Ordination - Revd Nik Wright

Nik Wright, our curate in the Parish of Wickford and Runwell, was ordained as a Deacon this morning in an Ordination Service held at Chelmsford Cathedral. 

Find out more about new Deacons who were ordained at services held at Chelmsford Cathedral throughout the day today at https://www.chelmsford.anglican.org/newrevs/.

Later, we enjoyed a Parish afternoon tea celebrating Nik's ordination, together with his family and friends.

Before beginning ordination training, Nik was involved in work ensuring community engagement, community empowerment and the management of services and operations designed and delivered to improve, protect and save lives, both locally and internationally.

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Here I Am, Lord (I the Lord of Sea and Sky).

The lost things at the centre and at the edge

Here's the sermon that I shared this morning at St Catherine’s Wickford:

“I’m not religious.” I wonder how many people you’ve encountered locally who use that phrase when they come into this building or learn that you go to church. Those that we encounter who use that phrase, “I’m not religious,” are among those who are on the edge of our churches. They might come to one of the groups that use our facilities or be a friend of someone who does come to our services, maybe your friend, or may just be someone in the wider community who is well disposed towards the church, but doesn’t actually attend regularly.

Jesus spent time – considerable time – with those on the edge. We learn at the beginning of today’s Gospel passage (Luke 15.1-10) that he was criticised by the Pharisees and the scribes – the religious leaders of his day, those who were at the centre of the religious community – for welcoming and eating with tax collectors and sinners. Notice the phrase that is used about this, “the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him.” That means they weren’t near originally – they were on the edge – but they were coming near because they wanted to hear what Jesus had to say.

The tax collectors and sinners were those who were excluded from either the life of the community or the worship life in Israel in Jesus’ day. The tax collectors were collaborators with the hated Roman invaders and often exploited the people in order to make money for themselves, while those labelled here as ‘the sinners’ were a mixed group of people excluded from worship either because of behaviour that was considered immoral, such as prostitution, or because of disease, that because it couldn’t be cured and might be contagious, was considered a threat to the community.

That’s the context for the two parables of Jesus that we’re thinking about this morning – the parable of the lost sheep and the parable of the lost coin. It’s a context that is relevant to us as we think about those who are on the edge of church in Wickford and Runwell.

Jesus was criticised by the religious leaders of his day for drawing those on the edge to him but, in response, he told a story about leaving those at the centre to go to the edge. In the story of the lost sheep, the shepherd leaves the 99 sheep that are with him in order to seek out and find the one sheep that is on the edge and lost from the flock.

Jesus told several parables about sheep and shepherds and, in another of those parables, he tells us about the sheepfold. The sheepfold was the enclosure in which the sheep were gathered at night so they were all together and safe in one place. The shepherd would lie down across the entrance to the sheepfold and sleep there in order that his body acted as a gate preventing the sheep from leaving and preventing others from getting in. When the shepherd leaves the 99 behind in order to search for the lost sheep, the sheepfold is where he would have left the 99. So, it was not that they had been abandoned and were free to roam wherever they liked, but the shepherd in the story does care so much about the sheep that got lost that he is prepared to leave those at the centre in order to find the one that is on the edge.

The religious leaders were not prepared to do that and were even critical of Jesus for attracting those on the edge to the centre. By contrast, the parable tells us that God is concerned about all people everywhere – those already at the centre and those who are on the edge. That’s also what we see God doing himself, through Jesus. Jesus left the centre of the universe – being at the side of God the Father – in order to come to the edge by becoming human himself. He wasn’t content simply to become a human being, he was born into poverty, lived among ordinary people, went to those who were excluded, made himself the servant of others, and laid down his own life on the cross for the sake of every one of us.

That’s the example given to us by our Lord and Saviour and that’s the pattern of mission and ministry that he shares with us; all predicated on the basis of love for all people, especially those on the edge.

The stories don’t stop there, however, because Jesus also tells a story – the story of the lost coin – about something lost in a home. This is not a story about leaving the centre to go to the edge, this is a story about something being lost at the centre – in a home - and searching there until it is found. Those who are part of the community of faith and therefore at the centre of the church, inevitably have a wide range of different and sometimes challenging experiences. Many of us know something of that at present, having come through the pandemic only to now face a cost-of-living crisis. In such circumstances, some may find it difficult to maintain their church involvement and begin to drop off the radar. Jesus’ parables are encouraging us to notice such people and to do all we can to support and encourage and maintain them in their faith and church commitment. These parables, then, are stories encouraging care for those on the edge and those at the centre, however those two spaces are defined.

