Nottingham Churches

Nottingham Event City - launch

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 17:01:59 +0200

St Mary's Church hosted the launch of Experience Nottinghamshire's latest venture, 'Nottingham Event City'. For more photographs, click here, and for information about the event, please see the article below from the Nottingham Post.

Nottingham Event City launch

Concerts at St Mary's Church

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:01:38 +0200

Saturday 8th June, 7.30pm

To mark the 21st anniversary of her first appearance in St Mary's, the internationally renowned pianist Noriko Ogawa returns to play Brahms' First Piano Concerto. Miss Ogawa regularly appears on BBC Radio 3 as Artist of the Week, CD of the week and presents her own programme on Saturday afternoons. Part one of the concert is Haydn's dramatic Missa in Angustiis, better known as the 'Nelson' Mass.

Sunday 9th June, 7.45pm

The Scholars' Concert
The annual showcase for the St Mary's Choral Scholars. The programme is varied and often contains items with an interesting 'twist'. Your support would be most appreciated; you can be guaranteed a most entertaining 45 minutes.

Looking forward to a busy summer

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 11:08:54 +0200

This summer is going to be anything but quiet as Rev’d Christopher Harrison explains

The Church has now entered the long season that follows Pentecost, when we celebrated the coming of the Holy Spirit. Although liturgical festivals are now relatively scarce until the autumn, June and July are in fact very busy months for this parish, with several special services. It would be wrong to see the Lord Mayor's service on June 2nd at St Mary's as being of no interest to regular churchgoers - Cllr Merlita Bryan, the new Lord Mayor, is a councillor for the All Saints' area of the parish, and the new Sheriff of Nottingham, Cllr Ian Malcolm, was until recently churchwarden in Clifton. The High School celebrates its 500th anniversary in St Mary's on 15th June; our diocesan bishop, Paul Butler, will be present, and a commemorative plaque will be dedicated (many thanks for this to David Jackson).

On 30th June, St Peter's celebrates its Patronal Festival, and I am delighted that Andrew Wallis will be back from New Zealand and preaching at that service, which will be followed by a bring and share lunch. Sadly this clashes with the ordination of deacons in Southwell Minster, but we wish Bruce Rienstra every blessing for this event and for his ministry as curate in Warsop. We will miss him greatly, along with all that he has given to this parish.

St Peter's Songs of Praise Service on 7th July happily coincides with the weekend when past and present members of the choir will be coming together to present a feast of music on both Saturday and Sunday. On the 14th, Richard Leaper, chaplain to the Sea Cadet Corps in Nottingham, will be our guest preacher at St Mary's morning service as we celebrate Sea Sunday. In the evening of that day, an event which we are describing as 'Songs and sounds of the Spirit' is planned for All Saints' church. The plan is for a variety of individuals and groups of musicians, singers, poets etc to come together and present an informal evening of items which reflect different aspects of spirituality and faith. These will include the Rainbow Choir from Hyson Green and the 'Psalm Drummers', as well as some individuals - anyone else who would like to contribute should contact me.

We are already experiencing the versatility of St Mary's church now that the new floor is complete, and the sense of freedom and spaciousness in the areas which are currently kept clear of chairs is tremendous. Discussions are developing as to how we can enable the church to serve the city and wider community most effectively, while maintaining the sacredness of the building and enhancing its beauty in new ways. When the new sound and lighting systems are in place, later in the year, we hope to celebrate the refurbishment more fully.

Do tell your friends and neighbours about all that is happening in our churches, and encourage them to come to church. The gospel of Christ is spread most effectively by personal word of mouth as well as by the witness of our lives as Christians; let us not, therefore, be deterred by the negative publicity which regularly affects the Church at large, but instead renew our efforts to show others the love, care and compassion of Christ, as he works through us.

Wishing a pleasant summer to all readers.

Christopher Harrison - Nottingham Post articles

Thu, 23 May 2013 14:50:40 +0200

Reverend Christopher Harrison's latest articles for the Nottingham Post can be found below.

Cricket can still be a game for gentlemen

Christopher Harrison: Why I'm wary of my online profile

Coffee Break Concerts Summer 2013

Tue, 14 May 2013 13:58:10 +0200

Coffee Break Concerts Summer 2013

The summer series of Coffee Break Concerts at St Peter's Church begins on Saturday 25th May. For more details, please click here to view the poster.

All concerts begin at 11am, with coffee and biscuits served from 10.15am. Admission is free, with donations to the music fund gratefully appreciated.

Please note that due to the Armed Forces Day celebrations taking place in the city, there will unfortunately not be a concert on Saturday 29th June.

Working Well...

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 14:31:12 +0200

Just what does a workplace chaplain do? According to the Revd Rachel Shock it is a frequently asked question, which is sometimes difficult to answer. C Magazine talked to her about what is involved ...

The Workplace Chaplaincy is based within the Parish of All Saints, St Mary & St Peter in Nottingham and has been offering support for over 25 years to businesses. “I work with a marvellous team of volunteer ecumenical lay chaplains who give up their time to visit Marks & Spencer, Debenhams, BHS, John Lewis & Victoria Centre support staff. This leaves me to concentrate on Freeth Cartwright, Capital One, the Courts and others. We also have a team of specialists who have agreed to help us if we need to refer people for specific help like bereavement counselling or parenting issues,” said Rachel.

“Recently someone came to see me whose boss had been killed on his way home from work. He wasn’t a Christian and he didn’t know why he wanted to see me but needed to share the information with someone other than the other people in their office. He came to see me quite nervously and left some time later saying nothing had changed but that he felt calmer and he now had a sense that his boss was at peace. The conversation had helped him to clarify what had happened and at his invitation we talked about the Christian faith and how we understand what happens to people when they die.

