Holiday in Barnet [must] be the fullest expression of our own genuine
THE OPEN DOOR
On Easter Saturday I journeyed to Barnet, the church of St.
John the Baptist, to study some stained glass by the Victorian
artist, Henry Holiday. As I explained in the Epiphany edition of
The Open Door, one of his windows used to grace our church
until it was destroyed in the Blitz. All that remains is a handful
of shards, set during post-War reconstruction into three roun-
dels behind the organ console.
The visit surpassed all my expectations. Not only did I find a
magnificent series of Holiday windows depicting the twelve
Apostles but also, in the north aisle, a delightful portrayal of
Our Lord teaching three children. “FOR OF SUCH IS THE KING-
DOM OF HEAVEN”, the caption reads. Very probably this win-
dow too was designed by Holiday. One of a pair, its partner
was dedicated in 1887 by “pupils and friends” to Hannah Ste-
vens, perhaps a Sunday School teacher at the church, who
lived to the age of ninety.
There are many similarities to the St. Mary’s roundels. How
many can you detect? The white flowers, with luscious green
foliage, the expressive faces and the gold-embroidered robes
(outlined with white squares on the photographs) are just
some of the most obvious. We know that our window, which
was dedicated just seven years earlier, in 1880, had the same
subject: Christ blessing the children.
These would have been modest commissions for an artist
whose work included the Brunel memorial window in Westmin-
ster Abbey. Yet still we see drawing of high quality and loving
commitment to the subject. In the 1880s such paintings would
have seemed thoroughly modern, a reaction to the medieval
pastiches produced by some contemporary workshops. In his
book, Stained Glass as an Art, Holiday insisted that “our work
thought and feeling, in the best language at our com-
mand”.
Fiona’s Charity Skydive
On Sunday 25th April I jumped out of a plane, 13,000
feet above Bicester, Oxfordshire, to raise money for
Teenage Cancer Trust (www.teenagecancertrust.org).
It was the most amazing experience of my life and, on
top of that, I have been able to raise lots of money for
a really worthy cause.
I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone at St.
Mary’s who has sponsored and supported me. Alto-
gether, you have pledged over £400. Your support has
been phenomenal. Thank you.
Out of sight
Fiona Grew
Ascensiontide for those who support real football
A
teams often provides an opportunity for comments
about ascending or descending from various leagues –
in the latter case it is maybe the time to draw a veil
over the horrors of the preceding season. There are
times when being out of sight is a good thing. When
we move on from some disastrous experience or situa-
tion we might hope to put it out of sight and out of
S
C
mind, forgetting what is painful or embarrassing. But
what seems helpful at one time becomes a problem at
another. A lot of our fear of letting go of people,
places or experiences is that they will then be forgot-
E
ten, or that we will be forgotten. “Keep in touch!” we
might demand anxiously or we might hoard memora-
bilia.
Letting go should not be about forgetting. If we think
about the way we develop and grow, and the way we
live we see that we need space and movement in our
N
S
lives. We need to remember who we are and where
One of the most pleasant aspects of this project is the
we came from but we cannot remain fixed in one
conversation it engenders. Sheila Whittington told me place.
about the night when the church was bombed; Gladys
I
Vendy reminded me of the Brunel window; and Revd. At the Ascension Jesus leaves his followers to live in
Joanna Yates – a former curate of St. Mary’s, who has the presence of God. It is a bodily thing, not because
recently returned from a post in Leeds – has shared with heaven is physically “up” but because it is part of Je-
O
me her enthusiasm for Henry Holiday’s work. But still I sus’ very being that his body is not simply discarded
am searching for someone who remembers and can de- and forgotten as if the incarnation were just a passing
scribe our window. Perhaps the present photos will jog a phase of his life. Jesus ascends into the eternal pres-
ence of God remembering us. He is our advocate and
memory.
N
there is, in a mysterious way, humanity at the heart of
God.
Francis Grew
Before the battle of Edgehill Sir Jacob Astley prayed,
Dates for your Diary “O Lord, thou knowest how busy I must be this day; if
2
Pentecost 23rd May I forget thee, do not thou forget me”. Through the
Trinity Sunday 30th May Ascension we are given the freedom to grow but we
are assured that we are never forgotten but remem-
Healing Discussion 6th June 3-5pm
0
bered and held in the presence of God’s love for ever.