In our Parish we are using several initiatives to engage with those on the edge of our church communities. Unveiled, our Friday night arts and performance event, connects with people who enjoy the arts but don’t necessarily want to come to church. Contemplative Commuters offers reflections and mindfulness exercises to those commuting from Wickford Station during the week. For those within our church community struggling at present for whatever reason, our pastoral visitors, together with the clergy and LLMs, visit people in the congregation for prayer and often to take communion to them at home. Our Prayer Circle also provides prayer support for those in particular need.

These are initiatives which are contemporary equivalents to the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin. They are ways to connect more closely with those on the edge, whilst also offering care and support to those in our congregations who are at the centre. Please do support these initiatives and those involved in them in prayer, by your continued financial giving to the church which enables us to develop such initiatives, and by joining in with these initiatives if you are able. Do let me or any of our ministry team know if you would be interested in doing so.

Jesus came for all people everywhere – those on the edge as well as those at the centre. He has a special concern for those on the edge, being prepared to sacrifice himself in order to be with those there and rejoicing when those who have been lost are found. He calls us to have a similar care and to be involved in similar action. How will you respond to that call?

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Damien Jurado - Life Away From The Garden.

Windows on the world (536)

 London, 2025

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The Fire Theft - Sinatra.

Autumn programme: Unveiled programme, exhibition, Quiet Day, and concerts

 

Unveiled is the regular Friday night arts and performance event at St Andrew’s Church, 7.00 – 9.00 pm (11 London Road, Wickford, Essex SS12 0AN). Here's details of our Autumn programme. See http://wickfordandrunwellparish.org.uk/whats-on.html for more information.

Autumn Programme 2025

• 19 September (7.00 pm) - Exhibition viewing evening. See ‘Lily and the Masters’, an exhibition by David Crawford, and hear David speak about his work and also read his poetry. David’s exhibition has a series of colour studies of the Edwardian singer and actress Miss Lily Elsie and versions of some of his favourite paintings by the Old Masters.
• 3 October (7.00 pm) – An evening with the Ladygate Scribblers. Hear poetry and prose from a long-established Wickford-based writers group.
• 17 October (7.30 pm) – David Crawford in concert. David is a singer songwriter who is Wickford born and bred. He has been writing and performing songs for over 30 years, but the last few years, in particular, have been very productive. He will be performing new and recent material in this unique acoustic space where his paintings are also on show.
• 31 October (7.00 pm) – Adam Atkinson is the Bishop of Bradwell. Hear him read a selection of his poetry which has been used in public and liturgical settings. A series of sonnets for Lent and Easter were published in ‘Who Do You Say I Am?’ in 2024.
• 14 November (7.30 pm) – Open Mic Night organised with John Rogers. Everybody is welcome to come along and play, read, sing or just spectate. See you there for a great evening of live performance!
• 5 December (7.30 pm) – Eva Romanakova and Andrew Palmer in concert. Hear Mezzo-Soprano Eva Romanakova and pianist Andrew Palmer perform a wide selection of music including musical theatre, classical, opera, pop, jazz, folk and songs from the movies.

These events do not require tickets (just turn up on the night). There will be a retiring collection to cover artist and church costs. See http://wickfordandrunwellparish.org.uk/whats-on.html for fuller information.

Our latest exhibition is 'Lily and the Masters', an exhibition of paintings by David Crawford from 19 September – 19 December 2025 at St Andrew’s Church, 11 London Road, Wickford SS12 0AN.

View the exhibition and hear David speak about his work at ‘Unveiled’, the arts & performance evening at St Andrew’s Wickford, Friday 19 September, 7.00 pm.

David is a Wickford based artist and singer songwriter. The works in this exhibition are a selection of paintings completed in the last 3 years. He is exhibiting a series of heightened colour studies of the Edwardian singer and actress Miss Lily Elsie and versions of some of his favourite paintings from Old Masters such as Da Vinci, Vermeer and Caravaggio.

St Andrew’s is usually open: Sat 9am-12.30pm; Sun 9.30am-12 noon; Mon 2-3.45pm; Tue 1-4.30pm; Wed 10am-12 noon; Fri 10am-1pm.

