The Vicar writes
Transcript of The Vicar writes
AUTUMN 2014
Internet site: www.stjamesthegreater.org.uk
Church Office email address: [email protected]
SUNDAY WORSHIP 8.30 am Holy Communion 10.30 am Choral Eucharist
6.30 pm Choral Evensong & Sermon
A CHILDREN'S SUNDAY CLUB
in the Church Hall in school term time starting off in church at 10.30 am
MIDWEEK HOLY COMMUNION
7.15 am or 8.15 (wintertime) Tuesdays 10.15 am Thursdays
See Calendar for variations and details of services on saints' days
MINISTRY TEAM Vicar
Canon Glynn Richerby BD AKC
St James the Greater Vicarage 216 London Road
Leicester LE2 1NE 0116 254 4113
Associate Non-Stipendiary Priest Revd Jane Sharp
0116 270 6002
Honorary Associate Priests
Revd David Clark BA Canon Henry Evans MA
0116 255 8988 0116 270 0954
Very Revd Dr Derek Hole Hon LLD Hon DLitt
0116 270 9988
Readers
Mr Anthony Green BA Dr Angela Jagger PhD BA Mr John Raven MA
0776 970 2272 0116 271 9185 0116 270 7591
Mr David Brunning MA
0116 241 8742
Pastoral Assistant Sacristan
Miss Vicky Roe BPhil.Ed MA Mrs Janet Burton 0116 255 2108 0116 210 3736
In this Autumn 2014 issue …
SERVICE TIMES & MINISTRY TEAM ………………...….…… see inside cover
THE VICAR on a combined anniversary celebration ……………...…....….… 4
PROFILE of David Brunning – to be licensed to preach ……..……...…….…. 6
2014 CHOIR TOUR recalled in words and pictures by Annabel Cowley ....... 8
BOKO HARAM and the Nigerian crisis – Emmanuel Okoli …...……..…..… 10
THE WORD OF THE LORD? – Bible readings in our services …….…...…. 12
CALENDAR OF SERVICES & EVENTS ……………….…….. see centre pages
COMING HOME – a reflection for Remembrance-tide ......…………........…17
CATHEDRALS – William Woolley continues his exploration by train ..…... 20
FRIENDS’ OUTING TO COVENTRY on 1 October …………...….....…… 21
POSTERS – Sarah Kirby’s project for the church porch ………….……….. 23
OBITUARIES – Cathleen Wood, Gillean Russell & Geoffrey Simpson …… 24
COMMEMORATIVE FLOWERS ………………………...…….....…….…… 27
WHAT’S ON & WHO’S WHO ……………….……...……….. see back cover
Copy for the WINTER 2014/15 edition of the Quarterly should reach the Vicar by Friday 3 October 2014
please send as Word Document (*.doc) to g,[email protected]
YOUR QUARTERLY DISTRIBUTOR IS:
…………………………………………………….. TEL’ ………………...…. ………………………...
4
The Vicar Writes …
THE CENTENARY of the completion of our church is in September.
Building had begun – in the traditional way of constructing churches – from
the east (altar) end. The foundation stone was laid in 1899. A temporary
church – a ‘tin tabernacle’ – was positioned on the site close to the London Road in 1881. It was removed in 1900 when the Undercroft was completed
and furnished as a temporary place for the congregation to gather in worship.
Building of the church continued apace until funds ran out in 1901 when a
temporary brick wall was put up. It was not uncommon for newly built
churches to reach a certain point and to remain long or for ever incomplete.
St Anne’s in Letchworth Road is a case in point. But there was tremendous determination that St James’s should fulfil the original vision of Bishop Mandell
Creighton for a church “worthy of the greatness of the town” that would
“arrest the attention of the passer by”.
By the way, no photograph or drawing of St James the Greater showing its
incomplete state is known to exist. It would enormously benefit the church’s archive
if such a picture were to be found.
In 1910 plans were put in place for the completion of the west end. A sticking
point was whether or not to add a campanile – a bell tower. The plans that were approved were estimated to cost £6,000 without the campanile, which
would have cost an extra £2,000. These were huge sums to find at the time.
In view of the cost of
restoration work recently
carried out on the west
front, it is as well that the campanile was not built!
But it is a shame that the
church is without
‘proper’ bells to summon
worshippers and to be rung to mark national
events and other
celebratory occasions.
Here’s an account of the
ceremony in 1914 for the
completion of the church
5
from the History of the Church of St James the Greater Leicester Jubilee 1881 -
1931 written by G F Smith and published in 1931:
The church as it now stands was completed [in 1914] and was dedicated by the
Bishop of the Diocese [Dr Carr Glyn, Bishop of Peterborough] on September 24th 1914, at which date there remained a debt of nearly £2,000. This much exceeded
the original estimate, but the Committee never departed from their desire to make
the building worthy of its purpose and to realise as far as possible the hopes for it
which had been expressed by Bishop Creighton. At the dedication service there was a large attendance of clergy, together with the Churchwardens and Sidesmen of the
three churches in St Peter’s parish, the Mayor of the Borough and members of the
Council, and other representatives of the whole population.
CELEBRATION of the centenary of the completion of our church is being
combined with the 50th anniversary of the LeicesterShire Historic Churches
Trust at a special service of Choral Evensong on Sunday, 28 September
at 6.30. The guest preacher is to be
Bishop Thomas McMahon, Roman
Catholic Bishop of Brentwood and a Vice
President of the National Churches Trust.
As our church benefited from a grant
from the LeicesterShire Historic
Churches Trust towards the recently
completed restoration of the west front
it is highly appropriate for us to host this joint celebration and a privilege to do so.
The service is expected to draw people
from churches all over the Diocese.