“I have a regular pattern of visiting businesses in the city centre. It’s impossible to get round the whole firm every time and with different working patterns, there are always some people I never see. However they know I’m there – in most places as I arrive an email is sent round to advise that I am in the building. This email includes my mobile phone number, which people can then use to text or ring asking me to call by their desk or meet away from their desk! They also have my email address and we have put a lot of effort into raising the profile of the chaplaincy within these firms. People may not need me on the day I visit but they know how to get hold of me straight away. It also allows them to control the method of communicating.”

The team have re-established iChaplaincy (a chaplain online) for the firms which support the chaplaincy and actively promote their services. “People still find it useful to be able to contact a chaplain by email confidentially and anonymously – most think their questions are stupid – if you have no experience of church, there are all sorts of misgivings, misunderstandings and assumed practice,” said Rachel.

“People have a sense of spirituality but don’t know how to express this or how to find out more. Relationship issues are of course common, sickness and bereavement feature highly, together with debt and stress usually induced because the firm they work for has had to make a number of people redundant and they now find themselves doing the work of two, and I am often asked how I would deal with a dispute which is going on in the workplace.”

Solicitors, Browne Jacobson is one of the firms visited by Rachel and Business Development Manager, Jackie Carter has first-hand experience of the love and care available. “Rachel has been our chaplain for the last 18 months. I contacted her as my dad had been poorly virtually from the day he retired 15 years before, but by that stage he was really ill and I think the family all knew it would be our last Christmas with him.

“I was finding it increasingly difficult to deal with how I was feeling and experiencing feelings of guilt at not being able to spend much time with dad. Rachel came to see me at the office and she just let me talk about all the things I couldn't tell the family about how scared I was and how hard I was finding it all. She kept in touch with me throughout Christmas and when, in March 2012 he lost his battle she was there to provide a warm and caring word. And we still have a chat if I'm in the office when she visits.

“While all employers will have pension funds and some will have other benefits like private medical cover and life insurance, not many will actually have a workplace chaplain to provide emotional support when it is most needed. I'd encourage any employer who wants to provide practical support to consider a workplace chaplain - and, you don't have to be deeply religious to ask for that chaplain's help. Rachel never asked me about my faith, she simply provided a shoulder to cry on and some wise words when I really needed them, and I can't thank her, or Browne Jacobson, enough for that.”

Nottingham City Transport has a history of chaplaincy within the company... “We have a long heritage dating back to the mid- 19th century and our association with the diocese goes back to at least the turn of the 20th century,” explained Mark J Fowles, Managing Director. “Since 1986 we have had an ‘official’ Chaplain with only a short break following the retirement of the Revd David Tudor. The recent appointment of the Revd Rachel Shock will continue and maintain that long relationship. I have often been asked by other business leaders what it is that having such a position brings to our company and the answer in truth, is that I don’t know exactly, but what I do know is that without it we are something less than we are with it.

“Over the years many of our employees of all denominations have consulted with our chaplain to discuss a whole range of topics from tram contracts through football and discussions of Christian beliefs to counselling during times of stress or bereavement. I am confident that Rachel will bring her own inimitable style to the company. Welcome Rachel, you complete us."

Capital One has supported and enjoyed working with the Workplace Chaplaincy service for many years. Community Relations Manager, Stuart Mather, said: This service is for employees of all faiths. If there is something on people’s minds— either work-related or in their personal life they can meet Rachel during one of her fortnightly visits to Trent House. She also makes herself available outside these visits by providing alternative ways of meeting and contacting her. Rachel has played an instrumental role in supporting our employees recently when, devastatingly, two of our employees passed away. Rachel was there to talk to anyone who required it and spoke beautifully at the memorial services.”

Rachel says that funding is becoming a priority issue this year. “We receive a third of our funding from the parish, a third from the businesses and currently a third from the Diocese. This third will cease from December 2014 so we are trying to see how we will find the funding to continue this valuable work.

In the meantime, I walk and talk getting to know people, a friendly face in the office always conscious to keep my eyes away from computer screens and other confidential material but with a real sense that this is where God wants me to be – joining with Him in the presence of the Spirit to bring light to the world of work.”

Banking on a Decent Meal

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 14:17:03 +0200

Peter Hoare looks at the work that NG7 Food Bank is doing in Nottingham

All three of our churches now have boxes for contributions from members of the congregation to the NG7 Food Bank, which operates in the Sumac Centre on Gladstone Road in Forest Fields. Donations are taken weekly to a collection point and passed to the Food Bank, which distributes food every Friday to people in serious and often unexpected need. Recipients have to be referred, by one of a selection of social agencies, which has the added benefit of making sure people are in touch with appropriate support groups, and avoiding the growth of a “dependency culture”.

I visited the Sumac Centre in February and talked to some of the Food Bank volunteers, including Jo Thorpe whose article appears below, together with an account by one of the volunteers who work with her. The sense of purpose was very evident, but the atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming, and I was impressed by the range of food available.

There are at least 12 other Food Banks in and around Nottingham, many of them run by the Trussell Trust, a nation-wide Christian charity which operates to serve real need as effectively as possible. It is clear that the need exists, and is likely to become much greater as changes in welfare provision begin to bite.

Please continue to help by bringing nonperishable food contributions to church - they can be left in the labelled boxes on Sundays or given to the vergers during the week.

The story so far By Joanne Thorpe (organiser at NG7 Food Bank)

The NG7 food bank began as a result of discussions between many local people, faith groups and local public and voluntary agencies. In NG7 it is recognised there is a high number of families where children are reliant on free school dinners, and providing food especially during the school holidays is more of a struggle for these families. Anecdotal evidence from advice centres, charities and local activists indicated that people often walked across the city to Hope Nottingham’s food bank in Beeston to access food. These factors influenced the decision to trial the food bank over the school summer holiday period, starting in July 2012. Fridays were chosen as our distribution day to ensure people wouldn’t be without food over the weekend.