Our last Quiet Day of 2025 is on Saturday 27 September and is about Lancelot Andrewes: Discover the influence and example of Lancelot Andrewes (who lived in Rawreth) who helped define Anglican doctrine, translate the Bible, and shape the liturgy. Led by Revd Jonathan Evens & Revd Steve Lissenden. 

To be held at St Nicholas Rawreth. Reflect in the beautiful and historic surrounds of St Nicholas Rawreth. St Nicholas provides times of quiet and reflection in a beautiful setting. 

Cost: £8.00 per person, including lunch (pay on the day). To book: jonathan.evens@btinternet.com / 07803 562329. Parking available: Village Hall (Rawreth). Nearest station: Battlesbridge (for Rawreth).

We also have concerts at St Andrew's including: TLC Ensemble on Satuday 4 October at 2.30 pm; and Men to Sing on Saturday 6 December at 2.30 pm.

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David Crawford - The Unwritten Story.

Using all we have for God's praise and glory

Here's the sermon that I shared at: Luke 14. 25-33 (07/09/25, 10.30 am, St Mary’s Little Burstead this morning:

“Christ Jesus had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.” (Phil 2:5-8 MSG)

One thing of which Jesus could never be accused is of not practising what he preached. When he taught that, “none of you can be my disciples unless you give up everything you have,” it was not as though there was anything that he himself was holding back. He gave everything that he had and was, holding nothing back.

He calls us to do the same. That is crystal clear in today's Gospel passage: “Those who do not carry their own cross and come after me cannot be my disciples … none of you can be my disciples unless you give up everything you have.” (Luke 14. 25-33)

These statements sound as though they are a problem for us as we think today about stewardship and following Christ. Jesus’ words are a problem for us because whatever we are currently giving and have given in the past, we are clearly not giving everything. So, are we really disciples at all or are we just playing at being Christians; compromising for our own comfort?

Jesus called his disciples to leave their jobs and families in order to follow him and to take nothing with them for their journey; “no stick, no beggar’s bag, no food, no money, not even an extra shirt.” Is that what Jesus is calling us to when he says, “give up everything you have”? However, when Paul writes to Christians in the new church at Corinth, he says exactly the opposite: “Each of you should go on living according to the Lord’s gift to you, and as you were when God called you.” This is the rule, he writes, that he teaches in all the churches and makes that a rule despite having left his home and given up everything he had to bring the good news to the Gentiles.

So, we can say from this that there may be two different types of calling for Christians; the call to leave everything that we have and to go wherever God sends us, and the call to stay where we are and go on living according to the Lord’s gift to us. Whether from choice or calling, most of us would seem to be currently in the latter group, while those like the missionaries we may support would seem to be in the former group.

But isn’t being in the latter group simply a soft option; following Christ without any real sacrifice? It is not intended to be, although it is possible for us to live like that. The key to staying where we are but still giving up everything we have is in Paul’s words, “to go on living according to the Lord’s gift to us.” What he means by that, is that everything we have is a gift to us from God, given not simply for our benefit, use and enjoyment but to share with others and to use for the glory and praise of God.

You see, we can view what we have as being ours to use to suit ourselves and as we wish or we can view what we have as belonging to God and for his use. Those are two very different attitudes which have very different outcomes and if we genuinely live with the latter attitude then we are also giving up everything we have although we don’t physically leave it behind.

The way it works is like this. We look at what we have and ask ourselves how God wants us to use what we have for his praise and glory. Let’s think about that for a moment in terms of ways in which we might give what we have.

We could think, for example, of our homes; how are they being used for the praise and glory of God? Some people, for example, might open up their homes by showing hospitality to others; they might host a homegroup or a tea afternoon or invite others for a meal or to stay with them for a time. Others, for example, may make a home in which their children can grow up to experience the love and freedom of Jesus for themselves. Others may be lowering the carbon footprint made by their homes through, for example, recycling, energy efficiency initiatives and growing as much of their own food as possible.

These are just a few examples of the difference that this approach to life can make in one area of our lives. This is not to say that only those who already doing some of the things I have mentioned are doing all that they can or that they are in some way better than others. Rather than making comparisons with others, what we are each called to do is to take a detailed look at what we have - time, talents, money, possessions, investments, work, relationships – and work out how we can offer them to God and use them for his praise and glory.