St Albans Pilgrimage 19th June
Children and Communion 20th June 10am Philip
Concert 26th June 6pm The Rectory
1
Parish BBQ 18th July
Summer Refreshment 8th August 6pm ISSUE 5 50p
Patronal Festival 12th September
 Community Views
Reader’s Writings Rector The Revd. Philip Davison
What is the Finchley Society? The Rectory, Rectory Close,
I have been reading a book entitled Is God still an Englishman? which contains some interesting bits. One thing, in Finchley, N3 1TS Tel: 8346 4600
particular, struck a chord with me as I have been musing about the news that the Foreign Office was seriously consid- Our Society exists because the people of Finchley Email: rector@stmaryatfinchley.org.uk
ering arranging for the Pope’s visit this year to include visits to an abortion clinic and a condom manufacturer. and Friern Barnet enjoy living here and want to Readers
have some influence in the way that the area is George Lunn Tel: 8346 6025
Cole Moreton, the journalist who wrote Is God... went to the funeral of Jade Goody, the late Big Brother winner who appreciated and cared for. Christopher Wheeler 07952 592 139
became infamous for her lifestyle and famous for her way of death, when she died of cancer. He said that her Angli- Nigel Wildish 8445 3849
can funeral was curiously received by Jade’s adoring crowds. He said that when the churchy bits were introduced, the We have members who sift through the many Church Wardens
crowd switched off and failed to engage with the ceremony. They did this, not out of disrespect, but out of ignorance planning applications made each month to the
and detachment. Basically, he said, they weren’t involved and they couldn’t relate to it, except that the short and
Patricia Bagster 8349 0201
local authority. They may oppose a certain devel-
focused sermon, preached by a female vicar who perhaps made the crowd comfortable in a Vicar-of-Dibley sort of Francis Grew 8343 3064
opment if it appears to be detrimental to the local
way, was well received. scene. Administrator
Yulia Pasiuk 8248 3818
I think the same happened with the Foreign Office. They understood so little about what the Pope stands for, that Others promote the cultural heritage of Finchley The Parish Office
they thought it would be appropriate to challenge him with a few things which he found ‘difficult’. Again, in some re- and Friern Barnet. We celebrate the landmark fea- 26 Hendon Lane, Finchley N3 1TR
cent court cases involving Christians who have acted according to their beliefs, whether it is to wear a cross or offer tures of the area by installing information panels, Email: administrator@stmaryatfinchley.org.uk
to pray for people, Christians have not been understood. Officials they deal with just don’t follow the meaning of for example the one at St. Mary's itself and at Office open Monday to Friday 9.30am - 12.30pm
these gestures and the conviction and love with which they are shown. "The Naked Lady" at Henlys Corner. We have
erected plaques to mark the former sites of St. Organisations at St. Mary-at-Finchley
This is a problem for all of us. It seems that many people in society just don’t understand what we are up to. We Mary's Primary School, the toll-gate near The
know that they don’t know our scriptures and hymns any more, but we now need to remember that they know very Queen's Head, and the former home of Spike
little about us. Taking that with society’s natural scepticism with all in authority, our Church, the established church, is Organisation Contact name Telephone
Milligan in Holden Road.
disappearing more and more from the consciousness of our society. Bellringers Polly Harman 8446 1797
We promote an appreciation of the local scene so Business Group Pam Walker 8346 4448
We are Easter people, remembering the excitement of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. At this time in particular, we that people may enjoy, for example, the charm Children's Drama
can demonstrate our convictions to defeat this ignorance. We should not be ashamed of our work with babies and peace of the grounds of Avenue House, of Group (SMUDGE) Jane Sexton 8349 9873
(baptisms), the sick (especially in hospitals and hospices) and the dying and bereaved. At these times, people lose Finchley Village, and of Brookside Walk. We en- Choir and Junior Choir Alison Fisher 8349 0824
their cynicism and we have a chance to show them what faith offers us. We are involved in education, through our courage local people to call the area around St. Church Administrator Yulia Pasiuk 8248 3818
Church schools. Up and down the country, people of all religions and none want to send their children to them. We Mary's "Finchley Church End" and NOT "Finchley Coffee Team John Huckstep 8346 6293
work with the homeless, through our Winter Shelter project and in other ways, and provide real comfort to people at Central" which is, after all, just a station on the Cubs & Beavers Peter Blayney 3138 2383
vulnerable times. Northern Line. Flowers Janet Copping 8446 4214
In these times of economic difficulty, we will have plenty of opportunities to demonstrate our willingness to help oth- Hall Caretaker Pam Leahy 8346 2141
We hold monthly meetings and enjoy a variety of
ers and show our faith in action. talks. We publish a Newsletter every two months. Junior Church Debbie Salman 8346 1752
In 2011 we shall be celebrating the 40th anniver- Ladies Inter-Church
Nigel Wildish sary of our formation by Jean Scott. It's never too Luncheon Club Gladys Vendy 8446 2907
late to join us! www.finchleysociety.org.uk Pastoral Group George Lunn 8346 6025
REGULAR SERVICES PCC Secretary Sally Prescott 8346 7034
Copy for the Patronal edition of the Open Door David Smith, Chairman.
