St Mary REdcliffe Parish Magazine Dec 2019 Jan 2020

St Mary Redcliffe 

PARISH MAGAZINE 

December 2019–January 2020 

singing the song of faith and justice 

“Tied together with love” — Canon Dan Tyndall 

Climate emergency— Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, Bishop of Bristol 

Soundbites — Andrew Kirk | Children’s Church — Becky Macron 

“God Holy and Loving” — Sarah Yates| Notes from Rwanda — Anna Brooke 

Image: EV’ 19 

1

St Mary Redcliffe with Temple, Bristol & St John the Baptist, Bedminster 

VICAR 

Revd Canon Dan Tyndall — 0117-231 0067 

email: dan.tyndall@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk 

ASSOCIATE VICAR 

Revd Kat Campion-Spall — 0117-231 0070 

email: kat.campion-spall@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk 

ASSOCIATE MINISTER 

Revd Anthony Everitt 

email: anthony.everitt@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk 

CURATE 

Revd Aggy Palairet — 0117-231 0066 

email: aggy.palairet@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk 

ASSOCIATE CLERGY 

Revd Peter Dill 

CHURCH WARDENS 

Elizabeth Shanahan — 07808 505977 

eshanahan21@googlemail.com 

Richard Wallace — 0117-923 2219 

oldwal_wynnford@btinternet.com 

head of operational development 

Roseanna Wood — 0117-231 0073 

roseanna.wood@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk 

PARISH ADMINISTRATOR 

Sarah Purdon — 0117-231 0060 

sarah.purdon@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk VERGERS 

Vergers’ office — 0117-231 0061 

verger@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk 

Matthew Buckmaster — Head Verger 

matthew.buckmaster@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk 

Judith Reading 

judith.reading@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk 

Paul Thomas 

paul.thomas@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk CLEANER 

Sally Trivett 

DIRECTOR OF MUSIC 

Andrew Kirk — 0117-231 0065 

andrew.kirk@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk 

ASSISTANT ORGANISTS 

Claire and Graham Alsop 

RESEARCH ASSISTANT 

Rhys Williams — 0117-231 0068 

rhys.williams@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk 

EDUCATION OFFICER 

Sarah Yates — 0117-231 0072 

sarah.yates@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk 

FAMILIES & YOUTH MINISTER 

Becky Macron — 07934 041638 

sunday.school@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk 

COMMUNITY YOUTH WORKER 

David Cousins — 0117-231 0069 

david.cousins@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk 

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WORKER 

Rachel Varley — 0117-231 0071 

rachel.varley@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk 

THE pariSH offiCE 

12 Colston Parade, Redcliffe 

Bristol BS1 6RA. Tel: 0117-231 0060 

email: parish.office@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk 

— all listed on this page may also 

be contacted via the parish office 

VISIT SMR ONLINE AT 

www.stmaryredcliffe.co.uk 

Contents . . . 

Vicar’s letter 

4 

Tied together with love — Canon Dan Tyndall 

4 

Diocese 

6 

Synod: Climate Crisis — Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, Bishop of Bristol 6 

Update — Revd Aggy Palairet 

8 

At church 

9 

Christmas at church 

9 

Soundbites — Andrew Kirk 

10 

Children’s Church — Becky Macron 

14 

Education: God holy and loving — Sarah Yates 

17 

Community 

22 

Legal Service — Richard Wallace 

22 

Messages 

24 

Our Youngsters: a year together — David Cousins 

25 

Rwanda: diary notes — Anna Brooke 

27 

Bristol Churches Winter Night Shelter — Sarah Yates 

29 

Poetry — Geoffrey Robinson; poetry classics 

31 

Listings 

34 

December–January diary 

34 

Editor’s note 

36 

December–January — A paean of praise 

36 

Prayers 

38 

Advent & Christmas — God’s greatness; Peace and calm? 38 

In the Christmas–New Year issue: Thank you again for all your 

contributions to the magazine in 2019; the next issue will be out in 

February 2020, the deadline for which is Saturday 18 January. Until 

then, wishing you a very Happy Christmas and New Year, and enjoy 

the content inside — the list above is not exhaustive! The cover shows 

the image, from the Lady Chapel East Window, on the Christmas card 

sold at church in aid of Bristol Churches Winter Night Shelter. — EV 

2 3

Vicar's letter 

TIED TOGETHER WITH LOVE 

— CANON DAN TYNDALL 

VICAR 

heritage destination; as a church that makes a difference in the parish and 

beyond; or as a progressive and sustainable organisation. 