Doing that is what Stewardship is all about. We become stewards when we recognise that what we have has been gifted to us by God and we become good stewards when we use all that we have for his praise and glory. When we do so then, although we have not physically given away all that we have, we hold it and use it not for ourselves, but for God.

Sometimes, you will hear people in churches talk about giving particular amounts or proportions of our income to the Church; most commonly, a tithe or tenth, which is a proportion taken from the Law of Moses in the Old Testament. Measures like that can be helpful in terms of deciding how to divide up the money we have been gifted by God and how much we might give to support local ministry through a local church.

But fundamentally, Jesus says that everything we have is a gift from God. Nothing belongs solely to us for our own sole use. Everything is to be given up and used for the praise and glory of God. That is the challenge of Jesus’ words to his disciples and that is, therefore, why it is vital that we regularly review what and how we use what we have been given by God because our giving is never as generous and cheerful and willing and sacrificial as it could become.

“Christ Jesus had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.”

As we remember and celebrate in communion all that Jesus gave for us, may we too cheerfully, generously and willingly give up everything we have for his praise and glory. Amen.

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Eric Clapton - Let It Grow.

Windows on the world (535)

Southend, 2025

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Twelfth Night - Love Song.

 

Image of Jesus by DANK

A print of a painting of Jesus by the street artist DANK has been gifted to St Andrew's Wickford.  

Dan Kitchener (DANK - https://www.dankitchener.com/) hails from Wickford and specialises in worldwide street art, epic scale murals, interior and exterior works of art (https://www.dankitchener.com/street-art-murals). He has several large murals in Essex including at Rochford and Southend. His murals also include images of Christ in Belfast, Vassa (Finland) and elsewhere. 

He says of this image that it is a very special painting for him: 'I wanted to paint this portrait of Jesus Christ not in pain and sorrow but full of light and joy and love - a positive and uplifting portrait of the saviour and Creator.'

The print will be on display when its hanging space is not required for our art exhibitions.

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Cosmic Cathedral - The Heart Of Life.

Seen and Unseen: Genesis Tramaine: the painter whose faces catch the spirit

My latest article for Seen and Unseen is a profile of New York's expressionist devotional artist, 'Genesis Tramaine: the painter whose faces catch the spirit':

'Genesis Tramaine begins her presentation as part of the McDonald Agape Lecture in Theology and the Visual Arts 2025 by singing ‘Amen’, a gospel song popularised by The Impressions in the 1960s. Her presentation about her art is essentially an act of testimony, such as might be given in a Southern Baptist Church in the USA.

Tramaine is an expressionist devotional painter from the US who is deeply inspired by biblical texts and whose work is held in permanent collections, including the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC. The large expressionist heads she paints are not representational portraits but expressions of spiritual energies and forces within the person, often inspired by and showing biblical figures and saints, as well as church people, family and friends.'

For more on Genesis Tramaine see my Artlyst interview with her and my exhibition review for Church Times. For more on those contributing to the McDonald Agape Lecture in Theology and the Visual Arts 2025 see my interview with sculptor Emily Young.

My first article for Seen and Unseen was 'Life is more important than art' which reviews the themes of recent art exhibitions that tackle life’s big questions and the roles creators take.

My second article 'Corinne Bailey Rae’s energised and anguished creative journey' explores inspirations in Detroit, Leeds and Ethiopia for Corinne Bailey Rae’s latest album, Black Rainbows, which is an atlas of capacious faith.

My third article was an interview with musician and priest Rev Simpkins in which we discussed how music is an expression of humanity and his faith.

My fourth article was a guide to the Christmas season’s art, past and present. Traditionally at this time of year “great art comes tumbling through your letterbox” so, in this article, I explore the historic and contemporary art of Christmas.

My fifth article was 'Finding the human amid the wreckage of migration'. In this article I interviewed Shezad Dawood about his multimedia Leviathan exhibition at Salisbury Cathedral where personal objects recovered from ocean depths tell a story of modern and ancient migrations.

My sixth article was 'The visionary artists finding heaven down here' in which I explored a tradition of visionary artists whose works shed light on the material and spiritual worlds.

My seventh article was 'How the incomer’s eye sees identity' in which I explain how curating an exhibition for Ben Uri Online gave me the chance to highlight synergies between ancient texts and current issues.

My eighth article was 'Infernal rebellion and the questions it asks' in which I interview the author Nicholas Papadopulos about his book The Infernal Word: Notes from a Rebel Angel.