Leading up to this great occasion will be the annual sponsored RIDE+STRIDE
event on Saturday 13 September which raises money for the
Leicestershire Historic Churches Trust to make grants to support the repair of churches, chapels and meeting houses. This event coincides with a Heritage
Trail Day sponsored by Leicester City Council. Our church will be open
from 10.00 am until 6.00pm.
It will be good to have many people from St James either sponsored to cycle
or walk from church to church or to be stewards welcoming visitors to our
church on that day. Find sponsorship forms and a sign up list in church.
6
Profile
DAVID BRUNNING would be justified in taking life easy in retirement, but is actually preparing to take on
the role of a Reader (lay preacher) to serve both St
James the Greater and also the Anglican Church on
Sark in the Channel Islands.
In offering himself for this ministry, David is picking up
the threads of a vocation that began to form in his late teens when he began to train as a Methodist Lay Preacher.
David recalls being much caught up in the Church of England in his formative
years: “St Paul’s in Burton on Trent was my introduction to the Christian life.
It was a church in the Anglo-Catholic tradition. Its services were from the
Book of Common Prayer. It had a strong tradition of elaborate and dignified
ceremonial with servers and incense. Mass and Choral Evensong were the main services. It had a large choir.” David was in the Sunday school from the
age of 4, in the choir from the age of 6 to 13, served at early Mass on several
weekday mornings on the way to school and at 14 took up bell ringing.
This involvement tied in with his education: “My A-level history course
covered the Reformation in England and in Europe. I studied the activities of Tyndale, Cranmer, the Prayer Book of 1549 and the extraordinary events of
the 16th century. This study of the Church and the effects of religion in
society was greatly extended when I read history at university.”
But before going up to Oxford, there was a turning point:
“In my late teens I became increasingly restless about the formality of worship
and practice in my Church. In consequence of this I turned to the Methodist Church which was then blessed with some exceptional preachers, including
Soper, Sangster and Weatherhead. The Minister of the local church (who in
years later became my wife’s stepfather) became my spiritual mentor. I was
encouraged to offer myself as a local preacher and was put ‘on Note’ – which allowed me to take services. This coincided with the start of my university
life”.
David joined the Wesley Memorial Church in Oxford and the University’s
John Wesley Society: “It had some 250 members and a system of groups
which met every Sunday to discuss the books we were reading and effectively
to become House Churches.”
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David’s training as a local preacher continued during vacation times. It
involved theological and biblical studies, church history, sermons of John
Wesley and worship and preaching. “Tuition was given by nominated tutors in my home town of Burton on Trent. Preaching involved constructing a service,
choosing the readings and hymns as well as preparing the prayers and sermon.
I conducted services and preached in Burton on Trent and in villages in
Oxfordshire during my time at university.”
An aspect of Methodism which greatly appealed to David was its tradition of
hymnody. “I had been brought up with the English hymnal and Hymns Ancient and Modern but I thought that the Methodist Church – not the devil – had
the best tunes!”
After university, David trained as a lawyer and in 1969 became a barrister
with chambers in Leicester. David and his wife Dee were members of Bishop
Street Methodist Church, taking a full part in its life along with their 3 sons.
David was appointed a Deputy Judge in 1982 and in 1988 “One of her Majesty’s Judges” – full time in criminal, family and civil courts. He retired in 2008.
“I returned to my roots in the Anglican Church during the 1990s and became
a member of the St James’ Fellowship.” He has been successively a Sidesman, a member of the Parochial Church Council and Standing Committee, a
Church Warden and Lector. He recently became a Eucharistic Assistant.
For over 50 years, David has holidayed on Sark in the Channel Islands and for
the last 5 years has had a house there – where he spends up to four months a
year. The TV series An Island Parish featured a succession of locum priests
serving residents and visitors to Sark. David was somewhat taken aback last year when two successive locum Priests suggested that he should consider
Readership. “As I reflected upon what they said, it seemed extraordinary to
me that so many strands of my Christian life had been pointing towards this
form of service and that I was now called to use that in the office of Reader.”
Ministry officers in the Diocese of Leicester agreed to provide an accelerated
training programme for David, taking into account previous relevant experience. He has to complete a recommended scheme of reading, write a
report on the experience of a placement on Sark and do some leading of
worship and preaching under supervision at St James’s.
David is to be commissioned as a Reader at a special service in Leicester
Cathedral on Saturday, 11 October. He will serve hugely contrasting churches
in urban Leicester and his adopted Island of Sark. Both places will be fortunate to benefit from this late flourishing of his ministry.
8
Choir Tour 2014 to Bristol and Devon by Annabel Cowley
SETTING OFF in the pouring
rain with parents peering on
from the Church porch wasn’t
the best of starts! But the clouds
cleared and we rolled into
Bristol ahead of schedule. Cases
stored and clothes smartened,
we headed for our first engagement – singing with St
Mary Redcliffe on Sea Sunday.
Dinner was at the restaurant attached to our
hotel. There were no complaints about heading to bed, though we were not sure if this was
due to the long day or the fact the World Cup
was on the TV! After a breakfast buffet in the
restaurant, our coach collected us and we headed for Devon. En route, Michael Rule very
kindly treated the choir to lunch at McDonalds
to thank them for
singing at his wedding.
Golden Sands Caravan
Park had a large play
area, pool, and an
entertainment complex
in addition to the nearby beach, so the
youngsters were not
short of things to do.
Teenagers and younger children related
really well.
Tuesday was a free day, so we headed to the beach to play rounders and splash in the surf.
In the afternoon, the Club House was used
for a rehearsal. There were some strange
looks from other holidaymakers who
wandered in, not expecting choral music!
9
Evenings in the Clubhouse saw choristers discovering their inner disco diva.
Who knew they had such moves!