Sundays Rainbows Polly Harman 8446 1797
8.00am Holy Communion Order 2 should be sent to the Rector by 1st September Servers Mike Nolan 8346 3958
10.00am Parish Eucharist Order 1 St. Mary's Women’s
Avenue (Freston Towers).
Junior Church in the halls Football Team Debbie Salman 8346 1752
Mary Poppins is a weather-vane above 5 Hendon
So What’s New?
6.00pm Evening Service
vane over the tower.
Treasurer (Church) Jeff Nettleton 8349 2955
Last month, St. Mary’s purchased the portion of the Blue
The highest thing to be seen is the gilded weather-
(Stewardship) John Hartley 8349 4521
Weekdays Beetle formerly leased from Finchley Charities. The Church
Outside:-
roof-boss. (Hall) June Bell 8346 8761
now owns the whole building. It is planned that work to
Time With God Tuesday 1.15pm Youth Club (GIG) Elvi Piper 8349 9873
renovate the building will be carried out over the summer
8. Mahatma Gandhi: another outer south aisle
Holy Communion Order 2 Wednesday 11.00am period.
blems of war) above the arch over the lectern.
Order 1 Thursday 7.30am
7. Drum: in the Searle Memorial (among other em-
Morning Prayer Monday to Friday 9.00am Francis Grew was elected Churchwarden on 25 April.
6. Mermaid: another outer south aisle roof-boss.
Evening Prayer Monday to Thursday 5.00pm Francis replaces John Hartley who has completed the maxi-
5. Lion: a roof-boss in the outer south aisle.
above.
mum term of six successive years in office. Pat Bagster has
The church is open 9am to 5pm every day one more year to serve as a Warden.
4. Sponge: at the foot of the green cross, as 3
the Chantry Chapel.
3. Green Cross: in the Ridley Memorial window in
Christian Healing Mission — North London Link Centre dow, above the door to the office and vestries.
2. Owl: at the top of the Oldham Memorial win-
Members of St. Mary’s church may like to know that the North London Link Centre of the Christian Healing Mission (based the West Door and the Toddlers’ Corner.
in Hammersmith) is moving from Christchurch to St. Mary-at-Finchley from Thursday 20th May 2010. 1. Lamb: in the Atkins Memorial window, between
Opportunities to receive prayer for healing, or for any other need, will be available at St. Mary’s on Thursday evenings Inside the church:-
between 7 and 8pm, and on the last Saturday of the month between 11am and 1pm. The CHM link centre is supported by Answers
the Prayer Ministry team at St. Mary’s, and by many other churches and denominations in the North London area. If you
would like any further information, please speak to the Rector or to Gordon Kirkwood. The Big Brew 2010 at the Hundred Aker Wood
 William Seward F.R.S (1747-1799)
On the South wall of church, just to the right of the main
entrance, is a memorial to William Seward F.R.S. It was
the F.R.S (Fellow of the Royal Society) that intrigued me
since this eminent Society admits only a handful of elected
Fellows each year, and at the end of the eighteenth cen-
tury included names such as Edward Jenner, Antoine Le-
voisier and James Watt. So what was William Seward’s
claim to fame? Was he a noted astronomer, engineer or
alchemist? Well, not exactly. A little research has revealed
that he was in fact a noted anecdotalist.
