Throughout the year, our churches host some wonderful musicians. Please keep checking this post for updates.
A monthly musical community café, 7-8pm at St Andrew’s Church, Ham.
Sacred Space is an informal hour of live music, craft, drinks and cakes, conversation and poetry, based on a universal theme. Drop in, relax, meet others, find rest and inspiration. It is a perfect occasion to bring your friends. Everyone welcome, all ages, all faiths and none.
5th May – Freedom
Katharine von Schubert from St Peter’s, Petersham, is a Commissioned Southwark Diocese Lay Pioneer working across parishes locally and in helping more widely with Diocesan Mission Action Planning.
In September, 2021, Katherine started “Sacred Space” at St Andrew’s Ham. It runs every month on a Sunday evening (see below for dates) and is an informal hour of live music, text and art around a theme, with coffee and cake served. You can stay for the whole hour or come and go as you wish
In February, 2022, Katherine wrote:
It was at a junction in my life a few years ago that an old friend told me her hunch that my future direction might involve music. At the time I was dismissive. However, being a lay pioneer is about being who I am, and I had to admit a consistent love of music.
God had always spoken to me through music – it could unlock my emotions, thaw out anger or disbelief, take me to sublime places, and help me make sense of the colours of mood I experience. Moreover, every time I had played my flute or sung in churches or concerts over decades, there never failed to be someone who came to me afterwards to say how much it had moved them.
Based on these two things, I began to imagine a gathering of people experiencing the power of music together. I was imagining a deep immersive experience, one so beautiful that people could not fail to be touched, a place where people could find themselves and connect with others, and therefore find God their Creator nourishing them in some way. It was a vision of togetherness and hospitality.
I needed a space which was big and roomy enough to match this vision- of welcoming and gathering people, encouraging them to participate and feel at home. I imagined an enlarged living room, a comfortable space where friends hang out, and take it in turns to play their instruments or sing or say something. What after all is a ‘sacred space’ if not a place where we feel special, loved and at home?
The fixed Georgian box pews and tiny space in my own ancient church did not allow for this vision. So I shared it with Alice Pettit, vicar of St Andrews- a church hidden amongst trees in the woods near Richmond Park, with a big beautiful inner space. Alice and Jenny a longtime parishioner graciously greeted the idea with enthusiasm, adding in their ideas of running a café with tables, candles and craft alongside the music on a Sunday evening.
We started in September and grown each month. In February we had over 100 attend, including 15 primary school children and 20 adults from different parts of the community singing in Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilu’s The Rose. We sometimes have a string quartet. I choose beautiful non-churchy music that has inspired me, and hope that we can manage it with minimal rehearsal the day before. It is always experimental and responsive to who is around including partnership with local schools. Once we invited Maryam, a young Iranian women who had just been granted asylum to speak about ‘belonging’ and treat us to Iranian sweets.
The format is carefully crafted to avoid a ‘concert’ atmosphere: people arrive around 7pm and directed to the café and craft table; a sheet with a poem and bible verse explains that everything happens in parallel. At 7.10pm, we perform the main segment of live music during which people can choose to socialise, eat, walk around or sit. There might be a discussion corner on the theme in a musical break and the music is performed again at 745-8pm.
Sacred Space is intentionally informal. It is ‘neither a service nor concert’, a phrase that seems to alleviate the fears of some whom I invite; nothing is expected of them, and they don’t have to ‘do’ anything, or even stay! Many of those who come including musicians do not go to church, and they bring their families and friends. There is a buzz of conversation and lots of positive comments and experiences shared afterwards. People from all three churches in the area visit, and many connections are being made.
This is an experiment and is not without challenges. One is for the whole church community to value this alternative use of church space: a large team of volunteers is needed to help sustain the hospitality each month. Secondly the work of daily inviting the people we know must be taken seriously. Only then will it begin to represent the community. There is room for aromatherapists, environmentalists, yoga practitioners, poets and artists to practice their craft alongside the music.