SO MANY REALLY GOOD THINGS are 

happening around and within SMR: none 

of it happens by accident; and much of 

it is dependent upon the passion, determination 

and generosity (in terms of time, 

skill and money) of many people, not only members 

of the congregation, but also members of 

staff and volunteers from across the parish 

and beyond. For your passion, your determination 

and your generosity: thank you. 

None of this could happen without you! We couldn’t provide food for local 

food banks; offer a place of sanctuary and welcome to visitors and pilgrims; 

administer the life of the church with due diligence; engage with children’s 

learning in local schools; oversee significant funds left in our care by previous 

generations; celebrate our fellowship as sisters and brothers in Christ over 

shared meals; present the worship of God in sight and sound, word and 

music, even, on ocassions, in “odours pleasing to the Lord” (even if it isn’t 

pleasing to everyone in the congregation!); be and learn to be better ‘good 

neighbours’ within the parish; care for those things that we own and present 

them in the best way we can; connect with charities across the city; engage 

with significant construction developments in the neighbourhood; provide 

the learning and worship opportunities for children, young people and families; 

push forward our own huge development project; offer pastoral care 

to those in need and take Communion to those who can no longer get to 

church; teach and learn together as fellow disciples of Christ; and in so many 

more ways. The list goes on and on. None of this could happen without your 

passion, your determination and your generosity. 

But this list, and all those elements of SMR life that aren’t listed but are no 

less significant and important, is about more than passion, determination 

and generosity; and more than about what any individual offers, brings and 

uses as we continue to “sing the song of faith and justice” together: whether 

as a thriving, inclusive Christian community; as a recognised, welcoming 

What ties this list of activities together? What makes this more than a bunch 

of good stuff that a bunch of good people get up to? What transforms this 

from ‘doing good’ to ‘doing God’? The answer is just around the corner: 

literally and metaphorically! 

For, just around the corner, we will, once again, encounter the story of the 

incarnation. That moment that comes once a year, but only ever happened 

once. That event that ocurrs with regularity (some might add ‘monotonous 

regularity’), which is actually a once-in-a-lifetime (some might add ‘oncein-an-eternity-time’) 

reformation. That event that seemingly requires us 

to outspend our neighbours, improve on last year’s gifts and keep “UK plc” 

afloat, when the truth of the good news is free, and, more than that, the 

good news itself is free. 

And, just around the corner, is just the kind of place that this unique, 

eternity-time, free gift was made flesh, was brought to birth, was incarnated. 

Not in The Mall at Cribbs Causeway, with parking for all; not in Cabot Circus 

with its security team keeping the wrong people out; not in St Mary Redcliffe, 

with its spires pointing heavenward, or in Bristol Cathedral with architecture 

that seems to hug the earth, or in any other church building. 

The word made flesh, the light to lighten the Gentiles, the light that shines 

in the darkness, the son of Mary and the Son of God, was born in the winter 

nightshelter, or in the assisted living home, or behind the pub, or in a tent on 

the roundabout, or in the caves, or in the derelict buildings on Redcliffe Wharf. 

This is the Christ mass: the celebration of unmerited, unlimited and unbounded 

love. And, as simple as it sounds, this is what ties all our activities together; 

this is what transforms us from ‘doing good’ to ‘doing God’: that, as simple 

as it sounds, everything we do and everything we are, is a celebration of that 

unmerited, unlimited and unbounded love; of that Christ mass. 

Here’s to a blessed, peaceful and just Christ mass for all people. 

