In Churches like ours, the ringing of bells is an established part of our tradition. They call the people to worship on a Sunday from far and wide and are seen by the public as characteristic of Anglican worship. They are, however, not the only bells which can and should be used in our church.…
Self-described "Torah-true Jews" to this day wear tefillin ("phylacteries") on their foreheads and arms as a sign of their identity and devotion. This practice stems from Deuteronomy 6:4-8: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and…
As we gather we have the opportunity to reflect on these Holy Scriptures God is our refuge and strength; a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46.1 I lift up my eyes to the hills – from whence will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. Psalm 121.1-2…
At the entrance to the church there is a small dish of water, dwarfed by our elegant font, so often walked past, so often ignored and yet a vital reminder for everyone of the power of our baptism in Christ. The water in there is never there long enough to get stagnant, because at each…
Some may be mystified by my habit of calling the most important act of worship to the Christian Community ‘Mass’. Surely, one might think, that Mass was something exclusive to the Roman Catholic Church, and what was wrong with Holy Communion or The Eucharist ? However, if we pause to reflect, the Mass is indeed…
At last we have proof of Fr. Simon’s impending senility: we have seen him muttering to himself during the Mass! Even if you have not had the opportunity to join us for worship at one of the short, simple said masses during the week when we are gathered in the Sanctuary, you will probably only…
An exploration of how you are encouraged to address your clergy Many claim that when Anglocatholics in the Church of England address priests as "Father," (and since the ordination of women, “Mother”) they are engaging in an unbiblical practice that Jesus forbade: "Call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who…
Next weekend we shall be in Walsingham This is our Parish Manual, designed to sit alongside the annual Pilgrim Manual from the Shrine I'm posting this here in case it has any info on it which you might like to borrow for your own parish manual. In pdf format: Bickleigh and Shaugh Prior Pilgrimage guide 2015…