Born the son of a wealthy brewer of the firm Calvert and
Seward, William spent his adult life amongst the social
elite in London. He is featured in Madame D’Arblay’s Diary
and Boswell’s Life of Johnson where Johnson refers to him
as “a great favourite at Streatham”. Indeed, Boswell in-
cludes in a footnote ‘William Seward, Esq. Well known to a
numerous and valuable acquaintance for his literature,
love of the fine arts, and social virtues. I am indebted to
him for several communications concerning Johnson’.
For many years Seward wrote for the monthly European
Magazine and London Review, which was dedicated to the
mission of bringing to its readers “the literature, history,
politics, arts, manners and amusements of the age”. He
contributed a series of 118 monthly columns under the
wonderful title Drossiana, which was sub-titled Anecdotes
of illustrious and extraordinary persons, perhaps not gen-
erally known. His major literary works were four volumes
of Anecdotes of some distinguished persons, chiefly of the
present and two preceding centuries. He is the source of
one of Samuel Johnson’s most famous quotes “What is
written without effort is in general read without pleasure”.
If he were alive today I am sure William Seward would be
a popular contributor to newspapers and magazines and
regularly seen on television quiz and chat shows, but I am
not convinced that he would have been elected as a
Fellow of today’s Royal Society!
John Hartley
By the end of term, the whole theological college was tired
of being served salad for dinner. A gentle request was
pinned up: “By all means lettuce have lettuce, but less
lettuce, lettuce pray.”
Looking Inside GIG: St. Mary’s Youth Club
How much do you know about what is inside our GIG has now been in existence for a whole year! How
church? There are windows, plaques, carvings… quickly time flies when you are kicking a ball around or
“shooting hoops” or possibly creating a “pet-rock farm”. If
Where can the following be found? none of this makes sense to you, that is because, in the
1. A lamb world of GIG, you have to think like a twelve or thirteen
2. An owl year old. Believe me that way of thinking rubs off on you!
3. A green cross Ask anyone who has spent a Friday evening with us.
4. A sponge
5. A lion The name “GIG” was coined by a young member as stand-
6. A mermaid ing for “Growth in God”, but one could be forgiven for as-
7. A drum suming it stood for perhaps “Giggling in Groups”. Whether
8. Mahatma Gandhi any of the membership remember the actual origins of the
club’s title, it now certainly stands for fun and friendship
A look outside and noise and activity, supported by the community of St.
Mary’s. I like the name, as it conjures up a picture of a
What is the highest thing to be seen on the church? lively festival or “gig”, with all the energy and enthusiasm
And a bit further—NOT on the church—from St the young bring to any activity they enjoy.
Mary’s turn right into Hendon Lane … walk a bit
The ethos of the club is, in my opinion, every inch the
further, and:
Christian ethos in that it is a caring community who can
On a house in an Avenue quite nearby
overcome any problems, which inevitably occur, by
Above a grey turret, high in the sky,
thought and growing in understanding of the needs of oth-
Moving as the winds pass by
ers. You may not necessarily see that immediately if you
Mary Poppins and her umbrella fly—
saw the wild activity and exhausted collapsing into giant
Weather-reporting
beanbags which goes on, but I like to think that if you
Where and what is it?
spent some time with the members and got to know their
likes, dislikes and passions you would see that in GIG they
On Hawley Common have a place to grow as young people. In the club we
regularly ask members for their ideas and needs regarding
I did not seek the parakeet equipment and activities. This, I believe, gives them both
Who there, beyond the sunlit beech a sense of ownership of their club and responsibility for
Where we, unmindful, chanced to meet, all that goes on there. Enthusiasms sometimes have to be
Did launch a wild, intemperate screech. curbed and relationships may need a little help from time
to time, but that’s the same for all of us in the Church
Into a thicket he flew Community. At GIG fun is at the heart, tempered with a
From which escaped a rustling sound; few key rules: kindness, understanding and forgiveness of
I, from the following stillness, knew others.
That he had closeted his ground.
This week we welcomed some new members and swelled
Dark vitreous green defined his breast to 28 in total. We now have 44 names on the books and a
And undulating was his flight, regular attendance of between 18 and 25. I have to say I
To many, an unwanted pest thoroughly enjoy myself as do the other leaders. I see my
But here, a brief and rare delight. role as being somewhere between “crowd control” and the
one who attempts to be “everywhere”. GIG is run on a
Ian Rendall voluntary basis and, apart from the original set-up costs
Head Choirboy at St. Mary-at-Finchley in the 1940’s and generous donations from the parish, is self-funding.
