St Mary Redcliffe Church Parish Magazine - December 2015 -January 2016

Articles
St Mary Redcliffe
Parish Magazine
December 2015 and January 2016
Dates for your Diary
Gaze on the New-Born Baby Christmas Services - Page 3
Kat Campion-Spall Treefest Music Slots—Page 7
Ash Wednesday 10 Feb
Simon Taylor's Book Lent Appeal—Page 13
Reviewed by Philip Burnett

St Mary Redcliffe
With Temple, Bristol & St John the Baptist, Bedminster
Vicar
Rev Dan Tyndall ' 0117 231 0067
Associate Vicar
Rev Kat Campion-Spall ' 0117 231 0070
Associate Clergy
Rev Canon John Rogan
Rev Canon Michael Vooght
Rev Canon Neville Boundy
Rev Peter Dill
Parish Administrator
Pat Terry ' 0117 231 0063
Admin Assistant
Ros Houseago ' 0117 231 0064
The Parish Office
12 Colston Parade, Redcliffe
Bristol BS1 6RA ' 0117 231 0060
Church Wardens
Research Assistant
Marion Durbur 0117 942 2196 Rhys Williams 0117 231 0068
Richard James 0117 966 2291
Head Verger
Education Officer
Matthew Buckmaster 0117 231 0061 Sarah Yates 0117 231 0072
Vergers
Community Development Officer
Carys Underdown 0117 231 0061 Hannah Currant 0117 231 0071
Andy Carruthers 0117 231 0061
Director of Music
Andrew Kirk 0117 231 0065
Assistant Organists
Claire & Graham Alsop
For more information about St Mary Redcliffe visit our web site at www.stmaryredcliffe.co.uk
Any of the Staff may be contacted at parish.office@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk

GAZE ON THE NEW-BORN BABY
Kat Campion–Spall prompts
reflection on the Nativity Window
Behind the altar in the Lady Chapel is
our wonderful nativity window. At the
centre is Mary, reclining next to the
manger on the straw, in which her
new-born baby is lying. I seem to
remember spending quite a lot of time
lying down as a new mother, partly I
think due to exhaustion, partly
because of the shock of the world
turning upside-down – the world feels a bit more stable when
you’re horizontal – and of course often also because I was
stuck under a sleeping baby! But that time spent lying around
is often also time just gazing at the little one, falling in love with
them, marvelling at the sheer wonder of their existence,
knowing that their birth changes things forever.
The nativity scene in the Lady Chapel is, on one level, very
busy. The usual visitors crowd around – shepherds with their
lambs, magi, a host of angels overhead. Below them,
contemporary visitors and figures from the church’s history
gather. But they keep a respectful distance, separated from the
holy family by the stonework, and at the centre Mary simply lies
gazing at Jesus. It is an image of stillness and absorption.
Finding space to pray at Christmas can be really difficult. Even
at church things can feel busy, and many people are involved in
a lot of extra events and services. Most people don’t
appreciate having anything added to their Christmas to-do lists!
But we are missing something important if we don’t give
ourselves that time to gaze at the Christ-child, marvelling at the
sheer wonder of his existence, knowing that his birth changes
things forever.

The church calendar has the wonderful gift of Christmas
season. While the shops may be packing away the Christmas
decorations in time for the Boxing Day sales, we hang on to
Christmas for 12 days. For a lot of people it is a quieter time
than Advent, which is full of busyness and preparations and
expectation. But when the rest of the world has moved on to
the next thing, the church invites us to keep our gaze on the
baby, God incarnate, a while longer.
So I’d like to offer you this image of Mary with the new-born
Christ, in the few days after that first Christmas, simply lying
down and adoring him. Perhaps you can take a little time in
Christmas season, in the days after Christmas Day itself, to rest
in the wonder of the incarnation. You may like to come into the
Lady Chapel and sit quietly, reflecting on the image in the
window, or to sit quietly at home, resting in the wonder of Godwith-us.
Or simply carry it in your mind, as a kind of antidote to
the busyness of Christmas.
I pray you would have a blessed Advent and Christmas, and
know the joy and peace of Christ.

Christmas at St Mary Redcliffe
Sunday 29 November
6.30 pm Advent Procession & Carols by Candlelight
Sunday 13 December
6.30 pm Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols by Candlelight
Monday 14 December
7.30 pm St Mary Redcliffe & Temple School Carol Service
Wednesday 16 December
1.30 pm Redcliffe Care Carol Service
Thursday 17 December
1.15 pm Carols for All at Lunchtime (until 2.00pm)
Saturday 19 December
3.30 pm Family Carol Service
Sunday 20 December
6.30 pm Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols by Candlelight
Tuesday 22 December
7.30 pm Carol Service with the Salvation Army Band & Songsters
Christmas Eve : Thursday 24 December
4.00 pm Christingle Service
11.30 pm Midnight Mass
Christmas Day : Friday 25 December
8.00 am Holy Communion
10.30 am Eucharist & Nativity Play
New Year’s Day : Friday 1 January
12.30 pm Holy Communion (said)
No services are ticketed, but we do get full !

