Stone and Tile Cleaning in the Sanctuary Over the last 3 days Andrew Blades has done a stunning job re-fixing some of the encaustic tiles we found under the pvc flooring and he cleaned the terrazzo steps in front of the altar - the difference is nothing short of amazing. Please have a look on … Continue reading Summerly Things
Developments over the Summer
After the frenzy of activities of the last few months (remember: Lent, Holy Week & Easter, May Festival, National Pilgrimage, internal reordering (Stage 1) and the Parish Feast in June with the re-consecration of the High Altar) things are slowing down a bit over the summer. A lot of people are travelling or on holiday, … Continue reading Developments over the Summer
Celebrate in the Joy of the Lord!
I was nervous when we finally started to rip the church apart on Thursday, 12th May. Would those who offered help really come to help? Would the timings work out or would things run late, messing up further stages of the project? Would people get stressed and fall out with each other? Ben worked incredibly … Continue reading Celebrate in the Joy of the Lord!
Altar Consecration and Parish Feast, Sunday 12th June
In the last two weeks lots of organising and cleaning has been going on and Ben has been busy decorating the altar - he is confident to finish in time for Sunday! I am delighted that we found the encaustic Victorian tiles below the plastic tiles and lots of concrete to be in reasonably good … Continue reading Altar Consecration and Parish Feast, Sunday 12th June
Internal Reordering and looking into the Future
Most of you will know that we have been thinking, talking and blogging about how to make our building more fit for mission by increasing its impact and usability for more than a year. I preached about this last Sunday and possibly you want to read it again here: Reordering SermonDownload Clearing the Nave Work … Continue reading Internal Reordering and looking into the Future
May is the month of Mary
National Pilgrimage It has been a very busy and successful week at St Andrew's. On the Bank Holiday Monday about 30 of us went to the National Pilgrimage at the Shrine of our Lady of Walsingham - which after a pause of 2 years was finally happening again. I usually manage to sort the weather … Continue reading May is the month of Mary
Eastertide – lots of things are happening!
I am incredibly pleased with a a rather amazing celebration of Holy Week and Easter. It was great to go out in procession on Palm Sunday, to celebrate the Mass of the Last Supper together with our friends and neighbours from St Mary de Castro, to join Our Lord during his last hour on Good … Continue reading Eastertide – lots of things are happening!
The Sacred Triduum
Some pictures from the Mass of the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday and from the Good Friday Liturgy. Mass of the Last Supper Good Friday Liturgy The service continues on Easter Day at 10.30am with baptisms and confirmations. And it is not finished until we all have been offered some celebratory Prosecco and chocolate Easter … Continue reading The Sacred Triduum
Growing together
Over the last months our numbers have steadily grown. Not everybody comes regularly and not everybody who gave St Andrew's a try has continued to come - and that is all perfectly normal. I am often struck that St Andrew's brings people together who normally would not meet due to different origins, ethnicity, age, class … Continue reading Growing together
Little Things add up
I mentioned in my last post that things easily add up and that my blogs get too long - it's also important to notice things properly. Our main service is known as 'The Eucharist' which translates as 'The Thanksgiving' - so, noticing things and appreciating them is very much at the heart of our faith. … Continue reading Little Things add up