Still singing in a choir in Norfolk Year One has been amazing. Roll on Year Two!
I would like also to give my thanks to all parents who have
given their time to help us on a sessional basis. GIG relies
It is fifty years
on parents volunteering to help us on a termly basis. Many
since our church
parents have helped us three or four times already and we
hall was dedicated.
would ask others to sign up for their selected sessions. I
cannot finish this letter without giving my heartfelt thanks
Have you got any
to our regular team of Paul, the master of the workings
pictures or other
and wonders of St Mary’s Hall; Mary, who runs a tight ship
memorabilia we
both in the tuck shop and under the stage; Joyce, the club
could use in a
secretary and record keeper who valiantly heads the odd
small exhibition?
football which comes her way; Ciaran, a man of few words
but many and various skills; Elvi, who set the whole club
If so please contact
in motion and gave it its character; and Lesley, the Queen
the Rector
of the Beanbags! We must not forget the Leahys, who are
very patient with the hard wear we inflict on their well-
managed hall. Each of these and the parents are an
important cog in the workings of GIG, the St. Mary’s
Youth Club.
Jane Piper Sexton
The Music Vestry Door
We sang a phrase, and the sound went up … and on …
and on … and on ….. Where was I? In St. Paul’s Cathe-
dral, as a member of the Diocesan Choir. This choir
comes into being twice a year to sing at a service while
the famous St. Paul’s choir is in recess. Anyone who
sings in a church choir in the Diocese of London can
volunteer, and Sunday 18th April found me, together
with a hundred other singers, singing in a service of
music and readings for the Easter season. The anthems
ranged in time from Scarlatti’s Exultate Deo to Peter
Skellern’s setting of George Herbert’s poem Easter (and
for those of you who know the name, yes, it is the same
Peter Skellern). We had been given a list of the anthems
in advance so that we could familiarise ourselves with
them beforehand (and I discovered what musical re-
sources there are — both scores and recordings — on
the internet).
The choir was conducted by the Music Director of
St .Paul’s, Andrew Carwood. He is a singer himself —
the first Director of Music at St Paul’s since the 12th
century not to be an organist. His understanding of the
voice as well as the music made for an inspiring and
challenging Saturday workshop where we worked on
each anthem. Then on Sunday, we rehearsed in the
cathedral, and became accustomed to the acoustic; you
can’t sing pianissimo in St. Paul’s, you won’t be heard.
Finally, at 3.15, we lined up in the Dean’s aisle (south of
the chancel) and entered in procession, round the con-
gregation seated underneath the dome, and up into the
choir stalls for a truly memorable service. Alison Fisher
tells us in St. Mary’s choir that to sing is to pray twice. I
felt that to sing in St. Paul’s Cathedral is to pray three
times.
Clare Fletcher
Youth Choir members at St. Alban's, Holborn
The most senior of our Youth choir members recently
took part in a training day organised by the RSCM
(Royal School of Church Music). Nicholas Davison and
Thomas Fisher spent a day at St. Alban's church, Hol-
born, learning advanced choral singing skills and then
sang a full choral evensong, attended by family and
friends. The RSCM provides excellent training courses
and learning materials for their member choirs, of which
St. Mary-at-Finchley is one. Nicholas and Thomas are
currently preparing for the Dark Blue level, and then will
go on to the Bronze Award.
Here are their comments about the day:
Nicholas: I really enjoyed the day, it was great being
able to sing with lots of other choristers. I particularly
liked singing Ave Verum by Elgar. Overall I thoroughly
enjoyed the day.
Thomas: It was interesting. I learnt about music, Christi-
anity and team work.
 Reflections from Early Medieval England
In 10th-century Anglo-Saxon England, with St Mary-at-
Finchley already witness to nearly 300 years of change,
a prominent contemporary monk and abbot who became
Archbishop of Canterbury and chief royal adviser whilst
promoting major ecclesiastical reforms and the revival of
monasticism was St. Dunstan (909 - 988). Born near
Glastonbury of West Saxon noble ancestry, educated at
Glastonbury Abbey, and then resident within the house-
hold of his uncle Aethelhelm who was Archbishop of
Canterbury, he served briefly at the royal court before
becoming an ordained Benedictine monk at Glastonbury
where he was appointed abbot around 940.