Wednesday was a trip to Paignton
Zoo. A great time was had by all. Highlights were walking through the
lemur enclosure, seeing orangutans
and a talk on endangered species.
Thursday saw the start of our
residency at Exeter Cathedral. After a quick rehearsal there was time to
explore before Evensong. The same pattern occurred on Friday and Saturday.
Our departure time of 1.30pm from the Park meant that each morning we could swim – its amazing how much fun can be had with a beach ball. On the
Friday we had a guided tour of the Cathedral and on Saturday the Cathedral
treated us to a cream tea in the Chapter
House.
Sunday was a very early start. Getting
everything packed up and into Exeter for a
9am rehearsal wasn’t easy but we made it
with seconds to spare. After the Eucharist
in a rather full Nave, we headed to the local
Wetherspoons for lunch, and had time for some last minute shopping before the
‘Paper Plate Awards’ made to everyone.
Our final Evensong complete, we boarded
the coach for the 4 hour trip back to Leicester tired but very happy.
We are now looking forward to 2015!
10
Boko Haram and the Nigerian political and religious crisis by Emmanuel Okoli
THESE ARE my thoughts and perception of the current Islamic insurgency in
Nigeria where I lived before making a life-changing trip to the United Kingdom
in 2009 to study at the University of Leicester. I joined St James the Greater
at a time I describe as the darkest hours of my life, when a good friend
suggested that I renew my faith in God. This article is not about my trials and travails but about the current struggles of my nation to hold on to its identity
when plagued with so many troubles.
Modern day Nigeria emerged as a result
of colonial amalgamation of northern and
southern Protectorates in 1914. This
merger was to ease Britain’s administrative burden and establish a
colonial territory stretching from the arid
Sahel to the Atlantic Coast.
It is difficult to foster unity between the
North – a largely Muslim population that
shares ancestral lineage and solidarity with the Middle East and the wider
Muslim world, and the South – an
ethnically diverse region of a largely
Christian population with Western and African socio-political influences. The
last hundred years have seen four failed republics, countless ethno-religious
and political clashes, violent sectarian insurgencies, six military coups and a
civil war. Nigeria now faces its worst adversary in Boko Haram.
I spent a better part of my adolescent life in the houses of my Muslim friends
as they did at mine. Some of them will conveniently say ‘the Lord’s Prayer’
without stuttering even as I can recite chapters of ‘surat Al Fatiha’ with conviction. The unity we shared was not in the way we individually seek the
face of God but in the knowledge that everyone has a genuine right to seek
their path to God.
Our agitation then wasn’t of a religious nature but in united demand for
better governance. Corruption in the highest ranks of government have
impoverished and denied opportunities to the majority of Nigeria’s ever growing population. As a result, factions of the faithful from both religions
have come to blame each other and to propose religious reform as a solution
11
to society’s ills. This genuine, but misplaced, quest for a religious solution to
socioeconomic and political problems coupled with a desperate growing
unemployed population has spawned extremist and violent insurgencies such as the Boko Haram Islamist terrorist campaign.
‘Boko Haram’ means ‘western education is a sin’. Mohammed Yusuf founded
the group in 2002 in the city of Maiduguri with the aim of establishing Sharia law in Borno State. Soon the organisation’s ulterior political and rebellious
goals manifested as it began working as a recruiting ground for jihadists to
fight the state.
In 2009 the Nigerian Government launched an investigation into the activities of Boko Haram following reports that it was arming its members. A bloody
confrontation broke out leading to the death of over 700 people – including
Muhammed Yusuf, the founder of the group who was summarily executed by
members of the Nigeria security forces while in police custody. The group retreated and re-emerged under the leadership Abubakar Shekau – a
psychopathic killer with total disregard for human life.
In what initially seemed like a focused attack on the Christian community in
northeast Nigeria, a number of churches and Sunday worshipers where restricted to house fellowship for fear of Boko Haram attack. Unconfirmed
statistics are that over 2000 civilians have been murdered and 10,000 injured.
Schoolchildren are kidnapped on a daily basis. The kidnapping of over 250 girls
in Chibok village in April paints a picture of the kind of monster that faces Nigerians – especially Christians – living in the north.
The menace of Boko Haram and other extremist groups in Nigeria is in large
part caused by successive neglect of the need and aspirations of the growing and active population.
The fight against Boko Haram requires not only military troops, but a new
mode of politics where the people believe that they have a stake in society,
where governance is not a birthright or a ladder to unimaginable wealth for people in elected office while the citizens languish in abject poverty.
Nigeria is a society where questions of peace, stability and prosperity are clearly linked to the building of a secular society free of religious zealots. The
larger society of the world will have to play a major role in curtailing the
growing atmosphere of fear, as the Nigerian government has clearly shown
that it does not have the wherewithal to fight off this monstrous
phenomenon.
Please keep the people of Nigeria in your thoughts and prayers. [Editor]
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The Word of the Lord? Glynn Richerby – on behalf of the Worship Committee – explains recent changes to
the announcing and ending of Bible readings in services.
THE PROBLEM with a nice orderly procession
of Bible readings in an act of worship is that
they can completely wash over us. Then, a
concluding trigger phrase such as ‘This is the Word of the Lord’ merely acts as a wake up
call to dutifully respond to with ‘Thanks be to
God’ – and on we go to the next hymn.
Worse than that, readers can easily get into a
muddle about what to say by way of an
introduction and do their own thing by way of a conclusion which can be a distraction from
the actual reading and maybe an irritation to
the hearers.
I shall always remember in my boyhood
hearing someone end a reading from Genesis
with “…for they were both naked” – and adding without a pause ‘Thanks be to God’
causing everyone in church to giggle! A definite
pause after a reading is necessary to let the
message sink in. The trouble with ending
phrases is that tend to deny hearers that necessary pause for reflection.