My ninth article was 'A day, night and dawn with Nick Cave’s lyrics' in which I review Adam Steiner’s Darker With The Dawn — Nick Cave’s Songs Of Love And Death and explore whether Steiner's rappel into Cave’s art helps us understand its purpose.

My 10th article was 'Theresa Lola's poetical hope' about the death-haunted yet lyrical, joyful and moving poet for a new generation.

My 11th article was 'How to look at our world: Aaron Rosen interview', exploring themes from Rosen's book 'What Would Jesus See: Ways of Looking at a Disorienting World'.

My 12th article was 'Blake, imagination and the insight of God', exploring a new exhibition - 'William Blake's Universe at the Fitzwilliam Museum - which focuses on seekers of spiritual regeneration and national revival.

My 13th article 'Matthew Krishanu: painting childhood' was an interview with Matthew Krishanu on his exhibition 'The Bough Breaks' at Camden Art Centre.

My 14th article was entitled 'Art makes life worth living' and explored why society, and churches, need the Arts.

My 15th article was entitled 'The collective effervescence of sport's congregation' and explored some of the ways in which sport and religion have been intimately entwined throughout history

My 16th article was entitled 'Paradise cottage: Milton reimagin’d' and reviewed the ways in which artist Richard Kenton Webb is conversing with the blind poet in his former home (Milton's Cottage, Chalfont St Giles).

My 17th article was entitled 'Controversial art: how can the critic love their neighbour?'. It makes suggestions of what to do when confronted with contentious culture.

My 18th article was an interview entitled 'Art, AI and apocalypse: Michael Takeo Magruder addresses our fears and questions'. In the interview the digital artist talks about the possibilities and challenges of artificial intelligence.

My 19th article was entitled 'Dark, sweet and subtle: recovered music orientates us'. In the article I highlight alt-folk music seeking inspiration from forgotten hymns.

My 20th article was entitled 'Revisiting Amazing Grace inspires new songs'. In the article I highlight folk musicians capturing both the barbaric and the beautiful in the hymn Amazing Grace and Christianity's entanglement with the transatlantic slave trade more generally.

My 21st article was entitled 'James MacMillan’s music of tranquility and discord'. In the article I noted that the composer’s music contends both the secular and sacred.

My 22nd article was a book review on Nobody's Empire by Stuart Murdoch. 'Nobody's Empire: A Novel is the fictionalised account of how ... Murdoch, lead singer of indie band Belle and Sebastian, transfigured his experience of Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME) through faith and music.'

My 23rd article was entitled 'Rock ‘n’ roll’s long dance with religion'. The article explores how popular music conjures sacred space.

My 24th article was an interview with Alastair Gordon on the artist’s attention which explores why the overlooked and everyday capture the creative gaze.

My 25th article was about Stanley Spencer’s seen and unseen world and the artist’s child-like sense of wonder as he saw heaven everywhere.

My 26th article was entitled 'The biblical undercurrent that the Bob Dylan biopics missed' and in it I argue that the best of Dylan’s work is a contemporary Pilgrim, Dante or Rimbaud on a compassionate journey.

My 27th article was entitled 'Heading Home: a pilgrimage that breaks out beauty along the way' and focuses on a film called 'Heading Home' which explores how we can learn a new language together as we travel.

My 28th article was entitled 'Annie Caldwell: “My family is my band”' and showcased a force of nature voice that comes from the soul.

My 29th article was entitled 'Why sculpt the face of Christ?' and explored how, in Nic Fiddian Green’s work, we feel pain, strength, fear and wisdom.

My 30th article was entitled 'How Mumford and friends explore life's instability' and explored how Mumford and Sons, together with similar bands, commune on fallibility, fear, grace, and love.

My 31st article was entitled 'The late Pope Francis was right – Antoni Gaudi truly was God’s architect' and explored how sanctity can indeed be found amongst scaffolding, as Gaudi’s Barcelona beauties amply demonstrate.

My 32nd article was entitled 'This gallery refresh adds drama to the story of art' and explored how rehanging the Sainsbury Wing at the National Gallery revives the emotion of great art.

My 33rd article was an interview with Jonathan A. Anderson about the themes of his latest book 'The Invisibility of Religion in Contemporary Art'.

My 34th article was an interview with 'Emily Young: the sculptor listening as the still stones speak'.