Apart from transforming Glastonbury Abbey into a
renowned centre of religious teaching, Dunstan became
royal counsellor — and from 946 onwards the chancellor
or chief minister of state — to seven successive kings
from Athelstan to Aethelred II, the first of a long line of
ecclesiastical statesmen. In working for unification, con-
ciliation and reform, Dunstan strove to establish royal
authority whilst pacifying the Danish section of the king-
dom, eradicating paganism, and reforming clergy and
laity. Although his criticisms of king Eadwig of Wessex in
955 precipitated Dunstan’s exile to the Continent for two
years, this enabled him to gain closer familiarisation with
the European monastic reform movement as initiated at
Cluny, before reforming Church and State in England
following his recall in 957 by King Edgar who appointed
him as Bishop of Worcester and of London. After becom-
ing sole king of England in 959, Edgar then appointed
Dunstan as Archbishop of Canterbury in 961.
Revival of enthusiasm for monasticism in England came
only after years of peace following an unsettled period
of Viking invasions. The so-called Tenth-Century Refor-
mation, led by Dunstan with the help of Bishop Aethel-
wold of Winchester and Bishop Oswald of Worcester
(later Archbishop of York), adopted basic principles in-
troduced initially during Athelstan's reign and developed
further by Dunstan after his appointment as Abbot of
Glastonbury. The central purpose and outcome of the
Tenth-Century Reform (duly implemented through the
Regularis Concordia or 'Monastic Agreement’ as promul-
gated at Winchester in 970, with the emphasis on One
Rule and One Country) consisted of introducing the sixth
century Rule of St. Benedict in modified form to English
monasteries, deploying them as the institutional spear-
head for improving the moral, organisational and spiri-
tual standards of the whole Church, emphasising wor-
ship and prayer. Dunstan's sense of mission also spon-
sored missionaries to Scandinavia.
When King Edgar died in 975, Dunstan secured the
crown for Edgar's elder son, St. Edward the Martyr, who
was murdered in 978 and succeeded by Aethelred II.
The latter’s hostility resulted in the abatement of Dun-
stan's public career, for shortly afterwards Dunstan re-
tired to Canterbury to pray, teach and govern his dio-
cese. He continued to teach at Canterbury's cathedral
school, was constant in prayer, devoted to scripture,
active in church services and psalms, resuming handi-
crafts and correcting books. Revered by Continental
churches near the Channel coast, he corresponded with
Fleury and the great monasteries of Flanders. His loving,
gentle and conciliatory nature made him quick to discern
the truth, befriend the weak and needy, uphold the laws
of marriage and strengthen the Church. The springtime
anniversaries of his death were long observed by the
English Church. Whilst his historical reputation now rests
mainly on his achievements as an ecclesiastical re-
former, Dunstan was also a profoundly political figure
whose working partnership with the other reformers and
King Edgar was decisively important. The following
prayer is attributed to him: "O Lord; O King, resplendent
on the citadel of heaven, all hail continually...O Christ,
hymned by your…Church throughout the world, to
whom the sun…moon, and stars...land and sea, ever do
service, have mercy…blessed redeemer…supreme dis-
penser of justice...have mercy on us".
John Larkin
My London
Three ancient roads and three boroughs meet
near Waterlow Park and St. Joseph's Church: High-
gate Hill (Islington), Hornsey Lane (Hornsey now
Haringey) and Dartmouth Park Hill (St. Pancras now
Camden).
Born not far away, we walked up Highgate Hill to the
park, passing Dick Whittington's stone and sometimes a
flock of sheep. There was the clanging of trams and the
clip clop of horses pulling heavy carts. "What does that
mean?" I asked my sister, pointing to "NO GRATUITIES"
outside the Infirmary.
I attended the Whittington School for six years, and aged
3-5 was in a nursery class of forty with one lovely
teacher. We were covered with paper when we had a
nap in the afternoon.