The Light Shines in the Darkness
In his message for this
season, Bishop Lee reflects
on hope and overcoming
hatred.
I am writing this a week after
the killings which have
traumatised Paris and sent
shockwaves across Europe
and around the world. For the past seven days these events and their
repercussions have dominated the news. Borders may have been
tightened and security heightened but terrorists can take this as a
sign of their strength.
2015 has become a year marked by chaos and seeming impotence in
places unused to such frailty. To date, the nations of Europe have
proved unable to solve the migrant crisis, which has now been
amplified by the threat of terrorists posing as refugees. The tasks
facing political leaders have spiralled in complexity and,
understandably, the strains are showing. The year draws to a close
with many questions unanswered and problems mounting.
Over my years as an ordained minister, I have been aware of an
experienced disjunction between the Church’s calendar and the
‘everyday’ calendar in Advent. But not this year. The traditional
Christian themes of Advent, including heaven, hell, death and
judgement, do not feel at all remote or cutting across the cultural
mood music. This year the Advent themes resonate clearly with so
many existential realities. As the start of the New Year in the
Christian calendar, Advent heralds a new beginning and gives grounds
for a different source of hope in what feels a dangerous and
uncertain future.

Travelling in London in the aftermath of the Paris shootings I looked
up from the escalator at Tooting Bec underground to see a
noticeboard with a ‘Thought for the Day’ inscribed in felt pen: “The
light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” I
have no idea how many ascending the escalator that day would have
recognised the source of those words, but I am quietly confident
they would have lifted the spirits of most. Some may have found
them echoing around their psyche through the day, surfacing into
conscious thought every now and again, offering hope but also a
challenge.
Living in the northern hemisphere, the image of light in the darkness
works so well for Advent, complementing the illuminations on our
streets. Those words, as you probably know, come from the Gospel
of St John, chapter one, verse five. The word translated ‘overcome’ is
sometimes rendered as ‘understood’ giving further opportunity for
echoing around in our psyche. “The light shines in the darkness, and
the darkness has not mastered it” captures both senses – neither
comprehending nor overcoming.
In the painful and raw accounts of the bereaved Parisians, the one
which touched me most deeply was that of a husband with a young
child whose wife was killed in the Bataclan theatre. In an open letter
Antoine Leiris wrote to the terrorists: “If the God for whom you kill
so blindly made us in his image, each bullet in my wife’s body would
have been a wound in his heart. Therefore I will not give you the gift
of hating you.”
Monsieur Leiris’s words do not only reveal the God we meet
incarnate – made flesh - in Christ Jesus; they open us to our own
true nature. In refusing to hate and speaking of God in this way,
Monsieur Leiris has offered a bridge of reconciliation upon which
Muslims and Christians may stand together. His example is a
powerful and contemporary witness to the truth proclaimed on that
noticeboard at Tooting Bec. This Advent may such an example point
people to the one who is said, “I am the Light of the World.”
+Lee

SOUNDBITES - MUSIC AT REDCLIFFE
Andrew Kirk
Christmas Music Highlights
There will be separate Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight Services
for the girls/men on Sunday 13 December and for the boys/men on
Sunday 20 December. Please come along to support us.
Music includes John Rutter’s settings of The Shepherd’s Pipe Carol and
Mary’s Lullaby as well as a couple of choruses from Handel’s Messiah.
First performances will take place of local composer Ian Carpenter’s
Arise and hail the sacred day along with John Pickard’s bi-lingual
arrangement of Silent Night. (John is Professor of Music at Bristol
University). The Carol Service with the Salvation Army will feature a
medley of Christmas songs in a slightly lighter, but very festive vein!
Christmas Concerts at Tyntesfield Chapel
On Saturday 12 December our choirs will be singing in the Chapel at
Tyntesfield – the girls/men at 4pm and the boys/men at 6.30pm. Each
concert will last an hour Tickets are available through the National
Trust. I hope some of the congregation may be able to attend (wrap up
warmly!) Best wishes to all the readers for Christmas and the New Year.
A weekend away in Cambridge
In mid November, I was fortunate to attend Evensong at King’s College
Cambridge. As I entered the Chapel, I spotted a friend from university. I
soon found out that her son was a treble in the choir. I thought our
singers at Redcliffe were busy until I heard of the hectic schedule these
Cambridge singers have in the next month or so! The organ in the
chapel is soon to be fully restored by Harrison and Harrison in 2016.
I also attended Evensong at Trinity College Cambridge with its superb 24
strong mixed voice choir. The Senior Organ Scholar is Owain Park, a
former Head Chorister at Redcliffe and now a published award-winning
composer. The choir performed one of his anthems and it was very
inspiring to see a Redcliffe chorister achieving such great things. Who
will be the next name to watch in ten year’s time?