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Jonathan McReynolds - God Is Good.

Looking back to look forward

Here's the sermon that I shared at St Andrew's Wickford this morning:

St Paul’s letter to the Christians in Colossae begins with prayers for the church there and reminders of its story of faith and those who were significant in that story (Colossians 1.1-8). In his prayers for the Christians in Colossae, he says that he always thanks God for their faith in Christ Jesus and the love they have for all the saints. He reminds them of the hope laid up for them in heaven and of how they heard of this hope in the gospel that has come to them. Just as the Gospel is bearing fruit and growing in the whole world, so it has also been bearing fruit among them from the day you heard it and Epaphras, a beloved fellow-servant, has been a faithful minister of Christ on their behalf.

It is helpful and encouraging for us to look back to the story of faith in our church and Parish, as Paul encourages the Christians in Colossae to do here. Sometimes, when we look back, we can do so from a negative or deficit perspective lamenting what we feel we have lost in the present but which was present in the past. That isn’t what Paul is doing here. Instead, he is looking back in order that the Colossians see that God is working his purposes out in the present, just as did in the past.

Anniversaries can provide us with helpful moments to look back and celebrate God’s faithfulness and constancy in our lives and Parish. Last year, we celebrated the 90th anniversary of a church being opened on this site. Next year, we will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the opening of the current St Catherine’s Church. As we look back, let us give thanks, as St Paul did, for the faithfulness of God in bringing people to faith and, despite the challenges involved, sustaining Christian witness in this part of Essex.

Looking back also enables us to remember and give thanks for specific individuals, like Epaphras, who have been significant in our lives or in this Parish. Here, such people may include those who have a shared place in our lives and faith journey such as David Loman, who was a much-loved Rector in the Parish and who was also my Diocesan Director of Ordinands who sensitively and helpfully prepared me for selection and for ministry or Paul Trathen, a curate in the Parish when Philip Kearns was Rector, who is also a good friend of mine and someone I met during ordination training meaning we have accompanied each other through our respective ministries. I wonder who the people are in your past who have supported and encouraged you on your faith journey. Take a moment now to bring them to mind and give thanks to God for their ministry in your lives.

Individuals from the past may also provide inspiration for the present and the future. Recently, those who established the exchanges with St Paul’s Wickford in Rhode Island have encouraged us to renew that link and begin preparing for the visit next year of Fr Spencer Reece, the current priest at St Paul’s Wickford. Richard Feldwick has encouraged me by telling me stories of Revd Roy Thomas, who developed cultural initiatives in the Parish, as we are currently doing with the cultural programming here at St Andrew’s and more generally across the Parish. Roy’s initiatives included dance, music and visual arts, involving youth work and a programme of speakers from Christian organisations.

This Saturday, there is an Open Day at St Mary’s Runwell – I encourage you to go along. It’s an opportunity to see inside that beautiful church, view Parish records from the recent past, and learn something of the fascinating history of that significant church. One of the past Vicars of St Mary’s who is an inspiration to me, as we try to minister across compassion, culture, commerce and congregation, is Henry Kingsford Harris (Rector from 1891-1912). He oversaw a significant restoration of the church building in 1907 which included essential structural remedial work on the south aisle, including underpinning the massive piers, and the rebuilding of the chancel. He was also a considerable electrical engineer and a notable feature of his time in the Parish was the ringing of the bells by electricity, and the electric lighting of the church. He built an orphanage and the children served as his choir. He also built several cottages in the parish and St. Andrew’s Mission Church, Chalk Street, on the northern edge of the parish. He also set up the first Parish Council in Runwell. You can find more about his ministry at St Mary’s in the church history book that will be on sale at the Open Day. In that way, you will see how he is an inspirational figure from our past in ways that inform and encourage us to persevere with the approaches we are using now in the present.

Who is there among the clergy that you have known that have impacted or inspired you on your faith journey and ministry. Take a moment now to bring them to mind and give thanks to God for their ministry in your lives.

As we look back, let us, like St Paul, in our prayers always thank God for this Parish and its people, their faith in Christ Jesus and the love they have for all the saints. Let us be reminded that, just as the Gospel is bearing fruit and growing in the whole world, so it has also been bearing fruit among us from the day people in this Parish first heard it until today and also give thanks for all who have been faithful ministers of Christ on our behalf. Amen.

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Roger McGuinn - Light Up The Darkness.