Fundraising by Djanogly Community Cohesion project (CoCo) and the Sumac Centre meant we had a small financial resource supported by massive motivation and enthusiasm. We wanted the food bank to be accessible to those who needed us most, also to reach a diverse range of people. For these reasons we allocated a number of referral places to the main advice centres in the city, alongside referral arrangements with Children’s Services, charities and voluntary groups working with asylum-seekers/refugees and with A8 nationals (from EU “accession states”). Since opening we have fed over 600 people with usage now averaging over 30 people per week.

Our ‘Fill a Box’ scheme began in July 2012 and has developed sufficiently to enable us to continue without draining our small cash reserves. It is often a humbling experience to witness the ongoing generosity of the many people, organisations, and faith-communities that donate food.

To support the continuation and expansion of the work we have recently submitted funding bids and are awaiting the results. Currently the cost of a weekly food parcel (3-4 days) for one person is £6.90, made up of a range of staple foods including bread, butter, soup, a range of fresh and tinned vegetables, milk, pasta, rice and sugar. We add a selection of special items - cooking oil, packet rices and sauces, biscuits, chocolates, fruit juices etc. Thank you for your continued support.

The view from a volunteer By Eshe, aged 16

Friday’s food-bank whirlwind begins with us all carrying large amounts of tins, packets, jars, cartons, bags, boxes. The food is then laid out on the tables with numbered cards which match the different food items. Sometimes people arrive before the food’s ready but that’s fine because they often like to help out too or they are happy to make themselves a drink and wait. Once people begin to arrive, we take it in turns to take them round and let them chose their own food items. I think it is important that people get to pick their own food as it means they get a choice and they will definitely use what they take. I always tell people (if they have a cooker) to take porridge not cornflakes as porridge goes further. We like to cook a meal for people and volunteers to have and this gives all of us a chance to get to know each other and feel togetherness.

Once 2 o’clock comes we begin packing away which is always easier as there is less food. I enjoy seeing the tables empty of food and know this has been worthwhile.

How you can help

Please continue to help by bringing nonperishable food contributions to church - they can be left in the labelled boxes on Sundays or given to the vergers during the week.

Candlemas 1513 – the first day at Nottingham High School

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 14:06:51 +0200

Nottingham High School was founded at Candlemas in St Mary’s Church 500 years ago — Paul Sibly, Deputy Headmaster at the school, considers why Candlemas was an appropriate time to create the school and how different education was in the 16th century

February 2nd 2013 was the 500th Anniversary of the first lessons taught at Nottingham High School. During a morning Assembly I shared some thoughts with the pupils, beginning with St Luke’s account (chapter 2 vv 22 -40) of the presentation of Christ in the temple.

Candlemas in 1513 was an important church festival, ranking not far behind Christmas, Easter and Pentecost. The account of the presentation of Christ in the temple was read, in Latin, on the very day our School opened and, with its references to light (= knowledge and truth) and to the child growing in wisdom, I can see how appropriate that was.

What was the Candlemas celebration like back in 1513?

Most likely there was a grand procession around St Mary’s Church (which was Roman Catholic at the time), with every parishioner carrying a lighted candle and an offering of money for the priest. The Nunc Dimittis was sung. Later, in the grand Mass itself, the passage from St Luke would be read, along with other scriptures focusing on light, life and renewal.

Some would take the candles to symbolise Jesus; the wax, wick and flame representing his body, his soul and his divinity, ‘the light of the world’. Beyond that, popular folklore gave the candles mystical powers; a holy light could drive out the devil and all his works, could make people safe in thunderstorms, give relief in sickness, give comfort to the dying. Superstitions also crept in, for example witches were said to drip molten wax into their victims’ footprints, causing feet to rot off.

All in all, the celebrations were a great piece of medieval theatre. The light, music and liturgy were spot on for the launch of a school which, over the years, has taken the search for knowledge, truth and understanding in new directions.

Apart from being shiveringly cold in the great spaces of St Mary’s, what do we know about the first lessons?

The earliest clue is in the royal charter of 1512 which provided for the ‘foundation and building of a certain School, evermore to endure, in the parish of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the town of Nottingham, for the education, teaching and instruction of boys in good manners and literature’. The founder, Dame Agnes Mellers, added, “I will and ordain that the Schoolmaster… shall daily when he keeps School cause the Scholars every morning in their school house ere they begin their learning to say with an high voice the whole Credo in Deum Patrem and the hymn Veni Creator Spiritus …… and the collect Deus qui corda, and at even such time as they may gyf oop [sic] school to sing some anthem in honour of our Lady and say De Profundis with three collects …… for the soul of Richard Mellors my husband and for the souls of the said Sir Thomas Lovell and my soul….. and all Christian souls”.

From these sources we can see that the school was a Christian foundation, that teaching was in Latin - the universal language of learning in the 1500s - and that there was great emphasis on good manners, literature and singing. Lessons were, I think, mainly spoken; skills of reading and writing were considered less important; indeed writing may have been learnt as a separate skill, away from school. Learning by rote, was much used, for example in instilling Latin grammar.

Why didn’t the pupils study modern subjects? Let’s see what lay ahead in 1513:

English: William Tyndale will translate and print the Bible in English only in 1525. With this will come opportunities both for reading in English and for more widespread understanding of Christian teaching and principles. King and priests, unable to tolerate the unmasking of their selfinterested distortions of scripture, will see to it that Tyndale is murdered for his labours in 1536.