The Worship Committee – with the agreement of the Parochial Church
Council – has, in recent months, introduced a standardisation for readers of
the Bible during our services. The announcement is kept as simple as possible. For example: ‘A reading from the book of Genesis.’ or ‘A reading from the
first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians’. The numbers of chapters and verses
are not announced. For anyone wants to know, this information is always
printed in the weekly leaflet. At services of Holy Communion there is a significant pause at the end of the reading, followed by ‘For the word of the
Lord’ (avoiding the highly questionable assertion of ‘This is the word of the
Lord’) to which hearers may respond with ‘Thanks be to God’.
At services of Evensong, there is a simple announcement of the reading and at
the end no concluding phrase, but instead a significant pause in which
everyone can reflect on the passage, before the reader leaves the lectern.
13
Calendar of Services and Events
SEPTEMBER
2 Tuesday 07.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
4 Thursday 10.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Jane Sharp
7 Sunday 12 AFTER TRINITY
08.30 Holy Communion (BCP) Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
10.30 Sung Eucharist Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
Preacher: Anthony Green 18.30 Choral Evensong Preacher: Glynn Richerby
9 Tuesday 07.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
19.30 Parochial Church Council in the Ashman Music Room
10 Wednesday 14.15 Holy Communion with Good Companions in the Hall 11 Thursday 10.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
13 Saturday 10.00 – 18.00 CHURCH OPEN DAY
to welcome all taking part in the annual sponsored ‘Ride and Stride’ event 11.30 Architecture Tour of the Church
13.00 Organ Recital
14 Sunday HOLY CROSS DAY Racial Justice Sunday 08.30 Holy Communion Celebrant: Jane Sharp
10.30 Sung Eucharist Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
Preacher: Angela Jagger
18.30 Evensong Preacher: Glynn Richerby
16 Tuesday 07.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
18 Thursday 10.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Jane Sharp
20 Saturday 17.30 Flower Guild Supper
at the home of John & Barbara Raven
21 Sunday MATTHEW Apostle & Evangelist 08.30 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
10.30 Battle of Britain Service Preacher: Glynn Richerby 18.30 Sung Eucharist (Book of Common Prayer)
Celebrant & Preacher: Glynn Richerby
23 Tuesday 07.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
24 Wednesday Centenary of the Dedication of our completed Church
25 Thursday 10.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
19.30 Concert by the St James Baroque Soloists with the
Amicable & Friendly Society
14
SEPTEMBER continued
28 Sunday St MICHAEL & ALL ANGELS Centenary of the completion of St James the Greater
08.30 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby 10.30 Sung Eucharist Celebrant: Jane Sharp Preacher: Glynn Richerby
18.30 Choral Evensong
to mark the centenary of the completion of St James the Greater,
the 50th anniversary of the LeicesterShire Historic Churches Trust
and the 25th anniversary of RIDE+STRIDE
Preacher: Bishop Thomas McMahon, RC Bishop of Brentwood
and a Vice President of the National Churches Trust
30 Tuesday 07.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
OCTOBER 1 Wednesday Friends of St James the Greater trip to Coventry
– see further details in the weekly leaflet
14.15 Holy Communion with Good Companions in the Hall
2 Thursday 10.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Jane Sharp
GIFT DAY
Saturday, 4 October 2014 Gifts received by the Vicar in the church for the church fabric repair fund
10.00 am - 2.00 pm
or placed in the collection plate at services the next day
5 Sunday HARVEST THANKSGIVING with thanksgiving for time, talents and money given to the church
08.30 Holy Communion (BCP) Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
10.30 Sung Eucharist Celebrant & Preacher: Glynn Richerby
18.30 Evensong Preacher: Glynn Richerby
7 Tuesday 07.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby 9 Thursday 10.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
10 Friday 19.30 Leicester Theological Society at Holy Cross Centre,
Wellington Street. Mark, the Controlling Gospel
Fr Neil Ferguson OP – Lecturer in Scripture, Oxford
12 Sunday 17 AFTER TRINITY
08.30 Holy Communion Celebrant: Jane Sharp
10.30 Sung Eucharist Celebrant & Preacher Glynn Richerby
18.30 Choral Evensong Preacher: Angela Jagger
15
OCTOBER continued
14 Tuesday 07.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby 16 Thursday 10.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Jane Sharp
17 Friday 19.30 Concert by the Boyan Ensemble of Kiev
18 Saturday St Luke the Evangelist Commissioning of David Brunning as a Reader at Leicester
Cathedral – see weekly leaflet for further details
19 Sunday 18 AFTER TRINITY
08.30 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
10.30 Sung Eucharist Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
Preacher: David Brunning 18.30 Choral Evensong Guest Preacher: Sheila Roberts
21 Tuesday 07.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
23 Thursday 10.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
25 Saturday 10.30 Baptism of Matilda Taylor
Bishop’s Lay Congress Saturday 25 October
09.30 at St Martin’s House
Fully Alive? Being an apprentice of Jesus
To book: [email protected] 0116 261 5317
Clocks go back!
