July 2010
Church Walls
Now we have had the Narthex painted, it is very important that no one sticks anything to the walls. The lime wash and render are very delicate - blue tack, white tack, sticky tape etc will take the lime wash off the walls and leave a mark.
Please speak to Mandy or the Churchwardens if you would like to put up a sign, notice or poster.
Beans Means...
Lisa Wright’s book “Spilling the Beans - Letters from East Ham Vicarage 1953-1956” is being published this month and she will be giving a preview of her new Edinburgh Fringe show in Southwark Cathedral on Thursday July 1 at 7.00 pm and in St Leonard’s on Sunday July 18 at 3 pm. Lisa will be signing books afterwards. Tickets £7.00 (£5.50 concessions). All welcome.
June 2010
When ere the sweet church bell peals over hill and dell...
On Saturday, 19 June St Leonard’s bells rang out for the first time since the tower was closed on health and safety grounds last October. The mediaeval flint walls are now covered with Rendalath and white rendering, whch gives the ringing chamber a much brighter feel as well as protecting the ringers from crumbling masonry. For the congregation there is the novelty of being able to see the ringers and wave at them through the new window.
The bells themselves are none the worse for their eight months’ rest, just needing to shake off a light dusting of volcanic ash which blew in through the louvres and settled on them a few weeks ago.
There is still work to be done, including installing new halogen lighting and getting the clock going again, but the project will be completed over the next couple of months.
... may Jesus Christ be praised!
Handrail
We finally have a handrail to help those who find steps difficult. You will find it on the north wall.
May 2010
Building Work
The building work is in progress in the Tower and the Narthex. Church activities will continue as normal, but access to the Church during the week continues to be through the south door.
UPDATE - Sunday 13 June
The scaffolding is down and work is expected to be completed on Wednesday.
Repairs to the clock and its conversion to electric winding are scheduled to begin in July. A celebration is planned for the first weekend of October when the entire project will have been completed.
April 2010
Annual Parochial Church Meeting
The Vestry and Annual Parochial Church meetings were held on Sunday 25 April after the 10.00 Eucharist, during which, in a sub-one-minute sermon (surely a record!), the Rector reminded of us of the practical implications of loving one’s neighbour, with reference to both the forthcoming election and the impending meeting. Most of the congregation duly stayed, given the added incentive of a selection of home-made cakes.
At the Vestry Meeting, Mora Heggie and Stephanie Bradley were elected churchwardens, there being no other nominations. Thanks were expressed to Rob Edmondson for his work in this role over the past three years.
Only two of the four vacancies on the PCC were filled, although anyone who feels called belatedly still has the option of being co-opted. The Rector in her report made reference to the spirit of generosity at St Leonard’s, citing a 10% increase in giving despite the recession, the speed with which money was raised for the work on the tower and the welcome experienced by newcomers.
Andrew Hicks, presenting the Treasurer’s report jointly with Robert Owen (“the one who does all the work”), asked people to be honest and raise their hands if five pages of figures caused their eyes to glaze over. A number did so, including the webmaster, though it has to be said that when one steeled oneself to examine the accounts they were extremely well presented. It transpired that the church has an undeclared asset in the form of a case of wine currenly in storage in a well-known outbuilding in Prentis Road, albeit clearly labelled “St L” to forestall inadvertent consumption of the contents.
Agenda, Minutes and Reports | Rector’s Report
March 2010
St John Passion
On Palm Sunday evening, our church choir, augmented by extra singers and joined by guest soloists and a small orchestra including lute, viola de gamba and a beautiful chamber organ borrowed from the BBC, marked the start of Holy Week with a liturgical performance of the St John Passion by J S Bach. This great musical telling of the Passion story is one of the masterworks of Western music, and although often heard in the concert hall is rarely performed as an act of worship. This very moving performance was enjoyed by a large congregation, including a client of the Spires who was heard to express his appreciation in somewhat unliturgical language!
Thanks to Michael Emery who made the whole thing possible by his enormous enthusiasm, expertise and contacts.
[A review by Charles Gibson was published in The Bridge and can also be read here.]
CHURCH TOWER RESTORATION - Update
You will have missed the ringing of the bells as you walk to church each Sunday. You might also have noticed that it’s been a long time since the hands of the church clock moved. However, behind the scenes things are moving to bring the bells and clock back into action.
Amazingly, the bells of St Leonard’s have rung over Streatham for almost 700 years. Our peal are a fine ring of eight bells in the key of G, recast by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry to replace the old bells shattered by the fire which gutted the church in 1975.
The internal mortar of the tower, seriously weakened by the fire, has badly deteriorated over the past 35 years due to the vibration of the bells which causes masonry to fall on the ringers which has made the ringing chamber in the tower unsafe to use. We have to put this right.
