St Richard’s, Ham, send huge congratulations to their long-serving organist Tony Adkins on the award of a British Empire Medal for services to charity! His latest concert on 17th June at St Richard’s CofE Primary School in aid of St. Richard’s Church restoration appeal was his 29th charity concert which have raised funds for many different causes. It was attended by Deputy Mayor of Richmond Fiona Sacks and her consort Richard Sacks, and the Bishop of Kingston Martin Gainsborough – along with many others!
Category Archives: News
Welcome to the New Bishop of Kingston
The new Bishop of Kingston, The Revd Canon Dr Martin Gainsborough was consecrated on Thursday 2 February, at Canterbury Cathedral. Read the full press release below.
The Bishop of Southwark describe the service as “a glorious consecration of Bishops – great turnout and a warm welcome to Bishop Martin and Mary.
Bishop Martin said “Deep sense of gratitude for all that happened yesterday. Great to see so many people. Thank you all. Now to get to know the parishes, schools & chaplaincies of the Kingston Area and of course the wonderful clergy.”
The service was livestreamed and a recording can be watched here.
On Friday 16th December, Downing Street announce that the King has approved the nomination of The Reverend Canon Dr Jonathan Martin Gainsborough, Chaplain to the Bishop of Bristol, in the Diocese of Bristol, to the Suffragan See of Kingston, in the Diocese of Southwark, in succession to The Right Reverend Dr Richard Cheetham following his retirement.
Read the full press release below:
Rev’d Canon Martin Gainsborough will be consecrated Bishop on 2nd February 2023 at Canterbury Cathedral. Please pray for him in his new role:
Heavenly Father, our Shepherd and Guide
We thank you for the appointment
of your servant, Martin Gainsborough,
as bishop designate of Kingston.
May your Holy Spirit give him
your gifts of wisdom and strength,
gentleness and compassion,
as he prepares to take up his role as our pastor and teacher.
May he be a shepherd after your own heart,
who will love you, walk with Jesus and be filled with the Spirit.
May he be a leader of vision and a teacher of your truth,
Christ centred and outward focussed.
As Bishop designate Martin gets ready to make his home among us,
may we welcome him joyfully into our Diocesan community,
and together bear witness to Christ
and the building up of your kingdom.
We ask this through your Son Jesus Christ,
Amen.
Coronation Celebrations across the Deanery
Community celebrations, thanksgiving services, bellringing and joy was to be found across the deanery on Coronations weekend.
Around 100 people came for tea at St Richard’s, Ham, on the Monday as part of the Big Help Out. Earlier volunteers including the local Guides worked in the church grounds planting wildflower seeds.
Richard Harries in Conversation with Rabbi Julia Neuberger
St Mary’s, Barnes, were delighted to host the launch of Richard Harries autobiography The Shaping of a Soul – a life taken by surprise on Tuesday 18th April when he was in conversation with Rabbi Baroness Julia Neuberger.
Lord Harries was Bishop of Oxford from 1987 to 2006, after which he became a crossbench life peer in the House of Lords. He is the author of more than 40 books focused on art, literature, politics, social issues, morality, and, theology.
Musical Reflections for Lent and Easter from St Peter’s, Petersham
St Peter’s, Petersham recorded these songs for Lent and Easter 2021. Vaughan Williams wrote the Five Mystical Songs between 1906 and 1911. The work sets four poems (the first, ‘Easter’, being divided into two parts) by seventeenth-century Welsh-born English poet and Anglican priest George Herbert (1593–1633), from his 1633 collection The Temple: Sacred Poems. As befits Herbert’s mystical poetry, the music is reflective and colourful, with quiet, personal meditations in between ecstatic songs of praise.
Eco-Church Bronze Success
Congratulations to St Luke’s and St Anne’s in Kew and to St Matthias and St John the Divine in Richmond on their recent Bronze Eco Church awards. Nine churches in the deanery now hold this award and are now working towards silver.
The award is given in recognition of each Church’s efforts to care for God’s earth in the following categories: Worship & Teaching; Management of Buildings and Land; Community and Global Engagement; and Lifestyle. Each church has a team of dedicated members who have worked hard to achieve this award and will be diligently working towards their silver awards.
Vacancy at The Vineyard Community Centre
The Vineyard Community Centre in Richmond has a vacancy for a Christian to be its part-time Communications Officer. They are recruiting for a new Communications Officer to deliver a communications strategy for the Vineyard Community Centre. Click here to download an information pack and application form for more detail on job description, requirements and salary.
The closing date is 12pm on Friday 14th April 2023.
St Michael and All Angels Choral Evensong Broadcast
Click here to listen to a BBC broadcast of choral evensong broadcast from St Michael and All Angels, Barnes.
Pastoral Café at St Anne’s, Kew
The Pastoral Support Team (PST) of St Anne’s, Kew, identified the importance of establishing a visible pastoral presence in the church during the week for anyone who would like a little company and a friendly welcome.
They launched the St Anne’s Welcome Café in February which will be open every Tuesday 10.00 – 12.00 in the Lady Chapel.
Each week, two pastoral support volunteers will host the Welcome Café offering refreshment and a friendly listening ear. All who pass by are welcome – visitors to the building, those who have come to pray, and the many volunteers who stop by during the week. The Lady Chapel offers its quiet beauty and prayerfulness to assist in providing welcome and fellowship to strangers and friends alike.
If you, or anyone you know could benefit from a cup of tea and a chat, or just to be with others for a while – please do come along and encourage them to join us.
Richmond Council Cost of Living Hub
A number of different organisations are offering support now and over the coming months for those who find themselves in financial difficulty. Please speak to one of the clergy at your local church if you are struggling – it is much better to get help at an early stage than wait until things get more serious. Examples of help could include grants from the local council for unexpected costs such as white goods, access to local Foodbanks at the Castelnau Community Centre or information about warm spaces in the local area where you can go at no charge.
Richmond Council also has an excellent website with a range of support.