This leads to a more fundamental point: Sacred Space will only be sustainable long term if it becomes a space shaped, owned and valued by those who participate in it. My hope is that long term this is what happens and that we learn to be an active partner of the community. Imagine the community setting the agenda, whilst the church continues to host. The theology is simple: God in us meeting and greeting people and letting them be who they are.
8pm Service for Holy Week
St Luke’s, Kew held their second ‘Climate Chat’ on Tuesday 19th March, with a fascinating line-up:
Leo Murray director of innovation and co-founder of climate charity Possible talked about an alternative car-free vision for the future of Hammersmith Bridge.
Kevin Martin, head of tree collections at Kew Gardens, gave a fascinating and sobering presentation on the impact climate change is having on Britain’s native trees.
The panel was completed by Lisa McGovern from Mary’s Living and Giving shop in Kew, who spoke about the impact of fast fashion and the crucial role of second-hand clothes.
St. Richard’s CE Primary School, Ham, on 17 June at 7:30 pm. In aid of St. Richard’s Church restoration appeal. Tickets are £25 each (including interval refreshments) are available from Eventbrite or at the door. Doors open at 7pm.
On 4th March St Richard’s Church in Ham welcomed MP Sarah Olney, Mayor of Richmond Councillor Julia Cambridge and Archdeacon of Wandsworth John Kiddle to the launch of their restoration appeal, along with many other guests. Water getting into the building has caused significant damage, and it was revealed that the estimated cost of just the first stage of repairs has risen to £350,000, with the final bill perhaps as much as £1m.
Local architect Richard Woolf spoke passionately about the architectural significance of the church, saying that the design by architect Ralph Covell appears to be unique. The mayor, MP and archdeacon all spoke warmly in support of saving the building. The choir from the local church school, St Richard’s, sang beautifully, with the headteacher saying how much the school used the church every week. From the church, the leader of the fundraising team Chris Ruse highlighted the structural problems while vicar Simon Coupland set out the different ways people could give.
Many people commented on how good it was for the community to come together in this way, and there were widespread expressions of support for the project. Now the church will be putting on a series of fundraising events, applying for grants, and hoping that many people who appreciate the building and want to see it saved will give generously and encourage others to do the same.
To donate visit www.justgiving.com/campaign/strichardsham or email roofappeal@btinternet.com for more details or other ways to give.
On 1 March 2024, many churches around the UK will be holding a World Day of Prayer Service. This year’s theme is “I beg you, bear with one another in love”. World Day of Prayer is an international, inter-church organisation, led by women, which enables us to hear the thoughts of those women from all parts of the world: their hopes, concerns, and prayers. This year the Christian Women of Palestine are calling us to connect with the land from where Jesus came; where he was born, ministered and died – and from where our faith began and is rooted.
Within Richmond and Barnes Deanery, services are being held at
St Matthias, Richmond at 2:30pm. Followed by Refreshments -tea/coffee and cakes. All are welcome.
St Richard’s, Ham at 11am. Followed by Palestinian themed refreshments.
Please keep checking this post for further updates of study during Lent
St Michael and All Angels, Barnes – Fridays in Lent at 6pm
Reflective service of meditations on Christ’s story of the Cross using images from a set of stations by Janet McKenzie.
St Anne’s, Kew – Sundays in Lent at 5pm and throughout Holy Week.
St John the Divine, Richmond – Saturdays in Lent at 12 noon EXCEPT Saturday 9th March.
Revd Anne Crawford will be offering gentle reflective walks on Friday mornings through Lent, beginning on Friday 16th February. If you would like to join her then please register so that you can be sent details of meeting times and places (which will vary each week). All walks will last about an hour and end somewhere nice to enjoy coffee/tea and cake together. anne.crawford@richmondteamministry.org
St Mary’s Barnes are recommending The Nail by Stephen Cottrell (Archbishop of York) for reading this Lent:
You hold in your hands a nail that was used to crucify Christ. If you accept it, this nail is the beginning of a deeply moving and personal journey through the Passion story. In The Nail, key witnesses describe the crucifixion from their viewpoint. We learn how the Roman centurion was just following orders, and that Pontius Pilate merely obeyed the wishes of the majority. By vividly expanding these and other stories, Stephen Cottrell (Archbishop of York) invites us to ask ourselves how we would have behaved in these situations.