— Canon Dan Tyndall; Vicar 

4 5

Diocese 

FROM THE RT REVD VIVIENNE FAULL, BISHOP OF BRISTOL — [*] 

DEAR FRIENDS — at the Diocesan Synod on 

Saturday November 16th we agreed to declare 

a Climate Emergency. Bristol is the first Diocese to 

make this declaration and pledge to reach net zero 

carbon emissions in its life and work, by 2030 [...] 

Climate change hits our poorest global neighbours 

first and worst, exacerbating migration and conflict 

over resources. As Christians we are driven to 

urgent action by love for our neighbour, our world 

and our creator God and I know that many of you 

are already involved in activity to halt this destruction and bring about climate 

justice. By declaring a Climate Emergency I hope our practical action and 

collective voice will send a strong message to our Church and government. There 

is so much we can do as Christians, in our churches, our homes and our daily lives. 

The situation is urgent. We must act now. 

+ Viv 

DIOCESE OF BRISTOL ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE JUSTICE POLICY 

Approved by Bristol Diocesan Synod at its meeting on 16 November 2019 

THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATION: the Diocese of Bristol affirms that stewardship 

of God’s creation, a just sharing of resources, and concern for the earth are 

fundamental biblical prerogatives, central to Christian mission and discipleship. 

We acknowledge in humility and penitence the serious damage we are doing to 

creation and the urgent need for repentance, lament, sacrificial change and new 

ways of living. We commit ourselves to meaningful action, taking Jesus as our 

example, who made peace by shedding his blood, and whose resurrection is the 

first fruits of a new creation, and we look forward to the day when all creation 

will be redeemed and reconciled to God. We note that we share this commitment 

with many others in our society and commit to creating connections with others 

in developing our responses to this global challenge. It is in this spirit, and noting 

the integral nature of the five marks of mission, that this policy is written. 

CONTEXT: We are facing an urgent environment crisis which risks jeopardising 

life on earth for future generations and further damaging the eco-system of 

the natural world. The impact of humans on the planet is reducing biodiversity, 

changing the climate, and polluting the earth. Around the world, climate change 

is affecting food security, creating social vulnerability, disrupting peace and 

security and causing the mass movement of populations. While steps are being 

taken to tackle the problems, much more needs to be done, and more urgently. 

POLICY STATEMENT: Across the Diocese of Bristol, we commit to taking a lead, 

in partnership with others, to change the impact of humans on the planet, making 

creation care an integral part of our mission and discipleship. 

COMMITMENTS: We commit to: 

1. Embedding creation care within our worship, teaching and discipleship work. 

2. Becoming sustainable customers, limiting our waste, and reducing our 

carbon footprint. 

3. Encouraging biodiversity and using land sustainably. 

4. Increasing our use of renewable energy sources and ensuring energy efficient 

buildings. 

5. Prioritising environmental issues in our financial decision making. 

6. Working with a range of communities on environmental issues, including 

participating in national and global campaigns. 

7. Proactively recording, celebrating and championing environmental issues. 

IMPLICATIONS: As a result of the Diocesan Synod’s adoption of this policy, the 

Bristol Diocesan Board of Finance will follow it in its decision-making and activity. 

This will affect multiple aspects of the work at diocesan level and the Diocesan 

Environmental Group will monitor and support its implementation, reporting to 

the Bishop’s Council annually and Diocesan Synod in each triennium. This 

policy is recommended to PCCs and other bodies in the Diocese for them to 

adopt and follow. It also can be used to inform the lives of individual Christians 

and households. Action is under way to support this policy. A 12-month action 

plan will be agreed in early 2020 in the light of the goals set by the Diocesan Synod 

in debating a climate change emergency and will be renewed annually. 

[*] from Bishop Viv’s email circular of 19.11.19 

6 7 

Cont/...

AT 

SYNOD four churches in the Diocese 

received Eco Awards — 1 Silver; 3 Bronze. 

Kat received a Bronze Award on behalf of St Mary 

Redcliffe from Bishop Viv, and spoke about the 

theology behind our responses to creation care 

as Incarnational. Below Aggy tells us about the 

church’s 2020 Lent Appeal and some of the ways 

in which that theological vision will be 'fleshed 

out'. — EV; Synod member 

"IT'S 

MY GREAT PLEASURE to announce the 

John Ray Initiative as our charity for 

our 2020 Lent Appeal! We have invited the Revd 

Margot Hodson and her husband Dr Martin Hodson 

as our guest speakers; they will share with us their 

vision on how to bring together scientific and 

Christian understandings of the environment. 