26 Sunday LAST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
Bible Sunday 08.30 Holy Communion Celebrant: David Clark
10.30 Sung Eucharist Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
Preacher: Glynn Richerby
18.30 Evensong Preacher: Glynn Richerby
28 Tuesday 07.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby 19.30 Standing Committee meets in the Vicarage
30 Thursday 10.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Jane Sharp
NOVEMBER
2 Sunday ALL SAINTS’ SUNDAY
08.30 Holy Communion (BCP) Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
10.30 Requiem Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
Preacher: Jane Sharp
18.30 Evensong Preacher: Glynn Richerby 4 Tuesday 08.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
16
NOVEMBER continued
5 Wednesday 14.15 Holy Communion with Good Companions in the Hall 6 Thursday 10.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
9 Sunday 3 BEFORE ADVENT Remembrance Sunday
08.30 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby 10.45 Service of Remembrance
Preacher: Glynn Richerby
18.30 Sung Eucharist (Book of Common Prayer)
Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
Preacher: David Clark 11 Tuesday 08.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
13 Thursday 10.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Jane Sharp
19.45 Parochial Church Council in the Ashman Music Room
14 Friday 19.30 Leicester Theological Society at Holy Cross Centre, Wellington Street. God’s Mission – in a land of many faiths
Bishop Michael Ipgrave – Bishop of Woolwich
16 Sunday 2 BEFORE ADVENT
Prisons Week National Interfaith Week 08.30 Holy Communion Celebrant: Jane Sharp
10.30 Sung Eucharist Celebrant: Derek Hole
Preacher: David Brunning
18.30 Choral Evensong Preacher: Angela Jagger 18 Tuesday 08.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
19.15 Stewardship Meeting
20 Thursday 10.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
21 Friday 19.30 Grand Auction in aid of the Church Repair Fund
23 Sunday CHRIST THE KING Sunday next before Advent
08.30 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
10.30 Sung Eucharist Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
Preacher: David Clark
18.30 Choral Evensong Preacher: Glynn Richerby 25 Tuesday 08.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
27 Thursday 10.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Jane Sharp
29 Saturday 19.30 Messiah – The Bach Choir & Bach Camerata
30 Sunday ADVENT 1
08.30 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby
10.30 Sung Eucharist Celebrant & Preacher: Jane Sharp
18.30 Advent Carol Service – ‘from darkness to light’
17
Remembrance tide – Coming Home by Glynn Richerby
THE SOLDIER shown in the photo
is one of the lucky ones coming home from Afghanistan. He
evidently has an adoring wife and
daughter to return to. He is not
coming home injured. Hopefully he is not traumatized as so many have
been – some physically and
psychologically maimed for life,
some suicidal. Above all he’s coming
home alive. The UK’s military role in Afghanistan has brought with it a
heavy human toll. Since 2001, 453
members of the Army, RAF, Royal Marines and special forces have lost their
lives. The final pull out from Afghanistan is due by the end of this year. It can’t come too soon for the families of the last to leave.
Also at this time of the year we can in have our minds’ eye scenes that I and my generation onwards only know from grainy black and white photos and
newsreels of the great homecomings of the First and Second World Wars.
Men in uniform waving from the decks of their ships as they pull into port –
thousands waving back. Emotional embraces at the harbour side when lovers,
partners, families are reunited.
Scenes at railway stations –
the dirty smoke from steam
trains filling the platform failing
to dampen the spirits of those reunited with their loved ones.
And on the streets there were
gatherings of hundreds and
thousands of people to greet those returning from war.
Flags flying, bands playing,
handkerchiefs waving – joy all
around. Big homecomings like these still happen in Leicestershire and all
around the country to greet servicemen and women coming home to where they and their families are stationed.
18
Smaller homecomings are just as special too. The first visit of the returning
young serviceman to his beloved grandmother, the sideboard in her flat full of
photographs of that same young man in uniform, and other older photos of other young men in uniform – the grandson’s father and grandfather in their
time of service. The grandmother has spent so much time in her life waiting
for moments such as these – special moments when the doorbell rings and
her heart leaps because the young man in her life has come back home.
Soldiers, sailors, air -men and -women coming home is such a vital part of any
conflict. It can mean that war is over completely. Or it can mean that there's
at least a break, some respite for the family while the loved one is back with
them.
At times the call from ordinary people to governments and military leaders is
'Bring our troops home', when – as now in Afghanistan – we begin to assess
what has actually been achieved and count the cost in the waste of young lives.
At Remembrance tide we particularly recall those who did not come home
from the global wars of the twentieth century, as well as ongoing conflicts of
the early years of this century, where our men and women are involved on the front line. To be buried
with honours is a bitter
homecoming. Worse is to be
buried in some foreign field and never to come home
again. Those to whom this has
happened – those called away
from their homes and jobs to serve their country and who
made the ultimate sacrifice for
the cause of right and justice.
God knows about homecomings. God shares homecomings with us – the
joyful ones, the relieved ones and the bitterly sad ones.
Christians take our example from Jesus who called people away from their
homes and jobs to follow him in a mission for the greatest good – to share
the good news of his kingdom with others. He calls us now to follow him, in just the same way.
And we ask the question – if we follow Jesus and embrace his mission, will there be a homecoming?
19
Jesus said to his friends ‘trust in God’. He was preparing them for his own
death. They were bewildered for he was still a relatively young man, in the
prime of life, and he was not at all unwell. But he knew what was in store and was facing the prospect of his own death with calmness and confidence.
He said to his friends ‘You know where I am going’.
One of those first followers, Thomas, was spokesmen for the rest – and for
anyone who hesitates to accept easy assurances about life beyond death.
Thomas, unable to understand what Jesus was saying, comes out with:
‘We don’t know where you’re going, so how can we know the way?’ John 14.5 Jesus gives Thomas – and all of us – the promise that death is not oblivion but
a home-coming, that we should not be afraid to follow him to new life.
And so, at Remembrance tide, we recall all who have been waited for to make
their return. We commemorate soberly and with due dignity those who
never made the homecoming they and their loved ones so dearly desired.
And, as Christians, we do all this in the hope that all the conflict, all the suffering, all the sadness of the life of the world as we know it and have
known it, that all these things will pass away – that there will be
‘a new heaven and new earth … God will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more … mourning and crying and pain will be no more …’ Revelation 21.1-4
All the homecomings we have known and will ever know in our span of life will be eclipsed by that one great triumphant homecoming. Then we shall
share the joy of eternal life with Jesus and all those who have gone before us
in faith, including those we have known and loved and all whom we remember
with thanksgiving.