ST MARY REDCLIFFE MUSIC SLOTS TREEFEST 2015
Tuesday 8 December
10.30-11am St Mary Redcliffe School Gospel Choir
11.30-12.25pm Petronella Dittmer (Violin) & Andrew Kirk (Piano/Organ)
1.15-12pm Redcliffe Occasional Choir and Bristol Cabot Choir -
Rebecca Holdemann (Conductor), Andrew Kirk (Organ)
2.30-3pm St Mary Redcliffe School Clarinet Ensemble
Wednesday 9 December
10.30-11am Cleve House School Choir, Knowle, Bristol – Samantha
Pugh (Conductor)
1.15-2pm Sawdays Choir –David Ogden (Conductor)
3-3.30pm Tapestry (Chamber Choir)
Thursday 10 December
1.15-2pm Festive Organ Favourites – Andrew Kirk (Organ)
2.30-3.15pm St Mary Redcliffe School Guitar Ensemble
5-5.45pm St Mary Redcliffe Church Girls Choir – Andrew Kirk
(Conductor)
Friday 11 December
10-10.30am St Mary Redcliffe School Flute Ensemble
1.15-2pm Three Choirs from Merchant Academy – David Ogden
(Conductor)
5-5.45pm Bristol Chamber Choir
Saturday 12 December
11.00am Bristol Folk Singers
12.30pm The Ammonites
2pm
Avon Harmony
3pm
Bristol Ladies choir

Temple & St John Remembered 75 years On
Dockers from London were the first to realise what was about to happen.
They had seen the sight of flares being dropped from planes before. They
knew that Bristol was about to be bombed.
75 years on from that moment, 6.00pm on 24 November 1940, people
gathered at the location of two of the churches that were hit that night:
Temple Church in north Redcliffe and St John the Baptist in Bedminster. Both
churches have since been enfolded into this parish, which is why it was fitting
to walk, each led by a processional cross pulled from the rubble of each
church, to St Mary Redcliffe to mark the anniversary of the start of the blitz.
BBC’s Points West was broadcast live
from the chancel step and filmed the
moment when around fifty people
entered the church through the Great
West Door to the impressive singing of
our church choir. Lit candles, carried as a
sign of this act of remembrance, added
to the solemnity of the occasion.
At 7.00pm we all gathered in the newly
refurbished St John’s Chapel for a service
of Compline sung by the men of the
choir. Compline is a quiet service at
which we are invited to reflect on the
day and to entrust the night to God. We remembered that the people of
Bristol had anything but a quiet night the day the blitz began, and we prayed
for people around the world who have no peace and no protection.
Once back home, I watched the TV coverage on iPlayer only to see two of
Redcliffe’s faithfuls being interviewed as part of the package Points West had
prepared for the day. Mildred Ford was a child at the time, but twisted her
uncle round her little finger (like she still can!) to let her go out and see what
was happening. Eric Tyley, whose 23 rd birthday was the day after the raid,
spoke movingly about carrying his bike over the rubble on his way to work. It
was fitting that the centre photo in the Bristol Post the next day was of Rob
Tyley, holding the Temple Church processional cross, in front of the poppy
wall in St John’s Chapel.
Dan Tyndall

SUNDAY SCHOOL IN ACTION
Becky Macron
Following the baptisms on 20 th September, in which 16 of our children
were received into the Church, Sunday School continues to grow in
number and faith. Throughout the months of September and October,
we have explored
a number of
themes through
our Gospel
readings,
including what
marginalises
people, security
and leadership,
and rules and
permission.
October and
November
proved to be equally as exciting and eventful. Alongside our own
studies, we will be preparing for this year’s Treefest and examining in
greater detail the biblical meanings of some of the words from our
chosen topic: The Christmas Story, told through a children’s Christmas
Carol. We must not forget also the 29 th November; this important
date has been set aside for us to carry out our vital role of filling the
backpacks for Mary’s Meals Backpack Appeal.
Among the many talents of our children are those who demonstrate a
great artistic flair and we regularly rejoin the 9.30 Eucharist carrying
our beautiful creations. We would like to share our efforts with the
whole of the Church and will be soon displaying our work along with
our latest news and events in our Family Worship Area. Please do
come and have a look!
Photo by Chris Duncan during 20 September Eucharist

Simon J. Taylor. How to Read the Bible
(without switching off your Brain). S.P.C.K
Publishing. 130 pages. £9.99.
Reviewed by Philip Burnett
To many at St Mary Redcliffe the author and some of the topics
covered in this book will be familiar. Simon Taylor was Priest-in-
Charge at Redcliffe from 2006 – 2012, before he was appointed
Canon Chancellor of Derby Cathedral, a position he still holds. The
origins of his latest publication, How to Read the Bible (without
switching off your Brain) lie in Bible study discussions which he held at
St Mary Redcliffe.
Those who did not know Simon, or who were not able to attend his
sessions on the Bible can now benefit from his breadth of knowledge
about the Bible, as he shares his insights into what it holds, through
this stimulating book.
This is an ambitious book, not least because of the subject with
which it deals. The Bible is a hotly-contested text, from which the full
spectrum of Christian believers, and non-believers, draw their
arguments about religion and belief. Simon Taylor offers in his book a
systematic, sensible, but also rigorous approach for reading the Bible.
As the back cover proclaims ‘Bible reading is for everyone.’
The style of writing is easy and engaging. Taylor, as many know, is an
accomplished theologian and academic, but his writing is never
poncey, flowery, or obfuscatory. He never flaunts his learning in
obscure theological jargon, yet this book does not lack intellectual
rigour. It exudes the sense that it’s written by someone who knows
what he’s writing about.
And indeed he does, for Taylor, in 130 pages, seems to manage to
cover everything. Readers of this book (and it would make a good
Christmas present) should not expect to know everything about the
Bible or experience a ‘Damascene’ revelation of understanding upon
reaching page 130. The Bible is a book which has been debated,
contested, translated, and interpreted for thousands of years.