Mathematics, Science and Geography: The first book of basic arithmetic, Robert Recorde’s The Grounde of Arts, is 30 years in the future. Science is largely dormant, with the work of the Ancient Greeks still a major point of reference. New work in the 1540s will see Nicholas Copernicus challenge the Earth-at-the-centre of-the universe-with-everything-revolvingaround-it model; he will propose that the Earth orbits the Sun, and spins on its axis as it does so. Europeans are exploring the planet, with John Cabot sailing from Bristol to reach and name Newfoundland in 1497. Others will map the African coast, India and the western seaboard of America. In 1519 - 1520 Magellan’s expedition will circumnavigate the globe, finally demonstrating that we don’t simply fall off the edge of a flat world if we go far enough. Mapmakers will record every discovery.

Much of this new learning depends on advances in the printing, manufacture and distribution of written materials. Caxton’s press in Westminster started in the 1470s, but mass-production is new. Much more will be achieved in the sixteenth century. Books will give great stimulus, spreading knowledge and promoting the teaching of reading and writing.

So, in 1513, there’s about to be an explosion in knowledge and learning, but it hasn’t happened yet.

500 years later we’ve come a long way, but every day still tells us that our endeavours to increase our knowledge and understanding are only just beginning.

Developments at St Mary’s Offer Opportunities for Future

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 14:00:00 +0200

As the new floor nears completion Christopher Harrison explains why it is so important

Life in our parish in recent weeks has continued to be dominated, inevitably, by the progress of work at St Mary's. The stones have now been laid in the largest two areas in the church, along with the north and south transepts, and this already enables the classic beauty and elegance of Tess Jaray's design to be clearly seen. At the time of writing, it is hoped that the church can be fully open by the last fortnight in April. The overall impression is quite spectacular, and, as far as I know, unique amongst churches.

I must reiterate our thanks to all those who have worked amazingly hard to realise this complex project, working to tight deadlines as well as being flexible and creative in dealing with the problems that have inevitably arisen from time to time. As the year progresses, we should see a brand new sound system as well as additional chairs and, at some point, enhancements to the lighting. Thanks to some work by St Mary's churchwardens and Len Simmonds, discussions are beginning as to how we can now make full use of the church in its role both as a holy place and centre of worship, but also as a building which can serve the city in other ways. We need to remember, of course, that the worship of God should always lie at the heart of St Mary's, but it is also possible to find other ways of bringing people into the church, which are not necessarily primarily 'religious' in nature. Faith is a journey, and it is important that we give those in the wider community an incentive to take even a few steps along that journey, by welcoming them into St Mary's for a broad spectrum possible purposes. This will have to be managed properly, and not compromise the essential nature of the church, but we should also remember that Jesus would surely not want a church to be the preserve of just a few members.

Rachel Shock's perceptive article about 'welcome' in this magazine is very pertinent here. As we enter the Easter season, there is a lot to celebrate as we rejoice in the message of life emerging from death, and hope from despair. Jesus' rising from the dead, however alien a concept this may be to the secular world, symbolises the process of new birth that lies at the heart of the universe. Even though spring may sometimes be delayed, as we ponder on the unseasonal snow towards the end of March this year, we must never give up hope. As the economy, both nationally and locally, continues to falter and decline in some respects, there is new growth in others. After a decline in traditional churchgoing over many years, there are people of all ages who are not satisfied with secular life and values and who see the importance of spiritual values and of God. We need therefore to be prepared, as a parish, to be imaginative as we respond to these trends, not losing sight of our heritage but strengthening the Church's place in today's world and amidst its contemporary needs and concerns. By virtue of our location at the very heart of Nottingham, we in this parish have both a huge responsibility but also a great opportunity in this regard.

Wishing you all every blessing during this Easter season.

Hotels and Gadget Stores - what can churches learn about customer satisfaction?

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 13:50:41 +0200

Revd Rachel Shock, Nottingham’s Workplace Chaplain, question how churches measure up against the retail and hospitality industry

On a recent visit to London I visited a luxury hotel, a church and a gadget shop. These three experiences reminded me of the importance of ‘welcome’ when we visit somewhere new and prompted me to question what our own parish could learn.

On Saturday afternoon I arrived with much anticipation to one of the best known hotels in London. We had booked and as such they were expecting us. We were greeted by a smiling person who took our coats and showed us to our seats. We were handed menus and told that he would come back in a couple of minutes after we had time to digest what was written on the page. He made some suggestions about what we might look at; how the different menus worked and asked us if this was our first visit to the hotel and whether it was a special occasion. He suggested various teas that we might like to drink. We were left to chat and absorb the atmosphere and the other people in the room. After ordering, the tea and cake duly arrived in a timely fashion with the waiter making polite but unobtrusive conversation. He checked whether there was anything else he could bring us and left us to enjoy, coming back occasionally to refill and check we were alright. The ambience of the hotel far exceeded my expectation. There was a sense of history, charm and calmness that pervaded the place. Or was it simply a mixture of excellent customer service with beautiful surroundings?

The second visit was to a church on the Sunday morning. Again this was a much anticipated visit, as I had heard many positive things about this place. I arrived at the church to find a closed solid door in front of me. I duly pushed open the door to find no-one at that end of the church despite the fact that a service was due to start in 15 minutes. A group of people stood talking at the other end; they did turn round to see who might be entering their domain but it was only when I walked towards them that someone reluctantly got up and came over. I would like to say that I was greeted with a smile. Unfortunately all I got was, “I’ll find you a book.” I was escorted back to the door and, as I was handed a service book, was told “I’ll give you the easy one.” What he meant was he would give me the book specially printed for tourists with virtually all of the service (BCP) removed. What in actual fact he gave me was a very nice printed booklet explaining the history of the church and with the bare minimum of the Book of Common Prayer Service. It was a shame he didn’t just give me both books. I obviously don't look like someone who could handle a difficult book!