Special Services in Remembrance tide
Battle of Britain 74th Anniversary Service of Thanksgiving
Sunday, 21 September at 10.30 am
Attended by RAF Associations and ATC Squadrons
All Souls’ Requiem Sunday, 3 November at 10.30 am
With the music of Gabriel Fauré
Annual Service of Remembrance Sunday, 9 November at 10.45 am
with radio link to the national ceremony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall
20
Cathedrals William Woolley continues his explorations by train
IN RESPONSE to popular request, off I went again. There was no particular
theme this time – just visiting a cathedral when my wanderings took me near one.
Day 1 Most Leicester Anglicans asked to name Roman Catholic cathedrals reply
“Westminster, Liverpool and...er,er... Some
do know that we live in the Roman Catholic
diocese of Nottingham where St Barnabas Cathedral is situated on Derby Road. The
Church of Rome was suppressed in this
country until 1829 so most of their buildings
date from the 19th century and have a lower profile than their Anglican counterparts. The
Architect here was Augustus Pugin who designed many buildings including the
Houses of Parliament. It has been re-ordered and modernised over the years
but retains a coherent feel. Many saints are commemorated with chapels,
statues and stained glass windows.
Day 2 Birmingham is one of the eight cities
with both Anglican and Roman Catholic cathedrals. My train arrived at Snow Hill Station
which is close to the latter so thither I repaired
first. Designed by Pugin, it was the first Roman
Catholic cathedral erected
in England since
the Reformation.
A notable feature
is a 16th century oak statue of St Chad holding
a model of Lichfield Cathedral which is also
dedicated to him.
The (Anglican) Cathedral Church of St Philip is
one with which we should feel an affinity as
Thomas Archer, the architect, took inspiration
from his travels in Italy, especially Venice. The building was consecrated in 1715, enlarged by
21
the addition of a new chancel in 1884 and elevated to cathedral status in 1905.
Four great stained glass windows are prominent features but the whole
architecture is unlike any other cathedral I have visited. The building across the square originally housed the cathedral library, then became a bank and is
now a public house, acting as a useful pit stop on the way to New St station.
Day 3 started with a disappointment. Shrewsbury Cathedral was closed and
the gates locked so it will have to be visited on a later occasion. This did leave
more time for inspecting the interior architecture of Salopian hostelries! The
Cathedral Church of St Mary, Wrexham was open to visitors. Designed by Edward Pugin (son of Augustus) as a parish church, it became a cathedral in
1907. Modifications took place in 1957 and 1966 and the spire (the only one
left in Wrexham) rebuilt in 2007. The style of the interior is described as 13th
Century Gothic or Decorated.
Day 4 Last time I visited Chester
Cathedral they indulged in the doubtless commercially sound but spiritually
questionable practice of charging for
admission. This can be circumvented by
the simple expedient of attending a service so 0945 saw me firmly established in the
nave. The present building was erected
between 1250 and 1538 but most of what
we see today is the result of restorations in Victorian times by prominent
figures such as Gilbert Scott and the ubiquitous Pugin. The last Consistory
Court in the country remains, along with the best preserved monastic
buildings. The west window is another striking feature. I will be returning as
tours of the upper levels, not normally open to the public, are on offer.
A more detailed exposition of this material can be found in ‘England’s
Cathedrals by Train’ by Murray Naylor published by Pen & Sword Books – a
most entertaining and informative read.
Friends of St James the Greater Outing
A VISIT to Coventry Cathedral is being organised for Wednesday, 1
October. Further details will be received by Friends via email. Places
will be available to members of the congregation – see weekly leaflet for
more information.
22
Posters… Sarah Kirby’s project to provide posters for the church porch
I DON’T remember quite whose idea it was,
but Glynn agreed to me creating a series of
new occasional posters for St James. This
provided me with a tangible reason to focus, a
way of linking what I do for a living to this other important part of my life.
I’m a newcomer to the Church and as such
have not attempted to read the whole Bible,
but have had opportunities in the last couple
of years for study by being asked to read a
lesson in services. The given passage provides me with a direction to get to know a small
part of the bigger story. Reading and re-
reading a particular passage presents me with an opportunity to explore and
understand. Often, as I did so, I’ll be conjuring up images which in turn made
it real and memorable to me… in a way the picture in my head cements the
passage and lets other thoughts expand around the picture. I know so little of
the Bible – these give me good starting points.
My work as an artist is often described as ‘illustrative’ but I’m not technically
an illustrator. I’m not often given a brief to complete or a subject to work on
by anyone other than myself. Sometimes this complete freedom about what
picture to make, what to draw, where to start, is daunting – not so much as
what can I do, but how do I choose? How to narrow down the mass of ideas
running around in my head? I’ve got very used following my own ideas – and
am generally reluctant to follow others’ instructions or timetables!
So this presentation or concept of ‘projects’ fits in well with my self-directed
work pattern – but also gives me a re-assurance of a pattern … Having only a responsibility to myself is both fantastic and onerous at the same time – an
overt purpose, a destination, a framework and narrative outside of me is
challenging but can also be helpful…and I’m enjoying it!
I am often prompted by words in the way I find inspiration for images –
whether a short phrase, a line of poetry or a single word. It seems a natural
thing to do to explore this new chapter and aspect of my life so built around a book – a great text and unending story – by making pictures of it!
23
The suggestion was that I begin by
working around the season or festival
days. I’ve done a few already this year to chime in with Lent, Easter, Pentecost and
now St James. If Glynn lets me carry on
(!), I hope to continue and be able to
include seemingly random or less
important days, dates or events as the
years go on as well. As I become familiar
with the pattern of the church certain
words get repeated, psalms sung again and
the rhythm of worship begins to be part of my daily, weekly and yearly cycle.