A 2015 publication is not going to give any ‘answers’, but it can help
with understanding. And Simon Taylor makes this point strongly in
his book by demonstrating that the engagement with the Bible can
only be achieved through constant and regular reading, reflecting,
digesting, discussing, and living.
These things we know: we’ve been told this since the days of Sunday
School, and are constantly reminded about it from the pulpit. But
while we know that this collection of books and stories is the root of
Christian life, the question is always how? do we go about engaging with
the texts of the Bible?
This is where Simon Taylor presents several simple, yet robust,
methods of engaging with the Bible. I won’t say much more (because
you must buy/borrow, and read the book) except that he shows how
this vast collection of words can be broken up into digestible chunks,
and put into terms to which we can relate and understand. Each
chapter offers a different approach, and conclude with questions to
ponder and suggestions for further reading.
That the book has its origins in group discussion is significant,
because one of the points Taylor makes so well is that the Bible is
about community. It tells the story of the communities of the past,
their relationship with themselves, and God. And it shapes the lives
of our present communities, and how we interact with each other,
the world and God.
And it’s this aspect of the Bible to which Taylor speaks most
strongly. The Bible shapes life. In fact, the title could have been How
to Read the Bible (and keep your brain switched on after reading it) only
that’s probably too wordy and would never be accepted by a
publisher.
The question of how the Bible shapes life is important, and Taylor’s
book subtly posing this challenge by asking What is the Bible to us?
How do we as a community, as individuals live the Bible? For thousands
of years the Bible has shaped the world for at times better and, sadly,
at others for worse. As Taylor points out, the Bible is a
conversation, a wrestling match. It is not meant to be an easy read.
But it all begins with reading.

PARISHIONER TO PARISHIONER
“Riding High on the Church Cockerel” (November 2015 issue,
Page 12): We had a response to Mildred Ford’s 1925 /26 photo of
the then SMR weathervane cockerel. Leonard Brown rang to tell his
own story (after carefully insisting that he is Eric Tyley’s old friend
but 6 MONTHS younger). Leonard, who was christened and married
at SMR, was a pupil at the Mission School and then at St Mary
Redcliffe Boys School. In 1930 when he was at the latter, the
cockerel weathervane was taken down for cleaning. A hand-picked
group of boys was taken over to the church by the teachers and
were solemnly all given a go sitting on it, “Just so that we could say
we’d sat on the cock” – and he is doing exactly that - to us in 2015.
Leonard recognized all the named men in the photo whilst also
recalling that in those days there was a Parish Beagle (Mr. Jenkins)
and a coachman, Mr. Babs, who lived in Somerset Square.
Ralph Morgan (in the photo) played the organ for Mr and Mrs
Leonard Brown at their wedding for a fee of £3 which he promptly
gave back to them as a wedding present. They are in their 75 th year
of marriage. Not many of us can say that, let alone sit on top of the
SMR weathervane.
Rob Mabery writes: Not only has our Mary's Meals Backpack
Project been successful yet again this year in gathering backpacks and
contents from so many people but Elworthy Office Supplies, the
Redland Park retailer, has been particularly generous with its
donation of a notable number of pads, paper, jotters, pens, magic
markers, file folders, etc. Could there be other like-minded retailers
out there inclined to donate!?
And a joke from Mary Brewer:
A man and his wife were having an argument about who should brew
the coffee each morning.
The wife said, "You should do it, because you get up first and then
we don't have to wait as long to get our coffee".

The husband said, "You are in charge of cooking around here and
you should do it because that is your job and I can wait for my
coffee."
The wife replies, "No, you should do it, and besides, it is in the Bible
that the man should do the coffee".
Husband replies, "I can't believe that, show me".
So she fetched the Bible and opened the New Testament and
showed him at the top of several pages, that it did indeed
say………… "HEBREWS"!
**************
Lent Appeal 2016
10 th February is Ash Wednesday, so the Lent Appeal will be upon us
very soon! The charity for 2016 is Changing Tunes, an organisation
that uses music to aid the rehabilitation of prisoners and exprisoners.
There will be a concert on the evening Saturday 20 th February with
performances from Changing Tunes musicians and, we hope, a
collaborative piece together with singers from SMR.
There will also be an exhibition in church throughout Lent, and a
special ‘prison chapel’ style evening service on Sunday 6 th March.
Watch out for more information in church in the New Year, and
please contact Kat Campion-Spall if you want to be involved.
***************
THURSDAY LUNCH TIME ORGAN RECITALS
January and February 2016
January: 14 Jan. Anthony Hammond (Cirencester), 21 Jan. Roy
Massey (Hereford cathedral), 28 Jan Anthony Gritten, (Royal
Academy of Music)
February: 4 Feb Christopher Kent (Chippenham), 11 Feb. David
Bednall (Bristol), 18 Feb. David Quinn (Radley College) 25 Feb.
Richard Morgan (Stapleton)