The same gentleman explained that everybody sat at the far end of the church and I found my place and sat down smiling politely at the few members of the congregation who were eyeing me up suspiciously (i.e. no smiles). I had wanted to visit this church for a while but more particularly recently, because it had been mentioned in a radio discussion where someone had said that the ambience of this church could not be replicated elsewhere. I was eager to experience this and decide for myself. I was actually expecting a sense of awe when I walked in and, although the architecture and history were interesting, so far the experience was disappointing.

One of the reasons I like visiting churches when I am away is so that I can assess my performance against other ministers. Do they do anything differently that helps with worship and increases that elusive ambience? Does the way they conduct worship bring an added dimension to it? Could I improve? If I hadn’t been familiar with the BCP, I definitely would not have been able to hear or understand many of the prayers the minister said that morning, not helped by the lack of microphone. The loud “Amen” from one of the members of the congregation was really my only clue that the prayer had finished. Despite my growing disappointment, the minister did rise slightly in my estimation as he helped an elderly member of the congregation back to his seat and then continued administering communion.

At the end of the service I got up and decided I would have a look around the church. I passed various people and said good morning to them but not one of them replied back. Eventually on reaching the far end of the church I became a tourist and took out my phone to take a photo, assuming that this would make someone come running if it was forbidden. Sure enough the gentleman clearing the books away came over and said abruptly “We're closing the church now.” I headed quickly out of the door where the minister was still chatting and I went to shake his hand. He said, ‘Good morning,’ but immediately followed by, “Lovely to see you again.” I stopped myself from saying “Again!? Have you seen me before?”

This is definitely not a church I would ever want to go back to again – the supposedly unique ambience was distinctly lacking for me. What on earth would somebody who wasn't familiar with the service or familiar with the Church of England think of any of this? Unlike the staff at the hotel who were uniformly welcoming and courteous, the people at this church were uniformly unfriendly and had clearly not thought to consider how they might come across to visitors. Admittedly the exceptional service at the hotel was accompanied by a hefty price tag, but do we really have to be paying to receive attention and how much does it cost for one person to smile and say hello?

My third visit was to a gadget store. I’m quite attached to my gadgets, as anyone who knows me will realise. So a visit to this particular store was also eagerly anticipated. Needing an adapter for my camera I went up the stairs to be greeted by six young men and women who were waiting to serve (not behind desks). With a smile on his face, a young man immediately asked me if he could help. Telling him what I wanted he took me over to the shelf and showed me the various options, explaining, without any patronising tone, which the best option might be. He then politely showed me how to use their new payment system and at no time did I feel that this young person thought I was anything other than an expert in these particular products. I obviously give off a sense of knowing what I am doing with my phone rather more convincingly than I do with the BCP.

Back in Nottingham the other day I looked in our parish visitor book to see that someone had come in and experienced a welcome which was less than satisfactory. Possibly no-one is to blame because we are all quick to pick fault and there are many factors that affect a person’s visit. However, I know from conversations with one or two people in the congregation that we might not be doing the best we can with the many visitors we have coming into our churches. We are just about to reopen St Mary’s to the public and maybe now is the time to have a rethink about our welcoming strategy. Is it the best that we can do or could we improve it? Is this a priority for our parish? Just like in the hotel and the gadget store, it is up to everyone to play a part in being welcoming. Next time you turn around in church and see a strange face, be brave and go and welcome the person even if you do have to apologise because they have been coming to the church for 10 years!

St Matthew Passion - JS Bach

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:34:35 +0100

The Choir of St Mary's Church, Nottingham, will be joined by Egidienchor, Nürnberg (Germany) on Good Friday (29th March) to perform JS Bach's iconic work, the St Matthew Passion. Entrance to this service is free, with a retiring collection.

Beginning at 6pm, those wishing to attend this service are advised to get there in good time to secure a seat. Refreshments will be served by The Friends of St Mary's, and the performance is expected to last 3 hours.

Daily readings for Lent

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:09:24 +0100

This year's series of Daily readings for Lent, written by Reverend Christopher Harrison, can be found here.

St Mary’s Re-opens: Your Help is Needed

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 12:28:51 +0100

Ed Mills explains that great progress is being made with the developments at St Mary’s, but more funds are needed to complete the project

St Mary’s Church opens for its first service on Sunday 3rd February since it temporarily closed at the start of July. Anyone venturing into the church in February may well wonder what has actually been achieved in last seven months. Whilst it might look like little has changed, the ancient church is making excellent progress on one of the most important developments in its long history. Since the summer, the tired floorboards have been removed, old rubble underneath has been excavated, underfloor heating pipes have been installed and a limecrete subfloor has been laid. The project is well on its way to making St Mary’s one of the finest, flexible spaces for worship, concerts, events, exhibitions and education in the city of Nottingham. The developments will make the most of the church’s important heritage whilst making it suitable for the demands and expectations of the 21st century.

Despite the good progress that has been made so far, there is more to be done. Of most significant visual impact will be the striking new stone floor, designed by renowned artist Tess Jaray, which will be laid over the next few months. A number of additional improvements are also proposed, including the installation of additional convection heaters, a state-ofthe- art sound system, improved lighting, restoration of the North and South transepts and overhauling of the Marcussen organ. All of this will contribute to the vision for St Mary’s, helping to make it truly central to the life of the city and the newly formed “Creative Quarter”.

Your help is needed!

Progress so far has been helped by the financial support of a number of individuals and organisations. Without their kind generosity the project would never have got off the ground. However, a final push is needed to reach the final target. Your contribution could help many more people appreciate the heritage of St Mary’s and help to preserve one of a small handful of Grade 1 listed buildings in the city for generations to come.

Please visit www.stmarys2013.co.uk for more information about the appeal and to find out how you could support it. Alternatively email office@nottinghamchurches.org to request further details and a giving form.