Some of you may already know my work
in other contexts. Starting these posters
has coincided with my own exploring of
other ways of working. I am
predominantly a printmaker – I work mostly in linocut, but I have also been
increasingly involving collage. Again, this has given me a freedom to work in a
different medium – which I relish.
The original artwork is much smaller than the poster you see. When I
complete each piece I have it digitally scanned and printed in a large format.
I’m trying to give Annabel a disc of this
scan for her computer as a few people
have requested copies for themselves.
The Church office has a good quality
printer and can produce an A4 version
for your own notice board if you would like one.
It is also so lovely for me to hear people’s
responses. But I don’t mean this to be an
invitation to tell me you like them – tell
me if you don’t too!
But also tell me if you have a different
vision or invite me to think about a
different set of words – a particular well-loved or meaningful prayer, a line of text,
or a special day of the year.
24
Obituaries Cathleen Ruth Doncaster Wood
died 9 June 2014 aged 78
In recent time, Cathleen has been known as the
‘litter lady’ of Evington Village – setting out on a
daily clear-up and inspiring others to take a
greater pride in their locality. For nearly 20 years, Cathleen taught RE at Judge Meadow
School. She became a worshipper at St James the
Greater at a time when she was exploring
contemplative prayer – finding the ordered
worship and music particularly helpful.
Cathleen was born in Selly Oak, Birmingham, the eldest of five children, her father a Methodist minister, her mother a Cambridge graduate. Shortly after
she was born the family moved to Secunderabad in India, when her father
took up a position with the Methodist Missionary Society. At the age of 13
Cathleen returned to England to board at Hunmanby Hall Methodist School in
Yorkshire where she became head girl. She went on to St Andrew’s
University to study history followed by teacher training in Oxford and began
her teaching career in Bristol before moving to Wolverhampton. It was there
she got involved with the Community of Prayer and Action led by David Wood who was at that time Vicar of St George’s – the church providing a
community of care to men who were in any kind of need. Cathleen became an
affiliated member of the community, running a house for women in need.
After David and Cathleen were married they left the Community and took on
a farm in Herefordshire, before David became warden of an ecumenical
project designed to nurture the spiritual life of the community of Killingworth,
a new town near Newcastle. Rachel was born in 1971. Three years later Cathleen and David separated and Cathleen and Rachel moved to Leicester.
Cathleen had a deep and wide spirituality. She enjoyed study and led an
evening class on prayer – a first for the evening class curriculum. She was an
active member of the Christian-Muslim Women’s Dialogue Group and very
involved in the Quiet Gardens movement. She became an oblate at the
Community of the Holy Cross in Costock. She was a good friend to many,
offering strength and support through her gifts for listening, prayer and letter-
writing. After a protracted and painful time of living with leukaemia, Cathleen
approached death with truly inspiring serenity, openness and honesty.
25
Gillean Mary Cherill Russell
died 11 June 2014 aged 76
With the onset of her final illness nearly a year ago, Gill knew her condition was
terminal. She was not morbid about this –
far from it. In a note to the congregation
last August, Gill wrote
“Thank you so much for all the kind messages … the next part of my journey is
both challenging and – in a strange way –
exciting.” Gill’s hope and prayer was that
the end would come quickly. In the event she was a long time dying.
Gill grew up in Crewkerne, rural Somerset – where her father was a teacher. She left school aged 16 and eventually decided to be a physiotherapist. After
training at St Thomas’s Hospital, Gill remained in London until 1974 apart
from 2 years working in a government hospital in Tanzania. Becoming more
interested in what makes a person ‘tick’ than how their body works Gill
trained for 5 years as a counsellor and psychotherapist at the Westminster
Pastoral Foundation.
Illness with ovarian cancer changed the course of Gill’s life. She went to work
as the Administrator of the Retreat Association. After 5 years, Gill fulfilled a
strong desire to work in a retreat house by moving to Launde Abbey to be
sub warden, working initially with Henry Evans. In 1994 when Graham
Johnson had settled in as Warden she decided to move out and see if she could live by listening to people, renting a room at St James’ for counselling.
Very many people have been enormously helped by Gill’s wise counsel and
supported by her prayers to be released from the effects of harm or
disappointment and to come to terms with personal circumstances so as to lead liberated and fulfilled lives – for which they shall be eternally grateful to
her. Changes of career have resulted in Gill attending to people’s needs
successively in terms of body, mind and spirit.
Drawn to the religious life, Gill became an Oblate of the Sisters of the Love of
God at Fairacres from 1999, appreciating their focus on contemplative prayer
in periods of silence. Gill hugely appreciated St James the Greater as a spiritual
home and valued the many friends she made.
At the prospect of dying, Gill said “Wow, what a wonderful time I have had!”
26
Geoffrey George Simpson MBE TD DL
died 29 July 2014 aged 75
“Accentuate the positive” was one of
Geoffrey’s favourite expressions. This was
no less so than when diagnosed with
inoperable cancer. When made very weak
and utterly drained of energy by the side-
effects of treatment Geoffrey said he found
deep serenity.
Born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1938, the
eldest of three boys, Geoffrey attended the
Royal Grammar School before studying Economics at the University of Durham.
For National Service, Geoffrey was given a compassionate posting to Glen
Parva Barracks as his father was very ill. There he spent 18 months teaching
before joining Lloyds bank. In 1971 he married Hilary and returned to
Leicester for his first managerial appointment. He soon became involved at St
James the Greater and in the life in the City and County, making very many
good and faithful friends along the way. As Major Simpson, he rose to be
second in command at the TA headquarters in Ulverscroft Road. Toby was
born in 1972 and christened at St James’. Geoffrey took great delight in Toby’s marriage to Elaine, and in his grand daughters Emily and Felicity.