Notes from the November PCC
Eric Albone
We are the stone in your hand. Companion of all, help us to
know
the care with which you chose us
the tenderness with which you hold us
the potential with which you send us.
Your hand releases the stone into the pool, and sets off
ripples…..
The ripples spread out to the people around us …
These words from the prayer with which Kat Campion-Spall opened
the November PCC seemed to me to be particularly pertinent. This
was my first PCC for many years. Concerned always that
committees can be such time wasters, my first observation was how
well organised and purposeful the evening was. It was good to be
present.
Much discussion centred on moving forward the ambitious SMR
Development Project described by Rhys Williams in the September
Parish Magazine. This aims to obtain significant Lottery Funding to
transform the means by which St Mary Redcliffe can play a full part in
the life of the many faceted social and cultural communities we serve
as - a thriving Christian Community- a welcoming heritage attractionan
effective parish church.
A paper was also discussed concerning the possibility of children
receiving communion before confirmation; welcoming children are a
full part of the Christian community. See also the September Parish
Mag. The proposal was widely welcomed.
Dan Tyndall introduced a new much simpler organisational structure
for our multifaceted complex church which we bring much greater
unity to our activities and ensure that each part felt much more a
part of the whole.

Other items discussed included the 2016 budget, and our website
and its future design. A busy evening, and a listening one in which
everyone could feel their contribution was heard.
**********
Forgotten Voices
Collated and submitted for the magazine by John
Brewer in January 2015
Gallipoli 1915
Later I had my machine gun trained on Krithia which was
probably just over a thousand yards away where there was a
road used by mule trains. We would fire and make the mules
jump about a bit. At night we were told sometimes not to
fire in certain directions because we had patrols out. One
night the Gurkhas were out there, so we were keeping a
close watch. Out of the dark came this voice to warn us not
to shoot. “All right Tommy, all right.” The I saw this smiling
face coming in and it wasn’t till he’d got into the trench that I
realised that he was carrying the head of a Turk! He had used
his kukri!”
Marine Joe Clement, Deal Battalion, Royal Marines
1916
I hung my Thresher and Glenny coat up at the door. Later on
the weather switched to freezing. The ground got rock hard.
I didn’t see my coat for at least three weeks, but when I went
back to look for it, it was so frozen that it broke into pieces.
st
Captain George Jameson, 1 Battalion, Northumberland
Hussars

PROPOSED PLANS FOR REDCLIFF
QUARTER
Andrew Smith
A public consultation exhibition was held recently to present draft
plans for the proposed redevelopment at Redcliff Quarter.
Developer Redcliff MCC put forward its vision for the area - the
creation of a bustling new neighbourhood with its own unique
identity, celebrating the history of the local area.
The proposed development site, situated between Redcliffe Street
and St Thomas Street, with Three Queens Lane to the south and
Thomas Lane to the north, is currently home to underutilised and
decaying post-war industrial units. Redcliff MCC’s plans include
around 330 high quality new homes, a four-star hotel, food court,
restaurants and a new pedestrian street.
Planning consents have been granted for the site in the past,
however, the previous owner never developed the scheme, leaving
the area derelict. Having now acquired the site, the new developer
has begun work on its proposals.
In April 2015 Redcliff MCC was granted planning permission to
redevelop the adjacent site at Sampson Court, creating 128 new
homes. A joint venture between Change Real Estate Ltd, the
Cannon Family Office and ICG Longbow, Redcliff MCC is now
looking forward to developing both sites with a single vision – to
create a vibrant new neighbourhood for Redcliffe and a new
destination for Bristol.
For further information, contact: Andrew Smith
andrew.smith@conversationpr.co.uk

Update on Redcliffe Development Project
Rhys Williams
This week, the architecture competition, which will support the
development of the church’s facilities, launches with the release of
the Expression of Interest document to potential competition
entrants as well as the launch of the competition website:
https://competitions.malcolmreading.co.uk/stmaryredcliffe
The competition forms a key part of phase one of the church’s
development project. Phase one is designed to put the church in a
position to make a strong bid for funding from the Heritage Lottery
(HLF) in November 2016.
It consists of the following elements:
• Architecture competition to inform the built aspects of the
overall project
• Heritage activity planning, to find ways of bringing more people
into contact with the church’s rich history
• Feasibility study into community need to inform the
community-facing aspects of the project
• Business planning to develop income streams helping ensure
that the church remains financially sustainable
Malcolm Reading Consultants (MRC) will run the competition on the
church’s behalf. MRC is an expert consultancy specialising in
achieving outstanding design for clients who are commissioning new
buildings or refurbishing and conserving existing ones. The
organisation believes in the power of design to create new
perceptions and act as an inspiration. They are the leading
independent organiser of design competitions based in the UK and
have over eighteen years’ experience running international open
design competitions.

