ALL THE BLESSED SAINTS - Sunday, November 6th

The adjustment from being a parish priest is beginning to bite.  For ten years I was ‘known’ and acknowledged.  Now, as I walk down the street I am not known.  For ten years I had a church where I could celebrate the Office, pray and say Mass and trust that maybe some would celebrate with me.  Now I must find a church and a place to say Mass.  It’s an odd sensation which in time, of course, will change as I begin to network in this new Diocese and receive permission from the bishop to officiate. But right now the anonymity is strange - and refreshing. I was used to greeting nearly everyone I passed in the street – now, without a collar most of the time, I have to take care of the reaction I might receive from strangers!

Today I returned to my Alma Mater (All Saints, Margaret Street) for the Sunday in the Octave of All Saints, always a wonderful event and, today, they were also celebrating the completion of their Restoration.  The choir sang Mozart’s gorgeous ‘Kronungsmesse’ and the Anthem, ‘Faire is the heaven’ by Harris (1883-1973) and hymns so rarely sung in the past ten years concluding, as ever, with ‘In our Day of Thanksgiving’, which always moves me to tears.  And a good sermon from the Dean of Worcester who reminded us of the life of Bp. Edmund King, a saint in everything but name.    As he spoke I recalled the way in which S. Ignatius talked of how the lives of the saints inspired and enlivened him.  It spoke into my situation and helped and I’m glad I went.  The church itself was almost full, just as it always was when I attended Mass on a regular basis – forty years ago!  It was good to be back.

And on the plus side we are really enjoying our new home which, sitting atop this high hill in south London, affords the most wonderful panoramic views across almost the whole of the capital from whatever direction we gaze.  And everytime we do we find it inspiring and refreshing.  How good the Lord is to those who trust Him and follow in His ways.

SETTLING IN...

Chris and I are quickly settling into our new home.  It’s – cosy – in comparison with the Rectory but we felt we ‘belonged’ here from the day we moved in.  And there is so much for which we are thankful apart from this lovely house.  The fact we have a small patio garden; the quietness of the area and cleanness of the air here at the very top of Shooters Hill; magnificent views across London from outside the house and, a stone’s throw away, wonderful views over north Kent.  And then the ancient Oxleas Woods at the end of the road where we walked on Sunday and were filled with a sense of lightness as we relished the space and beauty of the place.  Ancient trees and open spaces, pathways leading in many directions and a feeling of being in the countryside.  But we also have a choice of railways into the City or West End!

We have almost completed the work we wanted to do on the house and bought what was needed to fit into this smaller space.  But there have, inevitably, been teething problems, some of which are irritating, and some expensive! Guess it’s always the same.  But the one, on-going and seemingly unsolvable problem is that there is virtually no mobile phone coverage in the area.  And that in spite of (or because of?) the array of masts on the Hill, one of which towers above our home.  Strange how such a recently introduced devise has become an essential part of life.

I have been to Mass at the parish church (Christ Church) and it so reminded me of St. Andrew’s – even to the singing of ‘Happy Birthday’!  Evening Prayer is celebrated just once during the week, so I hope to join the parish priest on Thursday’s.  But I intend exploring other churches in the area and will next attend Mass at All Saint’s, Blackheath. 

Chris is now well into his studies at UCL and, after some problems with the internet, is now able to do the required online work.  Gone are the days of written essays!  I have begun work on the London Course in Spiritual Direction again and am looking forward to offering a Course in the City on ‘Exploring Christian Spirituality’.  But I want to have six months without making any further plans for the future, a period to rest and settle into this new way of living and see what emerges in the process.  At present I am still, technically, Rector of St. Andrew’s as my resignation of the Living doesn’t take effect until October 28^th.  And then, for the first time in 35 years, I will not be within the structure of a community.  And that will be strange…