Candlemas, Lent, Holy Week and Easter

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 12:23:14 +0100

Stephen Morris explores the meaning of the period from Candlemas to Easter

My dear friends, This edition of Nottingham in Faith for February and March coincides almost exactly with the busiest part of the Church’s liturgical calendar. 2nd February has several names including Candlemas but it is known in the Prayer Book as The Presentation of Christ in the Temple. It will be celebrated in St Mary’s Church on the evening of Sunday 3rd as Patronal Festival because it is also known as the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary. That last title refers to the Old Testament rite of purification commanded for all mothers of boys on the 40th day after childbirth (Exodus 12 and Leviticus 12). It concludes the group of seasons known as Advent, Christmas and Epiphany which are all about the mission of God the Father sending His Son.

Now there comes a short period known as Common season ending with Shrove Tuesday in anticipation of Ash Wednesday and the 40 days of Lent. Shrove Tuesday, or ‘Pancake Day’, began with households using up and clearing out of their pantries any rich winter foods prior to the fasting, purifying season of Lent. People would bring their palm crosses from the previous year’s Palm Sunday to the service on Ash Wednesday for burning. Then, as a sign of penitence for sins, the ashes of their burnt crosses are smeared on their foreheads. The 40 days which begin on Ash Wednesday remind us of Jesus’ 40 days of prayer, fasting and being tempted by the Devil in the wilderness. During this time, Jesus turned His back on wealth, power and fame and remained true to His vocation. This reminds us that the freedom to be who God has meant us to be involves refusing to let those same things be our gods.

In the middle of Lent lies what is sometimes called ‘Refreshment Sunday’ – a sort of “day off” from Lent’s rigours. We call it Mothering Sunday and remember the gift of good mothers and give thanks. But there was also a tradition that the whole family of God in a city or community would gather together to celebrate and party in the ‘mother church’ of that community i.e. the oldest church out of which other parishes were planted. Many of these were named after St Mary. Having completed Lent, we all get fresh palms again. This recalls Jesus coming into Jerusalem on a donkey’s colt where he was greeted with a great crowd who wanted to make him King, laying a carpet of palm leaves along his path (Matthew 21).

But this rather joyful day leads us immediately into the most solemn week of the year, Holy Week. That very progression of high to low via His teaching reflects how quickly those who greeted Him turned against Him and roared for his crucifixion. Their fickleness is just like ours: it’s so easy to want things from God – or any leader – as long as we don’t have to change ourselves. It goes without saying that there is no renewal if everybody only wants other people to change. Towards the end of the week we have Maundy Thursday from the Latin Mandatum Novum meaning ‘a new commandment’. On the night before He died, Jesus had supper with His friends and, having washed their feet as an example of servanthood, gave them ‘A new commandment, that you love one another’ (John 14). As St Paul said later, ‘If I have not love I am nothing’ (1 Corinthians 13). Immediately after commemorating Jesus’ instituting of the Last Supper (or Holy Communion) on that first ‘Maundy Thursday’ evening, many Christians keep a vigil, or night watch, and most churches strip bare their altars. They are metaphorically doing what the first disciples were unable to do by staying awake with Jesus during His testing time at Gethsemane and then through His trial before Pilate.

Love being everything is the essence of Good Friday. The three long hours during which Jesus hung on the cross are replicated between midday and three o’clock with quiet meditations allowing Christians to contemplate the quality and extent of Christ’s love for the world and the implications for our lives here and hereafter. This was the passion and mission of God the Son that everyone, everywhere could be drawn up into Him regardless of anything that we may have said or done, regardless of our station in society, race or gender.

There is little to say on Holy Saturday. We imagine the bleakness of that day for the disciples and all those who had loved and followed Jesus - dumbstruck and desolate that God should allow His innocent Messiah to perish. Yet, in the sight of God, perfect love must triumph over the greatest evil.

On Easter Sunday, this year the 31st March, churches around the world will greet the new dawn around bonfires symbolising the transition from gloom to joy; confusion to confidence; pain to healing; darkness into the Light; from death to resurrection. And so to the first Eucharist, remembering and participating in Christ’s death and resurrection; the firstborn of a new creation of which we are all inheritors because of His love and His mercy and His grace.

When the pilgrimage through Lent seems irrelevant or fruitless, let us do what Jesus did and keep our eyes fixed on the joy that is set before us. (Hebrews 12). Amen.

“On the Rock of Ages Founded” - Musical Tradition in the Church

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 12:17:48 +0100

Peter Siepmann explores the use of traditional church music in today’s modern world

I was asked a while ago to participate in a discussion on BBC Radio Nottingham regarding the relative merits of different styles of music in worship. “Is 'traditional' music church better than 'modern' music”, I was asked by Sunday morning presenter Sarah Julian (who admitted she was being deliberately provocative!). Though we need to be careful about qualitative comparisons (and of course the diversity of the Anglican church is one of its great strengths – let us not alienate our more 'liturgically charismatic' partners), it is undeniable that traditional church music is the result of centuries of musical evolution by the greatest composers the world has known. Such music, I suggested, was more suited to worship, and for two principal reasons that I shall discuss below.

Before continuing, however, it is important to appreciate that when referring to 'traditional' church music, I do not merely mean the ancient, but rather that which comes from the 'art music' tradition, including the most modern of works (anyone who went to St Mary's during the British Music Festival will not need convincing of the merits of the works of contemporary composers such as James MacMillan). Secondly, let me emphasise that this article is not concerned with the reasoning behind the very presence of music in worship in the first place. This I shall take for granted, hoping that we can all agree that St Augustine's proposition “qui cantat, bis orat” (“he who sings, prays twice”) is founded in the realisation that music can take human emotions into areas that other artistic works cannot, and offer the prospect of an escape from worldly existence (religion is more than cerebral, theological argument; it should occupy the heart and soul as well as the mind, and music - as well as all the other adornments to our liturgy – surely helps that to happen).