As part of the competition, on Tuesday 23rd February, St Mary
Redcliffe will host a Symposium on innovative uses for church
buildings and the future of church architecture. The event - which
will be ticketed and open to the public - is intended to provide food
for thought to the various teams of architects which reach the
shortlist stage of the competition.
Four speakers with expertise in areas relevant to the church’s
project will speak for 40 minutes each on their chosen subject,
before answering questions from the audience.
We are lucky to have secured Bishop Nick Holtam - who oversaw
the project at St Martin in the Fields - Jon Cannon - historian, author,
broadcaster and expert on the North Porch - and Loyd Grossman
who is now the Chairman of the Churches Conservation Trust as
speakers for the event.
The competition timeline is as follows:
• 26 November: Expression of Interest launch
• 15 January: Expression of Interest deadline
• 28 January: Shortlisting meeting
• 18 February: Invitation to Tender launch
• 23 February: Symposium
• 1 March: Competitor’s site visit
• 15 March: Invitation to Tender deadline
• 25 April - 6 May: Exhibition of submissions
• 10 May: Jury interviews
• 24 May: Winner announced
We are delighted to announce that journalist, author and Chairman
of the National Trust, Simon Jenkins, and internationally renowned
contemporary artist Luke Jerram - responsible for the Park Street
water slide - have recently agreed to become members of the
competition Jury Panel.

Morning Prayer Lectionary for December
Morning and Evening Prayer are said daily at 8:30am and 4:30pm in the Lady Chapel
30
November
Andrew
Psalms
Ezekiel or
Ecclesiasticus
John
47, 147:1–12
47:1–12
14:20–end
12:20–32
7 Psalm
Isaiah
Matthew
1 st
December
Psalms
Isaiah
Matthew
2 Psalms
Isaiah
Matthew
3 Psalms
Isaiah
Matthew
4 Psalms
Isaiah
Matthew
5 Psalms
Isaiah
Matthew
80, 82
26:1–13
12:22–37
5, 7
28:1–13
12:38–end
42, 43
28:14–end
13:1–23
25, 26
29:1–14
13:24–43
9 (10)
29:15–end
13:44–end
8 Psalms
Isaiah
Matthew
9 Psalms
Isaiah
Matthew
10 Psalms
Isaiah
Matthew
11 Psalms
Isaiah
Matthew
12 Psalm
Isaiah
Matthew
44
30:1–18
14:1–12
56, 57
30:19–end
14:13–end
62, 63
31
15:1–20
53, 54, 60
32
15:21–28
85, 86
33:1–13
15:29–end
145
35
16:1–12
14 Psalm
Isaiah
Matthew
15 Psalms
Isaiah
Matthew
16 Psalms
Isaiah
17
O
Sapientia
Matthew
Psalms
Zephaniah
Matthew
18 Psalms
Zephaniah
Matthew
19 Psalms
Zephaniah
Matthew
40
38:1–8, 21–22
16: 13–end
70, 74
38:9–20
17:1–13
75, 96
39
17:14–21
76, 97
1:1—2:3
17:22–end
77, 98
3:1–13
18:1–20
144, 146
3:14–end
18:21–end
21 Psalms
Malachi
Matthew
22 Psalms
Malachi
Matthew
23 Psalms
Malachi
Matthew
24
Christmas
Eve
25
Christmas
Day
26
Stephen
Psalms
Malachi
Matthew
Psalms
Isaiah
Matthew
Psalms
Jeremiah
Acts
121, 122, 123
1:1, 6–end
19:1–12
124, 125, 126, 127
2:1–16
19:13–15
128, 129, 130, 131
2:17—3:12
19: 16–end
45, 113
3:13—4: end
23:1–12
110, 117
62:1–5
1:18–end
13, 31:1–8, 150
26:12–15
6
28
Holy
Innocents
29
John
Psalms
Baruch or
Genesis
Matthew
Psalms
Exodus
1 John
36, 146
4:21–27
37:13–20
18:1–10
21, 147:13–end
33:12–end
2:1–11
30 Psalms
Jonah
Colossians
31 Psalm
Jonah
Colossians
111, 112, 113
2
1:15–23
102
3—4
1:24–2:7

