Although I was going to start with
May brings flocks of pretty lambs,/ Skipping by their fleecy dams
I think ‘All be safely gathered in’ might be more appropriate as all the stranded members of our community gradually work their way back home by train, boat and, eventually, plane. How strange London was without the continual overhead noise – how sad for people battling with hotel bills in a foreign country, or losing the chance of their holiday; how disastrous for farmers relying on air transport to get their goods to the consumer. And perhaps how salutary that a volcano, an ‘act of God’, could cause such mayhem across the world. And how odd that a simple change in wind direction has turned our attention away as if it couldn’t happen again at any moment.
The Annual Meeting was fairly well attended even if some key people were unable to be there. The usual business was dispatched as painlessly as possible and the parish is, as always, in good order and safe hands. One aside concerned the The Steeple Cup, the existence of which is known, it seems, to only a handful of parishioners. It is, if you’ve never come across it, a very beautiful Georgian cup, a gift to the church in the 18th century intended for use as a chalice but far too valuable to be used any more. Rather than leaving it in the safe where no one could enjoy it, it has been given on loan to the V & A and is on permanent display in the Silver Collection [note, not the Church Silver section because it is, in fact, a secular object, even if it was once used as a chalice]. The case is at the end of the Silver gallery near the stairs and I have to say, and of course I’m not at all biased, that it is one the finest pieces in that particular case. I know some of us do pop in and pay our respects from time to time and bask in the knowledge that actually, it’s ours. Why not include it in your next trip? [More intrepid explorers could hunt down the coffin carrier on permanent loan to the Geffrye Museum too.]
Even without the challenge of the volcano April was a busy month – so many events in Holy Week, the Exhibition [which raised around £1,000 for our USPG Project in Brazil] and the Spring Fair – of which more elsewhere. But in case you suffer from withdrawal symptoms not being able to spend all your time in church we do have a few things for you to do in May:
Concerts – the return of the popular Lunchtime Concerts on Wednesdays in May at 1pm. You can find details of the performers further on in this issue. All the concerts are free but there will be a retiring collection at each one for the performers. The Friends of the Music also have a Schumann evening on 20th – booking details are included on page 13. Please book early as places are limited.
The Study Centre starts up again for its summer season – ‘A Feast of Anniversaries’ – please note that it’s being held at St Peter’s. Details of that too further on.
Hassock mending – The scheme to renew our hassocks was begun in 1961 and it’s a tribute to all those who worked them that the decorative wool covers are still in such good condition nearly 60 years on. But the backs and the hooks are in need of urgent attention. It’s an ongoing task. People who’ve done this before may remember it with mixed feelings and I won’t pretend it engenders anything more than the satisfaction of a job well done – but that’s something, isn’t it? We intend to resurrect mending sessions on the first Thursday of the month from 2-5pm – it takes a couple of hours to mend one hassock if you have to replace the backing, though some of them only need minor repairs so if you could give an hour within that time that would be good too. [Materials supplied].
Heritage Lottery Project
Work has begun! It is expected to take 20 weeks so should finish mid- to late- September. It won’t always be obvious that anything’s happening because some of it involves mending walls tucked away in odd corners of the churchyard and additional burial ground or repairing tombs. But some of it will be very noticeable as paths are repaired or relaid. I’m sure any inconvenience will be worth it and we hope to keep the disruption to a minimum. And it should all be ready for Dedication Sunday in October.
Other events included in the Heritage Lottery Project have been going on for some time of course: the gardening [first Saturday of the month from 10am], school visits, the tree walks, the guided tours – and this month there’s a Bat Walk on Friday 21st starting at 6pm. It is essential to reserve a place because numbers are limited – contact Honia on 020 7974 5178 or [email protected]
And, of course, if it’s May it must be Christian Aid Week – 9- 15th – and we’ll be encouraging you to take a collecting tin for an hour or so in the High Street on Saturday 15th. Little as we sometimes feel we collect it all adds up and raises awareness of what Christian Aid is doing. And money goes such a long way – £30 is a month’s salary for some workers in Kenya. Some information about them is included in this month’s magazine but for far more information visit their website www.christianaid.org.uk . Christian Aid is my personal favourite so naturally I urge you to give generously when the envelopes are handed out in church but do read about their work because it means so much to the communities they work with.
May
Judy East