St Mary’s, Walthamstow - 1908 & present day

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 Information & Events

Brochure - Rector’s letter & parish information
Brochure - Schedule of events and updates

“Echo Down the Years”: a musical celebration
London Open House*
Photographic Exhibition & Competition
Team Talk: 900@stmary’s
‘Three Brilliant Comedians: One Great Night’
Walthamstow Parish Prayer Walk - 7 September
230th Anniversary of the first peal at St Mary’s

Guest Preachers:

Revd Joel Edwards, General Director of Evangelical Alliance -
Sunday 21 September: 10.30am

Rt Revd David Hawkins, Bishop of Barking
Harvest Praise
Sunday 28 September: 6.30pm  

… and much more

Regular features

From your editorial team
Deadline for October 2008 issue
On-line with God
Team Talk: 900@stmary’s

Special pieces

Don’t Stop at the Lights
General Synod July 2008
Humour - Nutrition
Humour - Seen on a …
Lambeth Conference: Archbishop’s Pastoral Letter
Lateral Thinkers’ Quiz - questions …
… and answers
Pilgrimage Retreat to Iona
Women bishops get go-ahead

Parish information

Car parking at St Gabriel’s
‘Fresh Expressions’ and Ordained Pioneer Ministry
Friendship Club
Good Life Club
Hi there, the autumn is coming…
Shernhall Street Working Party
Young stuff

(For more information about our staff, services and activities see the bar on the right hand side - click to contact our Parish Office)

*Not in main magazine

Deadline for October 2008 issue

SUNDAY 14 September 2008

On paper to your church Editorial team member, please, or by e-mail to the walthamstow_editors email address.

(Contact details can be found at the bottom of the ABOUT US page)

Welcome message: Zwani.com Myspace Welcome Graphics

Previous issue: July/August 2008

Welcome to this special 900th Anniversary issue of the magazine of the parish of Walthamstow!

No, I haven’t been editing this magazine for nine centuries, though it does feel like that sometimes—just in case you’ve been in another galaxy for the past year, we’re talking about this month’s Festival to celebrate the founding of St Mary’s church in 1108.

You will find the Festival Programme included in this otherwise rather slim edition. Just have a proper look at it: what an exciting and varied programme Dave Baker and his team have organised for us!

In several places elsewhere in this magazine you’ll find detailed information about some of the events for which there just wasn’t space in the programme-from music to photography, and from bell-ringing to stand-up comedy! All are clearly identifiable by the 900@stmary’s logo.

Meanwhile, not everything in this issue harks back to when Walthamstow was little more than a Saxon clearing in Epping Forest! We include features about momentous meetings at the Universities of York and Canterbury. First the General Synod, with much of its time devoted to women bishops, then the Lambeth Conference, which failed to split the Anglican Communion, despite the gloomier prognostications!

At Canterbury, the spotlight fell entirely on the Bishops’ Conference, with the media virtually ignoring the parallel Spouses’ Conference. But we’re hoping a future edition of this magazine might include an account by Carole Hawkins St Mary’s of her own experiences in Canterbury. Your editor was also there, as part of the large staff—paid and volunteer—and may also be setting his own personal reflections on paper for another issue.

Lastly, congratulations to George Rhodes on his recent 90th birthday (26 August).

(Picture: George & Vi at their Diamond wedding celebrations a couple of years ago.)

From: Lou Henderson Editor, Shirley Anstey, Dave Baker, Tony Cant, Ruth Edwards, Khadisha Gerald and Gwyn Williams

Deadline for October 2008 issue

SUNDAY 14 SEPTEMBER 2008

On paper to your church Editorial team member, please, or by e-mail to the walthamstow_editors email address.

(Contact details can be found towards the bottom ABOUT US at the top of this page.)

Return to Index for the Parish of Walthamstow Magazine, September 2008

Welcome to our 900th Celebration edition. But what’s the point of history? Why should we be in the slightest bit interested that Walthamstow has had a Christian presence for at least 900 years? Looking at the map on my wall from 1919 or the photo of Baker’s Arms in 1948 everything has changed in the last 100 years. Over 900 years it has surely become unrecognisable.

If history were just about museums and mausoleums then such thoughts would be spot on. When we look back to glory in a supposed ‘golden age’, or simply because we’re interested, it will only ever have limited appeal. But history is so much more than those things, good as they are.

As we give thanks for 900 years we remember that we are part of a bigger story. Our identity as individuals is not just part of our different human families, but part of a global and eternal family of faith. The recent Lambeth Conference reminds us we’re part of a growing, 75 million strong family of Anglicans across the globe and through history we are linked to billions of men and women who share our faith down the years. We may not know them or see them, but we’re part of the same people. No matter what difficulties we face now, we don’t do so alone and we have the encouragement and example of those who have gone before us. Remembering them strengthens and shapes our identity as Christians.