First and foremost, my argument for the use of art music in church is one regarding the sanctity of worship. Worship should be something special, something unique in our weekly routine - not using language and music that one might hear on the street, but rather that which lifts our hearts and minds to a higher place than the experience of daily life. Our communication with the divine should surely be something more than our communication with each other, and this is why I believe that the sights and sounds of the church should not be something that you see or hear in your every day life, but rather be formal, thoughtful, dignified, inspiring, and rooted in the traditions on which the church was founded. How can such a style of worship be 'relevant' to today's modern society, one is often asked. The Church must be relevant - its outreach, its charity and its role in society must be appropriate to what is going on right here and right now; but does this mean that its worship should mimic the culture of the here and now? Whilst church music (and indeed religion in general) should be accessible, in that it should be understandable, but must it necessarily be obvious, easy, or even banal? Of course not.

Secondly, I believe that adhering to tradition (yes, for its own sake!) is an important part of worship, and the Anglican Church (indeed Tradition forms the second of the Three Pillars of Anglicanism, the others being Scripture and Reason). “On the rock of ages founded”, says one of our favourite hymns; tradition connects us with our past and our ancestors, and with the past of the church and its ancestors. When hearing or singing plainsong, or music based thereupon, we engage in a style of music that has been present in the church since at least the 3rd century, and that itself derived from the chants of the Jewish temples at the time of Christ. This represents something rather extraordinary - a real, solid connection to the time of the very foundation of Christianity. Indeed, apart from being exceptionally beautiful, I think there is also something profoundly comforting in the timelessness of this ancient music - it has existed for centuries and will continue to exist long after we do (whilst, one could argue, genres of 'popular' music come and go). “Tradition,” said Pope Benedict, “is the communion of the faithful around legitimate pastors over the course of history, a community nourished by the Holy Spirit. It is the organic continuity of the Church, the permanent presence of the Saviour Who comes out to meet, redeem and sanctify us in the Spirit.”

We are justly proud in this parish of thehigh quality of traditional music and liturgy we offer week-by-week. Whilst not needing to be defensive (our strong congregation numbers and the distance travelled by many speak for themselves), I hope we can continue to encourage those not familiar with such a style of worship to give it a go – some may never look back.

St Mary's Church - Temporary closure update

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 11:20:29 +0100

Dear member of St Mary's Church,

I am delighted that we are now able to reopen part of St Mary's Church for Sunday and Wednesday evening services, after a closure of around seven months. At present we can use only the chancel, but the first service in the re-opened church, the Candlemas Eucharist on Sunday 3rd February at 6.30 pm, is a fitting occasion on which to resume worship in Nottingham's Civic Church.

After that date, I do hope that we will see you at Sunday morning services at 10.45 am, and Sunday Evensongs at 6.30 pm. Wednesday Evensongs will be at 6.15 pm, although for the time being the Wednesday morning communion service (8.30 am) and the Thursday 1.15 pm service will continue to be held at St Peter's. This is because laying of the stone floor surface, which begins in a few days' time, will be taking place during the working week.

Midland Stonemasons have been cleaning the interior of the church, including using a high level platform to remove dust from the highest levels of the building. They have also removed the old fan convector which was mounted on the north wall of the chancel.

The church and churchyard will remain closed to the public during the week for the time being, as the church building remains under the oversight of Midland Stonemasons until the flooring is complete. We will, however, be able to reopen the nave in time for Holy Week, with a floor surface which by then will be partly stone and partly (temporary) boarding. Do come to the St Matthew Passion on Good Friday at 6.00 pm, which will include visiting singers from Nuremburg alongside St Mary's Choir.

Before that, however, on the evening of Friday February 8th the churchyard and part of the church will be open for Nottingham Light Night, during which the choir of St Mary's will sing, as in previous years. The Friends of St Mary's will serve refreshments.

We are still inviting donations towards the project appeal, which has made very good progress thanks in particular to our churchwarden Roger Freeston and his team. Additional donations, however, are needed in order to help us install a modern sound system, along with enhanced lighting and other improvements to the building. Many thanks are due to those who have contributed already, but please do visit www.stmarys2013.co.uk or contact the parish office (office@nottinghamchurches.org or 0115 948 3658) if you would like to help.

We are also expecting that the church will be an attractive venue for various kinds of events for the city of Nottingham in general. If you would like to explore this with us, or have suggestions which might be of interest to us, please do contact me.

I look forward to seeing you in the re-opened St Mary's and to this exciting new chapter in the life of our church.

Yours sincerely

Christopher Harrison, Vicar

Job Vacancy - Verger

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 16:32:04 +0100

The parish of All Saints, St Mary and St Peter in Nottingham city centre have a vacancy for a Verger. 20 hours per week. Duties to include care of church buildings, welcome to visitors and preparation for services and events. Previous experience would be preferred. Details and an application pack can be requested from the parish office preferably by emailing office@nottinghamchurches.org or phone 0115 948 3658.

Closing date for applications is Monday 25th February.

Interviews will take place on Thursday 7th March.

Organ Recital at St Paul's Cathedral

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 11:43:32 +0100

St Mary's organist and director of music John Keys is giving a recital at St Paul's cathedral on Sunday 20th January at 4.45 pm. Read more about this event here.

Amidst disagreement we can all consider the wonder of Christ

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 14:58:47 +0100

Rev’d Christopher Harrison considers the recent rejection of legislation allowing women bishops, suggesting that, despite the disagreement, Christmas is a time for a common focus

Some years ago, in my last parish in Derbyshire, an elderly churchwarden told me that she had changed from being vehemently opposed to the ordination of women to being in favour of it. What had made all the difference was that she had got to know several women lay readers who took services in our church, and it began to feel perfectly natural to her that such people should be able to become priests. I thought of her when I heard about the General Synod’s vote rejecting women bishops, and was saddened by the reflection that people like her, who are prepared to change a deeply-held opinion and be open to new ways of understanding God and the Church, may be rather rare, especially on General Synod. Indeed the run-up to the vote seems to have led to a hardening of attitudes, rather than any real attempt to grow in mutual understanding.