The Nail will also be the basis for the Lent group which will meet in at St Mary’s, Barnes, 2.30-3.45pm on Tuesdays 20th & 27th February, 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th March.If possible participants should have a copy of the book, but it is not essential. Each session will comprise a bible reading and the imagined words of the crucifixion witness for that week. There are simple questions for discussion, and we will end with some time for quiet reflection and prayer. It would be helpful to know if you plan to come to the Lent group. Please email office@stmarybarnes.org.
A five week study series based on Stephen Cottrell’s book, Godforsaken.
Sunday 25th February 6pm – 7:15pm
Sunday 3rd March 5pm – 6:15pm
Sunday 10th March 6pm – 7:15pm
Sunday 17th March 6pm – 7:15pm
Sunday 24th March 6pm – 7:15pm
In the Parish Hall
All are welcome. Please do try to commit to the full series of studies if you can. You will need the book to participate in the study series.
To join or for more information, contact saintannekew@gmail.com
The bible study will be following the daily reading plan and Sunday reflections that the Rowan Williams’ little Lent Book, Meeting God in Mark includes, and those hosting the sessions will draw on the lectures in the book in facilitating discussions. There’s no need to buy the book. For more info, contact the Parish Office (office@kewbenefice.org).
Rev Eils Osgood from Holy Trinity, Richmond, writes:
What does it mean to respond to Jesus’ invitation to come to him and find rest? The Rest Is Worship is written for anyone who wants to delve into how “being still” can help us to “know God”, and how we can reject the rush and hurry of our contemporary world. With sections on Sabbath, fun, solitude, digital discipleship, saying ‘no’ and many other practical aspects of rest, intertwined with biblical teaching and stories, arranged into 40 short chapters. I’m planning on reading a chapter each day during Lent, and wonder if anyone wants to join in?
Click here to order your copy.
The closest walk to us is the Kingston and Merton Walk leg on Saturday 24 February:
Walk Leader: Judith Russenberger
Start 10.30: All Saints Church, 14-16 Mark Pl, Kingston, KT1 1JP, gathering from 10 am for 10.30 start from the café in church.
Lunch Stop 12.30-1.30: St John the Baptist, Robin Hood Lane, Kingston SW15 3PY.
Finish 4.30: TBC Christ Church. West Wimbledon 2 Cottenham Park Road, SW20 0RZ
The theme of this seven mile walk in relationship to climate and ecology is the role of government, democracy and citizenship. We begin in All Saints church where Saxon Kings were crowned and will be walking through Richmond Park and Wimbledon Common, with their histories of enclosures and local residents campaigning for access to the land. Register to join Bishop Martin’s Climate Pilgrimage here.
with Dr Chris Hewer:
Tuesday 20 February, 10am to 1pm – “Justice, Equity and Peace”
Thursday 22 February, 10am to 4pm – “Jesus in Christianity and Islam”
Refreshments provided during the day but bring your own lunch.
Course is free but donations are requested to cover expenses.
Please contact Diana Mills (dianamills31@gmail.com) or phone/text 07804 866349 to register or for more information.
Developed at St Martin in the Fields, the ‘Being With’ course is an introduction to discovering Christian faith and life in a positive and inclusive group. No special knowledge or religious language is needed, just what you have learned in life so far. The course’s aim is to provide a space to explore what it might mean to live abundantly with God, with one another and with creation.
Tuesday evenings from 7.30 – 9pm
in the Parish Room at St Peter’s Church, Petersham
The second half of this course begins again on Tuesday 9th Jan
For more details contact Rev Kate Daymond (revdaymond@outlook.com) or St Peter’s Parish Office on 0208 940 8435.