But also remembering our history reminds us that we’re linked to a succession of events and people and places. These are all facts of how we have got to 2008. We live in an age where many people believe truth is relative, certainty elusive and facts an incidental part of human living and understanding. And, as often happens, when we stop believing in something, especially the facts about Jesus, we start to believe in anything, no matter how mad or bad it may be. But as we celebrate God’s people and blessing down 900 years we remind our community and ourselves that facts are important.

It’s the same as the early Christians realised. Their culture too had its strange ideas about facts: reading the entrails of goats to tell the future, or claiming secret spiritual knowledge that is only given to a few. Yet at the heart of their story were these words:

1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4We write this to make our joy complete.      (1 John 1:1-4)

It’s the real factual Jesus who is at the heart of what John heard, saw, looked at and touched. The real Jesus rooted in the real world of joy and pain, triumph and suffering. Remembering facts reminds us that Jesus takes the reality of our lives seriously and comes to us in every age to bring God’s transforming love. That is what will speak to the knife crime on our streets, the emptiness in many families, the destructiveness of ever more consumption and the growing gap between rich and poor.

We are fortunate to have a beautiful building at St Mary’s that is full of different sights, sounds and textures. But in celebrating its story and facts, let’s also share the greater and more significant story about Jesus, the life who appeared.

Then whether it’s jazz, or bells, music or art, noise or silence, young or old, ancient or modern: our, and our community’s, joy will be complete.

I hope you enjoy taking a full part in 900@stmary’s. Let’s pray it will be the start of a wider outpouring of God’s life and blessing to us and our community for the next 900 years!

Simon Heathfield

Find out the latest information on 900@stmary’s events

Return to Index for the Parish of Walthamstow Magazine, September 2008

Click here to read the schedule of events

Return to Index for the Parish of Walthamstow Magazine, September 2008

Click here to read the remainder of the leaflet: an introductory letter by Simon Heathfield (Team Rector), information about the Sunday services mentioned in the schedule and our contact & website details.

Notes & Additional Information - Week 1

Read more about the Photographic Exhibition & competition

Thursday 18th
Read more about “Echo Down the Years”: a musical celebration

Saturday 20th
Jazz Evening - music by Kai’s Cats
Curry available

Saturday 20th/Sunday 21st - London Open House weekend
Entry for St Mary’s reads:

(Abbreviations: B=Bookshop/D=Access for people with disabilities/P=Parking/R=Refreshments/T=Toilets)
Read about London Open House across the capital

Notes & Additional Information - Week 2

Sunday 21 September: 10.30am
Guest Preacher
Revd Joel Edwards, General Director of Evangelical Alliance

Tuesday 23rd
Read more about “Three Brilliant Comedians: One Great Night”

Wednesday 24th
Read more about the Bells at St Mary’s

Thursday 25th
Read more about “Music in the Village”

Saturday 27th
Harvest Banquet - Tickets priced at £2 adults/£1 child
New start time of 6.30pm

Sunday 28 September: 6.30pm
Harvest Praise - Guest Preacher
Rt Revd David Hawkins,
Bishop of Barking

Return to Index for the Parish of Walthamstow Magazine, September 2008

Thursday 18th September - 7.30pm

St Mary’s Church, Church End
Walthamstow Village, LONDON, E17

***World Premiere***

“Echo Down the Years”

written to celebrate 900 years of worship at St Mary’s

music by Jonathan Rathbone
words by Paul Whitnall

plus other classical works

The Fitzwilliam String Quartet
The Larks Ascending - Sam Hayes (director)
local professional players
The Parish of Walthamstow Choir
Walthamstow School for Girls Choir

conducted by Jonathan Rathbone

Tickets (available from Parish Office)
£5
£3 (concessions/up to school year 13)
£13 (family ticket 2 adults/2 children)

Find out more about 900@stmary’s events

Return to Index for the Parish of Walthamstow Magazine, September 2008

Are you havin’ a laff? Or do you fancy one?

Check out the Comedy Night at St Mary’s on Tuesday 23rd September.

Doors open at 7.30 pm for drinks. Show starts at 8 pm.

Tickets at £7 (including drinks), or £4 concessions (OAP, child).
Available in advance from the Parish Office or on the door

Milton Jones

Star of Radio 4 & ITV’s ‘Comedy Cuts’

Perrier Nominee & Time Out Award Winner 2003

“King of the surreal one-liners” – The Times

Jude Simpson

Comic poet, performer, and all-round lover of words.

