St Paul's Episcopal Church and Historic Wickford Village

O hushed October morning mild,
Begin the hours of this day slow.
Make the day seem to us less brief.
Hearts not averse to being beguiled,
Beguile us in the way you know.
Release one leaf at break of day;
At noon release another leaf;
One from our trees, one far away.
Retard the sun with gentle mist;
Enchant the land with amethyst.
Slow, slow!

(Extract from 'October' by Robert Frost)

I am spending time with friends in our link parish of St. Paul's Wickford. It is wonderful to be in New England in the Fall and very special to be in the beautiful and historic Wickford Village in Rhode Island, USA. I am receiving great hospitality and and a very warm welcome from all in the parish and the village.

For three centuries, the Wickford spire and bell tower of St Paul's Episcopal Church have projected a message of hope. Today, that legacy grows alongside their seaside parish. Their congregation is an imperfect family. They do not pass judgement. They believe the Holy Spirit is expressed through creativity, joy, and kindness to one another. They are a multigenerational community that warmly welcomes all people and families. If you seek an inclusive community of faith, reflection, and connection, you will find it at St. Paul’s.

In 2024 Wickford Village in North Kingstown, Rhode Island celebrated its 350th Anniversary. It stands as one of the nation’s oldest preserved colonial villages. Its rich maritime and colonial history is documented on Wickford Walk markers. Visitors can stroll the captivating streets and pathways to admire the historic homes and churches, relax by the beautiful harbour in Narragansett Bay, and take in the details of early American architectural styles. Community organizations and businesses provide a year-round schedule of activities and events.

Fr Spencer Reece visited Wickford & Runwell C of E Churches earlier this year. Posts about that visit can be found here - https://share.google/tsH5d61tKNINcTNKG. Information about earlier exchanges can be found at Wickford Community Archive - https://share.google/S13rdNUR4vwezeadD.

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Cheryl Wheeler - When Fall Comes To New England.

Holy Trinity Church, Cookham

On a recent trip to Cookham to review 'Stanley Spencer and Gary Bunt: What a Dream' at the Stanley Spencer Gallery, I also visited Holy Trinity Church, Cookham. The site has over 1,000 years of history, potentially originating from an 8th-century Saxon monastery associated with Queen Cynethryth, with the current stone structure beginning around 1140 and the Lady Chapel added in the late 12th century. The churchyard and surroundings famously inspired works by Spencer (such as The Resurrection, Cookham). The statue of an Angel which stands at the entrance to Cookham Churchyard inspired two paintings by Spencer. A copy of  'The Last Supper' and a print of 'Christ in the Wilderness: Rising from Sleep in the Morning', both by Spencer, can be seen in the church. 

One of Cookham's most famous sons was world famous artist, Sir Stanley Spencer (1891–1959). Much of his greatest work depicts biblical scenes, from miracles to Crucifixion happening not in the Holy Land but in Cookham, where he was born and spent most of his life. Spencer believed that the divine rested in all creation. He saw his home town of Cookham as a paradise in which everything is invested with mystical significance. He referred to Cookham as "a village in Heaven" fellow-villagers frequently stand in for their Gospel counterparts, lending Christian teachings an eerie immediacy.

James Dougall's hanging pyx for Holy Trinity Church was finished and installed in 2011. It is constructed from fabricated gilding metal and nickel-plated hot forged copper. The whole piece is 96 cm high and hangs 5 feet above the altar in the Lady Chapel at Holy Trinity. It works on a rise and fall mechanism located 8 metres up in the eaves of the roof, utilising 50 metres of 1.5 mm diameter stainless steel cabling. James Dougall (b. 1967, British) is a contemporary silversmith whose approach is based on an exploration of shape and form, combined with function.Major projects include the Hanging Pyx for Holy Trinity Church, Cookham, an altar cross for St. Michaels Church, Ightham Kent, a staff for Merton College Oxford and most recently a piece for the Officers Mess, Royal Marines, Poole.

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Steven Soles - Shake The Dust.