Following a decision by the PCC, application has been made to join the Prayer Book Society. As a church which uses the Book of Common Prayer for the vast majority of its services, we felt it right to join the Society, which exists to encourage  the use of the Prayer Book.

First, let me say that again I am only deputising for Herbert, who I am delighted to say is making good progress – I hope your usual correspondent will be able to resume next month.

On the 4th, we had the Feast in the Snow. Nearly 40 people battled through 3″ of snow and had an excellent meal in church. It was followed by singing led by Richard Nunn at the piano to mark the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s Accession. Thank you Richard, and thank you the ladies who cooked for us and all who helped.

On the 12th, baby Hugo was baptised. Parents Nick and Sally were among 6-8 couples married at St Edmund’s who returned for the now customary St Valentine’s tide service. This was followed by a most enjoyable Faith Lunch.

The PCC met on the 20th. It talked about:
• increasing congregations, including by hospitality (see above), email information, affiliation to the Prayer Book
Society (agreed), and popular hymns
• agreed a ‘Deed of Grant’ by the Hall to put parking on the Hall’s land by church and churchyard users on a proper
legal footing
• agreed to decoration of the chancel and north wall of the nave, and to the reduction of 2 churchyard yews that
obscure views of the church (and of any lead thieves!).
The redecoration is part of a programme of renovation that has been going on for several years now. Much of it – the renovation of the organ, the repair of 5 churchyard monuments, the cleaning of others in the nave, the moving of chairs into new cupboards and purchase of iron stanchions and barrier ropes to protect the south aisle monuments – has been paid for by lottery grants applied for chiefly by Ian Godson, whom the PCC thanked very warmly. The organ renovation in particular will be marked by short organ recitals by Ian Hepburn and visiting organists from 10.30 am until Noon.

There is no doubt that we are living in times of great change, and nowhere is this currently more true than at St Edmund’s, as we, together with All Hallows, face the future. One of the changes that one becomes aware of with advancing age is that timescales appear much shorter. The date when we shall say a regretful but thankful farewell to Robert will be with us almost before we know it.

I was very much aware of change last Sunday morning. Walking towards church I noticed the masses of snowdrops in the Hall grounds, bathed in superb warm sunshine, in recognition that Spring was here, appropriately marking the First Sunday in Lent. Change was at the heart of the Second Lesson from St Mark’s gospel. Here the author, writing as he was for Roman men of action, sums up a significant period of change in our Lord’s life in a few sentences. We read that Jesus came from Nazareth to the banks of the Jordan, was baptized by his cousin John, acknowledged by his Father, spent forty days in the wilderness, and straightway embarked on his ministry.

Sunday also marked a great change in the life of baby Ruby baptized here, supported by parents, godparents, family and friends. It was a really lovely service, enhanced by the particular part played by big sister Gracie, returning to the scene of her own baptism last year.

However, the greatest change for us lay in Brenda’s announcement before the service, that there has been an appointment of a Priest-in Charge, Revd Mark Rodel. Mark is to undertake a dual role, combining teaching at St John’s College with being a parish-based Pioneer Minister. I am sure that we all wish him well and will welcome him and his family into our community.

The implication of such a role is that inevitably the time that he will have to devote to parish duties for us and our friends at All Hallows will be limited. It is clear that we cannot expect to see as much of him as we have become accustomed to with Robert. It is a regrettable fact that the Church of England has not in recent years been successful in training and ordaining sufficient priests. Resource is therefore spread more thinly, and this brings with it an understandable anxiety as to how we are going to face the future.

We can, though, I believe, take some comfort from two factors. Firstly, we have a wealth of devoted, experienced and caring people who will I have no doubt ensure the survival of this unique church. Secondly, we have a commitment from the Archdeacon and Area Dean. They recognize that this particular appointment means that we shall require considerable support, and they have undertaken to identify and provide the appropriate resource.

All change!

Richard Cumberland

The project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore five churchyard memorials, restore our 180 year-old organ, build storage for tables & chairs, build a new website, and install new notice boards, clean five interior memorials (late addition), survey  the churchyard wildlife , and  the churchyard gravestones/memorials has now been completed, and the final report submitted for payment. A celebration of the project was held alongside our Coffee Morning on 10 March 2012, when the church was open, allowing all to see the work that has been done.

IG