We spent many happy hours in the park, sometimes
playing the scary "Dead Man Arise". We would chat with
Algy who was usually in the park; he was a Down's Syn-
drome lad who knew us all by name. Boys collected
acorns for pigs kept by the Fathers at St. Joseph's. One
summer, students from a London Mission organised
games and one hard winter's night we watched skating
on the ponds; chestnuts were roasting on a glowing bra-
zier. Our grandfather was a patient when Edith Cavell
trained nearby at St. Pancras Hospital.
We saw brown-uniformed trainee nannies from the lo- About 10 years ago, St. Mary's began to raise a collec-
cal "Mothercraft" pushing babies in large prams, and tion during Lent for the Butere diocese. We were told
grey men in coarse grey suits and black squeaky boots by Bishop Horace that they were in desperate need of
from the Workhouse in St. John's Road; but we never funds for theological training. So we launched our
saw the workhouse women in the park. Lenten appeal, which has been repeated every year
since. In 2002, we began to support the Revd. Ben
Should it rain, we dashed to shelter in the hall of Lauder- Shikwati. At first he came to stay in our parish for a 3
dale House, passing the fig tree (still there) and the old month visit; then he came to study for an MA. We con-
sundial. "How did Nell Gwynne bathe on that marble slab tinued the support for clergy training, and during our
exhibited there?" we wondered. When invited to tea with pilgrimage of 2004, we saw for ourselves what our
friends, whose park-keeper fathers had flats on the first funds had been used for.
floor, we were in rooms known to Nell Gwynne who had
held her baby out of the window until Charles II called As we have continued to raise money for theological
"Somebody save the Duke of St. Albans!" There was a training every Lent, we have shown our continued
round aviary near the House and we would always go to commitment to the people of Butere. We look forward
see the birds. to renewing our relationships with those people in the
pilgrimage which we are planning for later this year.
Then, walking up the High Street to the Gate House
where once stood the entrance to the Bishop of Lon- Nigel Wildish
don's estate, we passed the site of Andrew Marvell's
house, Pond Square (the pond, created by removal of This year we raised £2968.75 for training in Butere
gravel for the road, having been filled in) and the corn
chandlers where our mother as a child had fallen
through the chute into the cellar.
Retracing our steps, then along Hornsey Lane where
Islington and Hornsey met in the middle — two boroughs
and two road surfaces — and walking quickly past the
"haunted house", we soon came to the Highgate Arch-
way. On fine days the view over London was spectacu-
lar. St. Paul's stood proud then, not dwarfed by office
blocks. On wet days, we would see passengers on the
open-topped trams huddled under the covers provided.
Across the road to look northwards — once we saw
where a tram had fallen into a crater outside St.
Augustine's Church caused by tunnelling to extend the
Northern Line from Highgate (now Archway) Station.
Now 80, I take friends to My London. There are so many
From the Parish Registers
interesting places within walking distance: two Highgate
cemeteries, Parliament Hill Fields, the Highgate ponds
Baptism
where a one-legged man was often to be seen diving
from the top of the diving board, Ken Wood where we 21st February Aderinsola Eleso
21st February Billie Enfys Dean Hylton
used to drink the iron spring water (grinning at each
20th March Emma May Olivia Fuller
other when people filled bottles, for we knew it would
20th March Angel Emubosa Moses-Taiga
soon turn rusty), Highgate Woods, part of the old
20th March Peace Ufuomauefe Moses-Taiga
Middlesex Forest, and Alexandra Palace.
24th April Sofia Rose Snook
Margaret Harris
Confirmation
21st February Mary Jane Savvides
Lent Collections for Training in Butere Jana Nicole Ogunnimo
Fiona Jane Diana Grew
The Diocese of Butere has about 135 churches and Charlene-Elise Anderson
about 45 ordained clergy. The churches can be very Billie Enfys Dean Hylton
spread out in this rural part of Kenya, and as most Aderinsola Eleso
clergy do not have cars, they can't just travel from one
church to another on Sundays, as our rural clergy do. Wedding
Clergy need to be trained in theology and on-the-job. 24th April Oluwadamilola Ojo & Omolara Odusanya
So, we can see the need for lay people to be trained as
church services will often have to be taken by them. Funeral
That is all very expensive, whether some of it happens 26th January Rupert Hamer
outside Butere or not. Recently, Bishop Michael has told 12th February Jean Isobel Parmer
us that our contributions have amounted to one third of 22nd February Margaret Elizabeth Lazarus
the total they have. 6th May Kathleen Marion Williams