Morning Prayer Lectionary for January
Morning and Evening Prayer are said daily at 8:30am and 4:30pm in the Lady Chapel
1 st January
Naming &
Circumcision
Psalms
Genesis
Romans
103, 150
17:1–13
2:17–end
2 Psalms
Ruth
Colossians
4 January Psalm
Ruth
Colossians
5 Psalms
Ruth
Colossians
6 Psalms
Ruth
Colossians
7 Psalms
Baruch or
Jeremiah
Matthew
8 Psalms
Baruch or
Jeremiah
Matthew
9 Psalms
Baruch or
Jeremiah
Matthew
89:1–37
2
3: 1–11
8, 48
3
3:12–4:1
127, 128, 131
4: 1–17
4: 2–end
99, 147: 1–12
1:15–2:10
23:1–8
20:1–16
46, 147:13–end
2:11–end
30:1–17
20:17–28
2, 148
3:1–8
30:18—31:9
20:29–end
11 Psalms
Genesis
Matthew
12 Psalms
Genesis
Matthew
13 Psalms
Genesis
Matthew
14 Psalms
Genesis
Matthew
15 Psalms
Genesis
Matthew
16 Psalms
Genesis
Matthew
18:1–30
1
2:8–end
2, 110
1:1–19
21:1–17
8, 9
1:20—2:3
21:18–32
19, 20
2:4–end
21:33–end
21, 24
3
22:1–14
67, 72
4:1–16, 25–26
22:15–33
29, 33
6: 1–10
22:34–end
18 Week of
Prayer for
Christian
Unity
Psalms
Genesis
Matthew
19 Psalms
Genesis
Matthew
20 Psalms
Genesis
Matthew
21 Psalms
Genesis
Matthew
22 Psalms
Genesis
Matthew
23 Psalms
Genesis
Matthew
145, 146
6:11—7:10
24:1–14
132, 147:1–12
7:11–end
24: 15–28
81, 147:13–end
8:1–14
24:29–end
76, 148
8:15–9:7
25:1–13
27, 149
9:8–19
25: 14–30
122, 128. 150
11:1–9
25:31–end
25
Conversion
of Paul
Psalms
Ezekiel
Philippians
26 Psalms
Genesis
Matthew
27 Psalms
Genesis
Matthew
28 Psalms
Genesis
Matthew
29 Psalms
Genesis
Matthew
30 Psalm
Genesis
Matthew
66, 147:13–end
3:22–end
3:1–14
34, 36
13:2–end
26:17–35
45, 46
14
26:36–46
47, 48
15
26:47–56
61, 65
16
26:57–end
68
17:1–22
27:1–10

Ten Commandments for Christmas
Contributed by Ruth Roche
1. Thou shalt remember to keep Christ in Christmas.
2. Thou shalt pause “in the business to consider the
magnitude of God’s gift of Christ to mankind.
3. Remembering that Mary and |Joseph “found no room in
the inn” thou shalt give Christ the chief room in thy heart.
4. Thou shalt participate in the Christmas activities
sponsored by thy church.
5. Thou shalt be generous in thy gifts to foreign missions at
Christmas.
6. Thou shalt take time to plan for the happiness of those
outside your own circle of family and friends.
7. Thou shalt enjoy, in unhurried calm, the priceless heritage
of Christmas music which exalts the Lord.
8. Thou shalt give of thyself in all gifts, giving not only for
duty, for reciprocity or personal satisfaction.
9. Thou shalt remember, with great patience and
understanding all those who serve thee: the salesclerk, the
postman, the delivery man, and all others who bear the
physical burden of the holiday season.
10. Thou shalt teach thy children the true meaning of
Christmas, of the Prince of Peace, who came to give
mankind a way of righteousness and true lasting happiness.
Wishing you all peace and joy this Blessed Christmas
**********************
NOTE FROM THE EDITORS
The next magazine issue will be February 2016. The
deadline for articles, news and views is Monday 25 Jan 2016.

FOR YOUR DIARY – 1 st December to 31 st January
DEC
See Christmas page for Carol Services
1 Holy Communion – 12.30 pm – Revd Kat Campion-Spall
1 Christian Meditation – 6.30 pm – Church Centre – Lewis Semple
2 Walking Group – 9.45 am – North Steps – Hannah Currant
2 Film Club – 2.30 pm – Church Centre – Hannah Currant
3 Holy Communion – 12.30 pm – Revd Peter Dill
3 Organ Recital – 1.15pm – Simon Hogan – Southwell Minster
4 Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship–7.30 am–Parish Office–Cecile Gillard
7 Pot Luck Lunch– 12.30-2.30pm– at Sue and John Pickards’– 968 1375
7 Postcard Club–7.30 pm–Church Centre–American Supper, Raffle & Quiz
7 Treefest Opening Event – 7.00–9.00pm
8-13 TREEFEST 10am-5.00pm
8 Holy Communion – 12.30 pm – Revd Dan Tyndall
8 Christian Meditation – 6.30 pm – Church Centre – Lewis Semple
9 Mothers’ Union–2.30 pm – Church Centre – Carols and Readings
10 Eucharist with Prayers for Healing – 12.30 pm – Revd Kat Campion-Spall
10 Organ Recital – 1.15pm – Andrew Kirk – St Mary Redcliffe
15 Holy Communion –12.30 pm – Revd Kat Campion-Spall
15 Christian Meditation – 6.30 pm – Church Centre – Lewis Semple
16 Walking Group – 9.45 am – North Steps – Hannah Currant
16 Film Club – 2.30 pm – Church Centre – Hannah Currant
17 Holy Communion – 12.30 pm – Revd Dan Tyndall
22 Holy Communion – 12.30 pm – Revd Peter Dill
22 Christian Meditation – 6.30 pm – Church Centre – Carys Underdown
24 Eucharist with Prayers for Healing – 12.30 pm – Revd Peter Dill
29 Holy Communion – 12.30 pm – Canon Neville Boundy
29 Christian Meditation – 6.30 pm – Church Centre – Carys Underdown
31 Holy Communion – 12.30 pm – Revd Peter Dill
JAN
1 Holy Communion – 12.30 pm
4 Pot Luck Lunch– 12.30-2.30pm– at Sue and John Pickards’– 968 1375
4 Postcard Club – 7.30 pm – Church Centre
5 Holy Communion – 12.30 pm – Revd Kat Campion-Spall
5 Christian Meditation – 6.30 pm – Church Centre – Carys Underdown

