Sunday 2 November 2025. All Saints Day There was perfect peace before Mass. The rain tapped the stained glass next to me, which now, thanks to the new roof, doesn’t make its way inside. Things were still. Just the sound. And the freshness inside the church. I knew what was coming in the readings. The … Read more
Sunday 26 October 2025 There were two bonuses this morning. There was the extra hour in bed, thanks to the clocks going back. And the heating in church was accidentally left on, thanks to the clocks going back. It was lovely and warm inside, but we were told not to get used to it The … Read more
Sunday 19 October 2025 It was the morning after my first Study Day in London, having started the Archbishop’s Certificate (”ArchCert”) in Southwark I’d signed up for. I’d been on the early train for a 10am start, but walked the rest of the way through town from Victoria to St George’s Cathedral. It felt early … Read more
Sunday 12 October 2025 n the Gospel today (Luke 17: 11-19), Jesus comes across the ten lepers, who beg to be healed. Jesus does so, and tells them to go tell the High Priests what happened to them. Before setting off one of turns to praise God and to thank Jesus, falling at his feet … Read more
Sunday 5 October 2025 St Winefride Church, Neston All through Mass the alcove lightbulb, the one illuminating the statue of Mary behind the altar, flickered on and off. I was staying on the Wirral with family and, looking for the earliest Mass, settled on St Winifride’s in Neston. Storm Amy had arrived as a bit … Read more
Tuesday 30 September 2025 I found time to attend midweek mass, and to take the small bag of things to church for harvest festival. Harvest makes me think of school. As I remember it there were colourful piles of fruit and vegetables, sheafs of wheat and loaves. Maybe a sack of potatoes. But with my … Read more
Sunday 28 September 2025 Halfway to church I realised I’d forgotten to take the bag of tins and things I’d got ready for Harvest Festival. I performed two confused-looking U-turns. More like pirouettes really. The first to head back home, then another, in the middle of the road, after thinking again and heading back to … Read more
Sunday 21 September 2025 Our Lady Immaculate It was a ragtag mass this morning, the after effects of the wine and wisdom quiz the night before perhaps. Including the surprise of learning, in round six, that snails can sleep for three years. There were a few glitches. The mass readings noted in the newsletter were … Read more
Sunday 14 September 2025 Our Lady Immaculate Much was made today of the Exaltation of the Cross falling on a Sunday. I’ve not yet come to fully understand the cross. Not in the way the church teaches. In much the same way that I’m still coming to understand the importance of Mary. But what I … Read more
Sunday 7 September 2025 Our Lady Immaculate A slight change to Mass this week for the anniversary of the consecration of Our Lady Immaculate church in Whitstable back in 1908. Actually it had been a few days earlier, on Wednesday. But it was moved to Sunday “so we could have more people here.” As part … Read more