descant — Marlowe) Gospel: John 1: 1 - 14 MIDNIGHT MASS AND Preacher: Fr Ivan Aquilina BLESSING OF THE CRIB Creed: Credo II AT 11.00 p.m. Anthems: Away in a manger —Kirkpatrick, arr Sidwell Entrance Hymn: 29 (v 4 Descant Ding dong! merrily on high — Willcocks) Introit: Dominus dixit — French trad, arr Wood Mass: Missa Sancti Nicolai Hymns: 28, 39 (v 5 arr Willcocks), — Haydn 26 (omit *; v 3 Descant Lessons: Isaiah 9: 2 - 7 — Willcocks) Psalm 96 Voluntary: Radetzky March Titus 2: 11 - 14 — Johann Strauss I

18 ALL SAINTS STAFF PARISH PAPER Vicar: The Revd Alan Moses 020 7636 1788 / 9961 Subscription Rates: Assistant Priest: 12 issues inc. postage and packing: The Revd Ivan Aquilina 020 7636 1788 Honorary Assistant Priest: UK £13.00 The Revd Preb John Gaskell 020 7436 3287 Europe (Airmail) £16.50 Reader: Rest of World: £17.30 Dr Christopher Rawll (Surface Mail Printed papers rate) Parish Administrator: Mr Dennis Davis 020 7636 1788 / 9961 STEWARDSHIP AT Fax: 020 7436 4470 e-mail: [email protected] ALL SAINTS Sundays Low Mass at 6.30 p.m. (Sat), 8.00 a.m. All matters relating to Stewardship should be and 5.15 p.m. Morning Prayer 10.20 a.m. addressed to the Stewardship Administrator, HIGH MASS and SERMON at 11.00 a.m. Mr Dennis Davis, c/o All Saints Vicarage, SOLEMN EVENSONG, SERMON and 7, Margaret Street, London W1W 8JG BENEDICTION at 6.00 p.m. Monday to Friday Morning Prayer at 7.30 a.m. Low Mass at 8.00 a.m., 1.10 p.m. & 6.30 p.m. FRIENDS OF Confessions from 12.30 - 1.00 p.m. & 5.30 p.m. ALL SAINTS Evening Prayer at 6.00 p.m. Saturday Morning Prayer at 7.30 a.m. The Friends support the work of this centre Low Mass at 8.00 a.m. and 6.30 p.m.* of Christian witness and worship, teaching (* First Mass of Sunday) Confessions 5.30 p.m., Evening Prayer 6.00 p.m. and spiritual counsel, through their prayers, Confessions are also heard by appointment their financial help and their concern. 020 7636 1788 Please write for further information to Instruction in the catholic faith as taught by the The Friends’ Secretary at the address below. Church of England can be obtained on application to any of the priests, who will also give help in PARISH ORGANISATIONS preparing for the sacraments.

Please write c/o PARISH OFFICIALS The Vicarage, 7, Margaret Street, Churchwardens: London W1W 8JG Mr John Forde 020 7735 6799 Miss Frances O’Neil 020 7387 3465 www.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk PCC Secretary: All Saints Church Marylebone Choir Dr Dilys Thomas 020 7794 3626 and Music Trust Fund Hon Treasurer: Administrator: Mr John Breingan Mr Patrick Hartley 020 7607 0060 Director of Music and Organist: All Saints Foundation Mr Paul Brough 01273 686021 Administrator: Mr Robin Fletcher Associate Director of Music & Assistant Organist: Friends of All Saints Mr Andrew Arthur 020 8279 0909 Secretary: Mrs Juliet Windham Honorary Assistant Organist: Mr Norman Caplin 020 8989 3295 Parish Paper Subscriptions Electoral Roll Officer: Secretary: Mrs Doris Sanders Miss Catherine Burling c/o 020 7636 1788 CALENDAR AND INTENTIONS FOR DECEMBER 2005

1 Charles de Foucauld, Hermit Unity 2 Those in need 3 Francis Xavier, Missionary USPG 4 THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT OUR PARISH AND PEOPLE 5 The homeless 6 St Nicholas, Bishop of Myra The unemployed 7 St Ambrose The House of 8 The Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Walsingham 9 Ember Day Those in need 10 Ember Day Vocations to the Priesthood 11 THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT OUR PARISH AND PEOPLE 12 Chronically sick & disabled 13 St Lucy, Martyr at Syracuse Church Schools 14 St John of the Cross Friends of All Saints 15 Unity 16 Those in need 17 O Sapientia Society of All Saints Sisters of the Poor 18 THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT OUR PARISH AND PEOPLE 19 The Samaritans 20 World Peace 21 Wells St Family Proceedings Court 22 Unity 23 Those in need 24 CHRISTMAS EVE Preparation for Christmas 25 CHRISTMAS DAY OUR PARISH AND PEOPLE 26 ST STEPHEN, PROTOMARTYR Witnesses to the Faith 27 ST JOHN, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST Proclamation of the Gospel 28 THE HOLY INNOCENTS Children’s Charities 29 St Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury 30 Those in need 31 John Wyclif, Reformer Social Reformers

Please note: All Friday Masses are ‘for those in need’ — intercessions from the board inside Church are used on these days.

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