No Choral Evensong this month

There will be no Choral Evensong this Sunday, 2nd November.

Please visit the Choral Evensong Webpage for the latest information, including upcoming events and cancellations. To have this information e-mailed to you, sign up on our choral e-mail list by sending your e-mail address to . . . → Read More: No Choral Evensong this month

Be very careful about what you pray for …

By the Waters of Babylon (1882-1883)

It is vitally important to be very careful about what you pray for—because God might just decide to give you exactly what you requested. When, for example, we pray for God’s help in deciding the right thing to do, do we really want him to do that?

Doing what’s right is often entails . . . → Read More: Be very careful about what you pray for …

Saint Simon and Saint Jude

O Almighty God, who hast built thy Church upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the head corner–stone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their doctrine, that we may be made an holy temple acceptable unto thee; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. . . . → Read More: Saint Simon and Saint Jude

This Week’s Newsletter

Here is this week’s newsletter: St. Stephens News XXV No 42

The Feast of Christ the King

Christus Rex

Almighty and everlasting God, who didst will to restore all things in thy well–beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that all the kindreds of the earth, set free from the captivity of sin, may be brought under thy most gracious dominion; who liveth and reigneth with thee and . . . → Read More: The Feast of Christ the King

The Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity

O God, forasmuch as without thee we are not able to please thee: Mercifully grant that thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

King Alfred, King of the West Saxons

O God, who didst raise up King Alfred to serve and minister unto his people: Grant that we, and all our countrymen who bear office in the world, may think lightly of earthly place and honour, and seek rather to do the things that are pleasing unto thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

. . . → Read More: King Alfred, King of the West Saxons

Saint Crispin and Saint Crispinian, Martyrs

O Lord God, whose Martyrs Crispin and Crispinian laboured with their own hands and suffered all things that the Gospel might not be hindered: Grant us grace that both in deed and endurance we may be workers together with thee and thy Saints for the everlasting kingdom of thy Son; who liveth and reigneth with . . . → Read More: Saint Crispin and Saint Crispinian, Martyrs

Saint James of Jerusalem

Grant, we beseech thee, O God, that after the example of thy servant James the Just, brother of our Lord, thy Church may give itself continually to prayer and to the reconciliation of all who are at variance and enmity; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

The talented team that raised the cash

Altar at St Matthew's

The church as it appeared in 2001, before the enclosure of the front porch.

Looking back on it, it seems little short of miraculous that such a small congregation could have raised the money to build a million dollar-plus church—and that is a million-plus in 1990 dollars, not in today’s sadly devalued specie. . . . → Read More: The talented team that raised the cash