Geoffrey did two stints as churchwarden of St James the Greater, exercising
upbeat and wise leadership. For a number of years he led the Outreach
Committee. He successfully led a fund raising campaign for an extension onto
the church to provide disabled access to the Undercroft and Church Hall.
Taking the opportunity of an early retirement package at the age of 55,
Geoffrey devoted his time, abundant energy and talents to St James’, to the
Cathedral, to the Red Cross, to Masonic charitable objectives and more
besides. He got things done by motivating other people to enjoy working with
him in seeing through projects until thoroughly accomplished. He was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of the county in 1986 and made an MBE in 2010.
A deeply religious man, his faith was always evident by his words and actions.
The suddenness of Geoffrey’s death came as a shock to us all. Our deepest sympathy goes out to Geoffrey’s mother, brothers, Hilary, Toby and family.
Your love, dear brother, has brought me great joy and much encouragement! You have cheered the hearts of all God’s people. Philemon 1.7
27
Commemorative Flowers
SEPTEMBER Flowers given by:
7th David Goddard in memory of Niccola
Altar Frontal
Vicky Roe
14th The Finn Family in memory of Vera & Verrall Clark
21st Rosemary Freer
28th Derick Horsfall in memory of Pam
OCTOBER
5th HARVEST 12th Lindy Forbes in memory of her parents
Pamela and Frank Hiles
Altar Frontal
Rachel Chizema in memory of her father
19th Kathleen Sowman in memory of Bill
26th Pat & Peter Ireson
in memory of The Reverend John Ireson – husband & father NOVEMBER
2nd Iain & Sue Davidson in memory of Tom & Cathie Davidson
9th REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY
16th Rosemary Lowe in memory of John
23rd Peter Durham & Jo Wood
in loving memory of Suzanne Durham greatly missed wife & mother
Lady Chapel
Henry Evans in memory of Ruth Evans
30th ADVENT
28
What’s on ... SUNDAYS
Sunday Club in school term time 10.30 Large Hall
Contact Mrs Jo Stapleton 39 Craighill Road, Leicester LE2 3FD 270 2001 WEDNESDAYS
Good Companions 14.30 Large Hall Leader Mrs Janet Burton 20 Holderness Road, Leicester LE4 2LP 0751 035 3097
SJ2 – Under 14s’ Youth Club 19.15 – 20.45 Undercroft Leader Mr John Raven 291 London Road, Leicester LE2 3ND 270 7591
THURSDAYS
Coffee Drop-in 10.45 – 11.30 Large Hall Organiser Mrs Doris Makepeace 7 Bransdale Road, Wigston, Leicester LE18 1XU 288 5315
St James’ Singers 19.45 alternate Thursdays Ashman Music Room Director Mr Michael Rule 99 Ratby Road, Groby, Leicester LE6 0GF 0787 530 5296
Scouts Beaver Scouts 17.30 – 18.30 Cub Scouts 18.30 – 20.00 Scouts 19.30 Undercroft Leaders Mr Tony & Mrs Alison Hurst 30 Repton Road, Wigston, Leicester LE18 1GB 288 9457
FRIDAYS
Boys’ Choir & Girls’ Choir Practices 18.00 Full Choir Practice 19.30 Ashman Music Room Director Mr Matthew Haynes 44 Conaglen Road, Aylestone, Leicester LE2 8LD 0788 576 0364
SATURDAYS Stop-by Project for the homeless 11.00 – 14.00 Undercroft
Coordinator Salma Ravat Contact through Church Office 254 2111
Who’s who … Ministry Team – see inside front cover
Churchwardens Miss Julia Walker 3 Paddock Close, Oadby, Leicester LE2 5GG 271 9347
Mr Michael Bull MBE 15 Dore Road, Leicester, LE5 5HG 220 1581
Deputy Wardens Dr Tony Bentley Contact through Church Office 254 2111
Mrs Angela Hefford 15 Southernhay Road, Leicester LE2 3TN 270 6060 Mrs Margaret Terry 26 Woodbank Road, Leicester LE2 3YQ 288 3668
Mr Keith Vaughan Stretton Cottage, Great Stretton, Leicester LE2 2FR 259 2524
PCC Secretary
Mr Philip Jones 52 Carisbrooke Road, Mountsorrel, LE12 7BR 237 4894
Church Administrator & Hall Booking Secretary Mrs Annabel Cowley Church Office, St James Hall, St James Terrace, LE2 1NA 254 2111
Treasurer & Gift Aid Secretary Mr John Sharp Orchard House, 15 Orchard Lane, Great Glen, LE8 9GJ 259 2758
Chairman, Stewardship Committee
Mrs Pam Spokes 7 The Albany, London Road, Leicester LE2 1RH 270 4710
Director of Music
Mr Matthew Haynes 44 Conaglen Road, Aylestone, Leicester LE2 8LD 0788 576 0364 Organist & Associate Director of Music
Mr Michael Rule 99 Ratby Road, Groby, Leicester LE6 0GF 0787 530 5296 Assistant Organist Ms Roxanne Summerfield
Head Servers
Mr John & Mrs Angela Finn 4 Colne Close, Oadby, Leicester LE2 4GA 292 9562 Flower Guild Co-ordinator including commemorative flowers
Miss Julia Walker 3 Paddock Close, Oadby, Leicester LE2 5GG 271 9347 Child Protection Officer Vicky Roe 4 St James’s Terrace, LE2 1NA 255 2108
Vulnerable Adult Officer Ms Maggie Weller Contact through Church Office 254 2111