And the clock made by Charles Penton of Moorfields in 1779, is still driven by its original weights which have to be wound manually. For health and safety reasons we need to fit an automatic winding system and after 230 years of service renovate some of the original fittings. The aim is to ensure accurate time keeping as well as to preserve this venerable timepiece which is Streatham’s oldest public clock. Estimates for the work, and all the necessary permissions, have been obtained. We now have to gather together funds in the region of £30,000. Already people from St Leonard’s have been generous and £12,000 has been raised towards this target.
We are also pleased that our clock has been nominated by the councillors for Streatham Wells Ward for support from Lambeth’s Local Community Action Fund and we are most grateful for their support with this bid. We have also been successful in gaining support from Viridor Credit, a landfill company.
The next task is to encourage various local organisations and businesses as well as the wider Streatham community to become Supporters, Friends or Patrons of the Tower Appeal:
• Supporters: By making a donation, no matter how small, to the appeal
• Friends: By making a donation of £125
• Patrons: By making a donation of £250+
Friends and Patrons will receive a Certificate of Appreciation and Patrons will have their names recorded on a commemorative plaque to be placed in the bell tower. Those who have already given will be included in this scheme. If you would prefer not to be included please alert John, Alice or Ann (contact details below).
Our sincere thanks to all who have already responded so generously, and set us on the way to achieving the target. If you know of any local organisations, businesses or individuals who might be willing to support our appeal do let Mandy or one of us know. You will find leaflets in the narthex that give more information about the Appeal as well as detailing how you can give.
John Brown, (020 8764 0482) and (020 8764 7706) - Tower Fundraising Team
Click here for more details.
February 2010
Collection for Haiti
The collection for Christian Aid’s relief work in Haiti raised over £1,300. Many thanks to all who gave generously.
Rev’d Michael Hamilton Sharp
Michael was Rector of Streatham from 1973 to 1981. His inspiring and energetic leadership enabled our church to be restored within two years after the Great Fire of May 1975.
On Friday 29 January Michael died peacefully at home in Suffolk of the cancer from which he had suffered for several months. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
On Friday 12 February Michael was laid to rest in the churchyard of St Michael’s, Tunstall in Suffolk, following a moving service at which the church was packed to capacity. Rev’d Geoff Clement officiated with just the right blend of reverence and humour (“Michael loved sprinkling holy water”) and spoke of Michael’s deep and unwavering faith, his encyclopedic knowledge, the encouragement and inspiration which led others into the ministry and the quirky nature that endeared him to so many. Members of St Leonard’s, both past and present, were there and took the opportunity to renew acquaintances over a pint and a sandwich in the Ship at Blaxhall.
Candlemas
The celebration of Candlemas at St Leonard’s began with a Christingle service in the morning. Lisa explained the significance of the Christingle using an extra-large specimen which included an impaled brussels sprout representing the fruits of the North. Unfortunately the candle refused to be lit, despite the ministrations and expertise of the serving team being brought to bear on the matter.
The webmaster is somewhat concerned at the ecological impact of Christingle. He sincerely hopes that everyone took their mutilated orange home, squeezed out the juice thereof and drank it before composting the remainder.
January 2010
Ian Yates
Congratulations to Ian on reaching ‘a significant age’ on Epiphany 3. His birthday sermon can be read here. The offertory hymn “For the healing of the nations” was sung to Ian’s tune Charter and the communion anthem was his setting of “Come, risen Lord” to music by Orlando Gibbons.
The Streatham Faith Trail - Discover your Faith Neighbours
A meeting to mark the launch of a new inter-faith resource for Religious Education - Sunday, 7 February 3 pm - 5 pm at South London Islamic Centre, 8 Mitcham Lane. The meeting will focus particularly on the first three places of worship on the trail: South London Synagogue, St Leonard’s Church and South London Islamic Centre. For further details see the notice in the Narthex.
Children’s Society
Thank you to all the box holders who have given me their Boxes for emptying. We have banked £234.16 from the boxes. If you still have a box and it hasn’t been emptied, please can you give it to me (or Kate or Phil). Also, after Christingle I hope more families will decide to have a box at home (I have ordered plenty of new ones in anticipation).
Sue Heeley
New Eucharistic Prayers
The Liturgical Commission has written two new Eucharistic Prayers for use when large numbers of children are present. St Leonards is one of twenty parishes in the diocese which has been asked to trial these prayers for the next six months. We will be using them at Celebrating Together Services and at School Eucharists. Towards the end of June there will be a meeting to discuss them and give any feed back. In the meantime if you have any comments about them it would be very helpful if you would put them in writing. At the end of June Mandy will be reporting back to the Liturgical Commission on what we thought of them.
First Communion Classes
We will be admitting Children to communion on Easter Day again this year. There will be classes for children who are going to be 7 or over on Easter Day (4 April). If your child is under 7 and you would like them to be admitted to communion please speak to the Rector. Classes will start on the week beginning 17th January. If your child would like to be admitted to communion please fill in the form which can be found in the Narthex and return it to the Rector by 10 January. If you would be interested in helping run the first communion classes Mandy would also be pleased to hear from you.
Christmas Greetings Labels
We were able to give the Spires £170.50.
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