We are sorry to say that our Area Dean, Father Peter Hart, is starting a new job as Team Rector in the South East Worcester Team Ministry. Easter Sunday will be his last Sunday as Area Dean. Christ Church, East Sheen has summed up all our feelings in saying “We all owe Father Peter a huge debt of gratitude for his support, ministry, abilities and sense of humour”.
Our Archdeacon, The Venerable John Kiddle, writes “We shall miss Peter immensely, wonderful ministry in Kew, as Area Dean of Richmond and Barnes, and as Ecumenical Adviser. Our loss is the Diocese of Worcester’s gain”
St Mary Barnes hosted Radio 4’s Sunday service on Sunday 23rd February. The service featured Anna Haestrup, BBC Young Chorister of the Year, singing a solo and with the choir; Bishop Richard Harries preaching and introducing #LiveLent challenge to care for God’s creation during Lent.
On Sunday 12th January the Bishop of Kingston installed Simon Coupland as Vicar of St Richard’s Ham, marking an exciting new chapter in the church’s history. Representatives of the church primary school, St Peter’s Petersham and Kingsgate Church Ham welcomed him, reflecting the strong partnerships which have already been built since his arrival as priest in charge in July 2018. St Richard’s was built as part of the Wates estate in Ham in the 1960s, and Simon is only the sixth vicar.
St Mary’s, Mortlake hosted the annual Mortlake Team Ministry Christmas Lunch, Tea and Party for the elderly, lonely and homeless on Christmas day. More people than ever enjoyed roast dinner, Christmas pud, quizzes, singalong, mini panto, everyone wins raffle, visit from Santa and The Queen’s message.
Thanks go to the hard working team and organisers.
Anna Haestrup, who has been in the choir at St Mary, Barnes since aged 10 has won BBC Young Chorister of the Year 2019!
She was one of two winners out of eight finalists in a competition that celebrates young talent singing for worship in churches, chapels, cathedrals and beyond. Anna performed The First Nowell (arr Willcocks) and The Virgin’s Slumber Song (Reger) in front of a panel of judges. The Chair of Judges, conductor Bob Chilcott, praised her delicate and touching performance.
Anna is pictured below singing at the St Mary carol service and above with her fellow winner, William Miles-Kingston. Well done Anna!
A church is made up of all ages, all interested in different things. We are used to seeing our churches full of families with young children mixing with our older members. We are also used to seeing our children drift away as their lives get busier. As they grow up it may be that they need the Church more than ever because they may find themselves questioning their faith and not knowing where to find answers. The challenge that faces all churches is how can we be there for our young people as they grow up. How can we answer their questions and show them the way to God?
Churches throughout the deanery are looking for ways to engage our children, through food, fellowship and fun.
Holy Trinity, Richmond Run Youth Alpha
From Cornerstone, Edition 19 – December 2019
Social for Older Children at St Michael, Barnes
St Michael, Barnes held their first social for older children and early teenagers in November. Here they are enjoying fish and chips and silly games after saying Evening Prayer together.
Film Club at St Anne’s, Kew
St Anne’s Kew run a Film Club for children in Year 3 upwards. They watch an age-appropriate film, eat snacks and chat about the film’s themes. Parents are also invited to stay and have their own separate social if they wish.
St Anne’s are holding a series of conversations exploring the impact of faith on our work lives. At the last In Conversation eveing, three members of their congregation spoke about faith in their working worlds. A banker spoke about his passion for addressing unethical practices, such as money raised through illicit means. A lawyer spoke about her passion for mediation, wanting to see disputes resolved and bring about reconciliation as a Christian practitioner. Another member of the congregation explained how faith pervades and inspires his work tracking down stolen artwork, and the challenge of seeing all people as made in the image of God when working with criminals.
As well as conversation, there were questions from the audience. The evening gave chance to reflect on the difference Sunday worship makes to Monday jobs. The evening ended with prayers for work and for those engaged in different vocations throughout the community and beyond.
There will be another In Conversation evening in November.
All Saints East Sheen gave thanks for creation and for the goodness of God’s world. Their Harvest gifts were donated to Richmond Food Bank. In the afternoon, there was a harvest tea with a sponsored sing.
Celebrating Harvest Festival at St John the Divine
St Luke’s gave thanks to a creating and sustaining God for a plentiful harvest. Their harvest gifts were taken to SPEAR
St Mary the Virgin, Mortlake’s harvest gifts will go to help the Glass Door winter night shelters
St Richards, Ham held a harvest supper, where They enjoyed a delicious meal and heard about God’s heart for creation, followed by a harvest festival service the next morning.
In response to the growing population of Mortlake and East
Sheen around 1910, it was decided that there should be a new church in the
south east of the parish. A plot of land on East Sheen Avenue was bequeathed to
the parish of Mortlake in 1913 by Major Shepherd-Cross MP who lived at Palewell
Lodge. The building of the church was postponed because of the First World War but
after the war, the building of All Saints began, and its foundation stone was
laid by the Duchess of York (later the Queen Mother) on 24th October 1928. The
church was consecrated the following year on All Saints Day.
This year All Saints celebrates its 90th Anniversary with
the following events:
praying together, learning together, working together