6 Walking Group – 9.45 am – North Steps – Hannah Currant
6 Film Club – 2.30 pm – Church Centre – Hannah Currant
7 Holy Communion – 12.30 pm – Revd Peter Dill
8 Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship–7.30 am–Parish Office–Cecile Gillard
12 Holy Communion – 12.30 pm – Revd Dan Tyndall
12 Christian Meditation – 6.30 pm – Church Centre – Carys Underdown
14 Eucharist with Prayers for Healing – 12.30 pm – Revd Kat Campion-Spall
19 Holy Communion – 12.30 pm – Revd Dan Tyndall
19 Christian Meditation – 6.30 pm – Church Centre – Lewis Semple
20 Walking Group – 9.45 am – North Steps – Hannah Currant
20 Film Club – 2.30 pm – Church Centre – Hannah Currant
21 Holy Communion – 12.30 pm – Canon Neville Boundy
26 Holy Communion – 12.30 pm – Revd Peter Dill
26 Christian Meditation – 6.30 pm – Church Centre – Lewis Semple
28 Eucharist with Prayers for Healing – 12.30 pm – Revd Peter Dill
28 Evensong – 4.30 pm – Girls Choir
30 Evensong – 4.30 pm – Merton St Mary Choir
Parish Register November 2015
Baptism
Alina Anne Goldsack on 15 th November 2015
Funeral
Jonray Luis Sanchez-Iglesias on 23 rd November 2015
Died 6 th November 2015 aged 32 years
************************************************************
A Day of Live Music and Surprising Performances
Wed 9 December - Midday to 7 pm
Church of St Thomas the Martyr, Thomas Lane,
BS1 6JG
Free Entry – Mince pies - Just drop in
*****************************************************

Walking Through
Sylvia Ansett-Lucas
Walking Through
Be aware of the three stages of mankind
–
The Before, the New, the Future
There “may” have been
Injustice
Cruelty
Greed
Selfishness
Lack of Compassion and Care
Unkindness
Thoughtlessness
By some,
Who “mistakenly” attempted to
Destroy and Frighten
You and your “love”
Stayed firm, resolute and lovely
Now “The Time of Transition”
Fright will disappear
Sadness remains-
Happiness will be remembered.
Forgiveness in abundance to those “others”
Move on
Into the Unknown
Surrounded by Love.
Thank you God.
This poem is a sequel to
Clouds written for Palm
Sunday 2014 and
published in this
magazine around that
time. Sylvia wrote the
poem late at night on
Friday 13 November
totally unaware of the
massacre which was
taking place in Paris at
the same time.
She has written six more
during the following two
nights making “Seven
Thoughts” in a Trilogy
of Nights – perhaps to
be published in a future
issue.

Groups within the Church
The regular congregation is large, active and involved. If you
would like to join one of the many groups connected with the
Church, please contact the appropriate group leader.
Head Server Dean Barry 0117 9099862
Head Sidesman Graham Marsh 01275 832770
Head Steward Cecile Gillard 0117 9600292
PCC
PCC Secretary Jo Hardwick 0117 9052502
Recorder John Steeds 0117 9732183
Youth Groups
Sunday School Becky Macron
Caring & Sharing
Lunch Club
Meditation
Bobby, Jenny, Paul
Lewis Semple
0117 9632359
0117 9255763
Mothers Union Hilda Watts 01275 543588
Church Flowers Mildred Ford 0117 9666794
Coffee Rota Christine Bush 0117 9773023
House Groups Alison Ranken 0117 9732821
Bell Ringers Tony Bulteel 0117 9245494
Canynges Society Annette Marshall 07877 098955
Journey into
Science
Eric Albone 0117 9247664
Magazine Editors
Angela Hogg
Paul Jenking
0117 9734560
0117 9632359
If you or one of your family are sick or have gone into hospital,
please let the Clergy or Vergers know as soon as possible.
Please consult the Parish Office before making any
arrangements for baptisms, weddings or funerals.

SUNDAY SERVICES
8.00 am HOLY COMMUNION
9.30 am SUNG EUCHARIST
(with Crèche and Sunday School and followed by coffee)
11.15 am CHORAL MATTINS
6.30 pm SUNG EVENSONG
WEEKDAY SERVICES
HOLY COMMUNION
Tuesdays at 12.30 pm
Thursdays at 12.30pm
2 nd & 4 th Thursdays at 12.30 pm Eucharist with Prayers for Healing
MORNING AND EVENING PRAYER
Monday – Friday at 8.30 am and 4.30 pm in the Lady Chapel
OPENING TIMES
Weekdays all year round 8.30 am – 5.00 pm
Bank Holidays 9.00 am – 4.00 pm (except New Year’s Day)
Sundays 8.00 am ~ 8.00 pm
The Church is occasionally closed for special events and services
The Arc Café in the Undercroft
Open Tuesday to Friday 8.00 am to 3.00 pm
Saturday 9.00 am to 3.00 pm
Tel: 0117 929 8658
CLOSED FROM 18 DEC TO 4 JAN INCLUSIVE