“Her lines sparkle with wit and panache” – The Scotsman

“A good sense of rhythm, rhyme, and the quirkiness of life” – British Theatre Guide

Tony Vino

Highly-rated stand-up comic and compere

“A superb showman” – Last Minute.com

“Warm, engaging, funny and likeable” - Lunacy Comedy

Find out more about 900@stmary’s events

Return to Index for the Parish of Walthamstow Magazine, September 2008

Walthamstow & District Photographic Society have a busy September starting with an exhibition of photographs at the Central Library, High Street, Walthamstow from the 8th to 14th September, to coincide with E17 Arts Trail week.

This will be followed by the society’s involvement with St Mary’s at 900th celebrations taking place from 13th to 24th September at St Mary’s Church, Walthamstow.

As part of the 900-year anniversary celebrations and Open House London students from this year’s Summer School in Basic Photography will be exhibiting photographs at the church.

There will be an opportunity for visitors to St Mary’s to vote for their favourite photo and the Bishop of Barking will present prizes for the best photo on Sunday 28th September.

Walthamstow & District Photographic Society website

Find out more about 900@stmary’s events

Return to Index for the Parish of Walthamstow Magazine, September 2008

There are references to “the bell tower” of St Mary’s, Walthamstow in wills dating back to 1431. The will of a London merchant dated 1525 leaves a sum of money to purchase a bell for Walthamstow Church.

The tower was substantially rebuilt in 1535, and the 1552 Inventory lists three large bells, one of 10 cwt, one of 16 cwt and a great bell. Unfortunately the weight of the great bell is not known as there is a hole in the document at that place. There was also a small Sanctus bell and another very small bell.

By 1710 there was clearly a peal of six bells as the Vestry Minutes and Churchwardens accounts contain references to days on which the six bells should be rung and payments made to the ringers for ringing on these specified days.

In 1778 the Vestry authorised an order be given to Pack & Chapman of Whitechapel for the removal of the old six bells and frame and for the purchase of a new peal of eight, the tenor not to exceed 20 cwt.

On 21 July 1778 the College Youths rang a peal of 5,120 Treble Bob in 3 hours 13 minutes for the opening of the new bells.

In 1852 the tenor became cracked and was recast by C & G Mears. In 1896 the treble was recast and two new trebles added by John Warner to provide a peal of 10.

Since 1778 there have been times when peals were fairly frequent and periods when there were no peals for quite a long time. For example when a peal was rung in 1857 it was the first for 27 years. After the founding of the St Mary’s, Walthamstow, Society of Change Ringers in 1874 there began a period of frequent peals, many of which were quite notable such as the then record length of 10,440 Cambridge Surprise Royal.

In more recent years peals have been rather few and far between, but we may be approaching a period of more frequent peals - and hopefully a new band to ring regularly.

Monday 21 July 2008 seemed a very good reason to ring a quarter peal on the 230th anniversary of the first peal. A band was got together (not without some difficulty) and it was felt it would be appropriate to ring the same method. So the ringers met that evening and rang a quarter of 1,344 Oxford Treble Bob Major. By a remarkable coincidence the total number of peals to date is 230.

The old village of Walthamstow is a somewhat surprising survival in London with its Ancient House dating from 1435, 18th century Workhouse and its village atmosphere.

So after the quarter some of the band retired to The Nag’s Head to drink a toast to the memory of the ringers of 1778. Whilst there we were complimented by the staff and customers who all agreed it was very pleasant to have the sound of the bells ringing on such a fine evening.

Dennis Hewitt
By courtesy of Campanophile

Find out more about 900@stmary’s events including an opportunity to ‘Meet the Bellringers’ on Thursday 24 September at 7.30pm.

Return to Index for the Parish of Walthamstow Magazine, September 2008

The aim of this prayer time is to pray for the whole community of our parish in preparation for the 900th anniversary events at St Mary’s and the continuing development of the ministries of all four churches.

We’ll meet at St Gabriel’s Church at 12.30 armed with lunch and prayerful hearts.

Walk 1
A long walk around the boundary of the parish starting and finishing at St Gabriel’s Church.

Walk 2
A shorter walk across the parish from St. Gabriel’s to High St. (Finish at Sainsbury’s, as it is on the parish boundary.)

Walk 3
A much shorter walk from St Gabriel’s to St Mary’s School and St Mary’s Church (suitable for families with young children). There might be some play time at the school.

Group 4
A drive from St Gabriel’s to pray for St Stephen’s area and some of the schools in the parish. (Suitable for those who can’t walk far.)

Organisation
Why start from St Gabriel’s? It is very near one corner of the parish. Nigel is organising a leader or co-ordinator for each group. We will need 2/3 drivers who don’t mind missing the walks, but who want to pray. Everyone will need a packed lunch, and we all will join in opening prayers at St Gabriel’s Church that Nigel will lead. The different groups will also have their own closing prayers. For more information or to offer a car please contact Nigel.

Nigel Anstey

Walking in Prayer - tips on prayer walking

Find out more about 900@stmary’s events

Return to Index for the Parish of Walthamstow Magazine, September 2008