The Church of England has been dealt a heavy blow, whichever side you happen to be on. Even if you are on the side of the opponents of women bishops, the credibility of the Church as a whole has been severely shaken. This parish, however, has for many years now been in the forefront of efforts to ensure that women and men have an equal place in the ordained ministry, as well as in other areas of the Church’s life, and at a meeting the day after the vote, our Church Council agreed the following statement:

"The Parochial Church Council of the parish of All Saints, St Mary and St Peter, Nottingham, wishes to make known its profound sadness in relation to the rejection of the draft legislation which would have enabled women to become bishops in the Church of England. Considerable efforts have been made to provide for those who oppose this change, and it is iniquitous that the persistence of blocking tactics should prevail over the wishes of the huge majority of members of the General Synod as a whole who are in favour of the proposals. We deplore the inability of the Church of England to legislate for something whose theological rationale is overwhelming, and press for a successful outcome to this impasse to be achieved at the earliest opportunity."

As Christmas approaches, we should not let disagreements within the Church, however serious, prevent us from focusing on the spiritual heart of this season. We can easily become so caught up with frustration or sadness about aspects of the Church with which we disagree, that we forget the sheer wonder of the coming to earth of Christ, the Son of God, as a baby, with all the vulnerability and fragility that this implies. The incarnation of Christ means that the very nature of God became human. It also means that through Jesus, living and dying among us, rising again and ascending to heaven, we can glimpse something of God and be given a way to enter heaven, if we believe and trust in him and follow his way of self-giving love. So, when you see the babe lying in a manger, or when you sing Christmas carols, do remember the cosmic aspects of all that we celebrate at Christmas time. For this isn’t just a time for giving and receiving presents, and for lots of eating and drinking, but for remembering that ‘God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that everyone who believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life’ (John 3.16).

What, though, do we mean by ‘eternal life’? Is it some vague concept of unending pleasure and happiness, in a mystical alternative world? A particularly interesting contribution to the debate about what we mean by heaven and eternal life has recently been made by an American neuroscientist, Dr Eben Alexander, who has just published a book entitled ‘Proof of Heaven’. While the title may at first sight sound over-confident, you will see, if you read the book, that Dr Alexander has every reason to believe that the realm of existence commonly known as heaven actually exists. A few years ago Dr Alexander went into a deep coma for seven days, caused by bacterial meningitis, during which his brain largely ‘closed down’. During this period, as he understands it, he had a remarkable experience in which his consciousness, freed from the filtering normally done by the brain, became aware of a kind of reality, a dimension of existence, which was beyond time and space and in which all things somehow were connected with one another. It was, mostly, a place of love and light, where his own personal identity was somehow part of a greater whole, but he was still able to be aware of his surroundings as an individual conscious spiritual being.

It is ironic that modern technology, far from simply reinforcing the modern belief that the material world is all that exists, is now able – by keeping people alive in far more extreme circumstances than has ever been possible before – to open doors to the non-material world that have largely remained closed until now. Of course much rigorous analysis of such experiences must take place, and we should not rush to hasty conclusions. But I still do feel, having followed the literature on near-death experiences over many years now, that this latest account takes us much further in our understanding of such things than has previously been possible. Perhaps, then, as we think of Christ coming to earth at the first Christmas time, we can see this coming together of earth and heaven in a new light. In Jesus, the realms of eternity and of time and space were somehow bridged in a unique way; and the love which pervades the heavenly realms was spread forth in our world in a manner which changed humanity forever.

A happy and blessed Christmas to you all.

Christmas 2012

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 13:11:29 +0100

Christmas Services 2012

Please note that due to major works, St Mary’s Church will be closed this Christmas.
This means that the services which normally take place at St Mary's will be taking place elsewhere - see below.

Sunday 2nd December
Advent Procession* - 6.30pm @ All Saints’ (with the Choir of St Mary’s)
Choral Vespers for Advent* - 6.30pm @ St Peter’s

Monday 3rd December
Nottingham Trent University Carol Service – 7pm @ All Saints’

Monday 10th December
Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centre Carol Service* – 6.30pm @ St Peter’s

Tuesday 11th December
Lord Mayor’s Carol Service* – 6.30pm @ St Peter’s

Wednesday 12th December
Carols after Work – 6.30pm @ St Peter’s

Saturday 15th December
Nottingham Bach Choir Carols – 4.30pm @ St Peter’s

Monday 17th December
Nottingham Girls’ High School Junior Carol Service – 2.15pm @ All Saints’
Hollygirt School Carol Service – 7pm @ St Peter’s

Tuesday 18th December
Nottingham High School Carol Service – 7.30pm @ St Peter’s

Wednesday 19th December
Nottingham Girls’ High School Senior Carol Service – 11am @ All Saints’

Thursday 20th December
Browne Jacobson Carol Service – 5.30pm @ St Peter’s

Friday 21st December
Lace Market Carol Service – 1pm @ St Peter’s

Christmas Eve
Family Carol Service* – 4pm @ St Peter’s
Nine Lessons & Carols* – 7pm @ All Saints’ (with the Choir of St Mary’s)
Midnight Mass – 11.30pm @ All Saints’
Midnight Mass – 11.30pm @ St Peter’s

Christmas Day
Holy Communion – 8.15am @ St Peter’s
Sung Eucharist* – 10am @ St Peter’s
Sung Eucharist* – 10.30am @ All Saints’

*Service will be sung by one of the church choirs

From all at All Saints', St Mary's and St Peter's, we wish you a happy and peaceful Christmas.