We plan to launch our Lent appeal with Pancakes with the Planet on Shrove 

Tuesday! Other exciting plans include: a mending/repair (electronic equipment) 

café; a bike repair workshop; a surplus food event; an eco-fair, and an art 

exhibition. As part of the art exhibition, we would love you to take part in 

making “eco-bricks” (specific instructions to follow); using our eco-bricks, the 

artists will create an eco-brick tomb! 

This year the Archbishop of Canterbury and Bishop Viv have recommended the 

Lent book Saying Yes to Life by Ruth Valerio. Using this book, we plan to have 

Lent groups in the four corners of Bristol. And together, we hope to be 

challenged, to reflect and to think about our everyday concerns and the 

issues that are having an impact on millions of lives around the world. 

This is only the beginning! Our SMR Eco-team who came up with 

some of the brilliant ideas for the Lent appeal will continue to help 

us develop and implement changes in the ways we care for our planet 

..."— Revd Aggy Palairet; Curate 

RR 

For more on the John Ray Initiative visit https://www.jri.org.uk | For more on Bristol 

Diocese and Climate Change visit: https://www.bristol.anglican.org/news/2019/11/20/ 

weve-declared-climate-emergency/ | Diocesan Synod photos © Revd Chris Dobson 

Advent & Christmas at church 

ADVENT SUNDAY 

Sunday 1 December 

6:30pm: From Darkness To Light; Advent music & readings 

+ 

Tuesday 3 to Saturday 7 December 

TREEFEST: 10am–5pm daily (till 8.00pm on 5 December) 

annual charity Christmas tree festival 

+ 

Saturday 7 December 

5pm: Community Carol Service 

+ 

Tuesday 17 December 

7.30pm: United Carols 

+ 

Wednesday 18 December 

1.15pm: Carols at Lunchtime 

+ 

Friday 20 December 

7.30pm: Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols by Candlelight 

+ 

Saturday 21 December 

4pm: Christingle Service 

+ 

Sunday 22 December 

6.30pm: Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols by Candlelight 

+ 

Christmas Eve — Tuesday 24 December 

4pm: Crib Service 

11.30pm: Midnight Mass 

+ 

CHRISTMAS DAY 

Wednesday 25 December 

8am: Holy Communion 

10.30am: Festival Eucharist, with Nativity Play 

8 9

A 

t 

church | soundbites music at redcliffe 

VOICES, AND SEASONAL MUSIC 

— ANDREW KIRK, DIRECTOR OF MUSIC 

OUR CHRISTMAS MUSIC this year will have a good variety of 

styles and periods. Included in the girls choir repertoire are 

two pieces by Bristol University music graduate Will Todd (b.1970), 

who has an excellent reputation as a composer of published choral 

music. As well as lots of familiar English carols, ancient and modern, we will 

also have Carol of the Bells from Ukraine (sung in English); Riù, Riù, Chia (sung in 

Spanish), O Magnum mysterium by French composer Francis Poulenc, and an 

Appalachian Carol — I wonder as I wander — arranged by English composer 

Andrew Carter, who celebrates his 80th birthday this year. 

There will be two Advent Processions — on Saturday 30 November and 

Sunday 1 December at 6:30pm — as well as two Nine Lessons & Carols, 

on Friday 20 December (7:30pm) and Sunday 22 December (6:30pm). I 

hope you will be able to come along to enjoy some of our Christmas 

music listed here at those services! 

VOICES: Choral Scholars — Andrew talks to Choral Scholar Isobel Reid 

— Andrew: Izzy, what attracted you to applying for a choral scholarship? 

Isobel — I really wanted more experience of the Anglican choral tradition. Fellow 

Choral Scholars Matt and Joe were saying good things about being in the choir! 

Do you like Eucharist, Mattins or Evensong best and why? 

Definitely Mattins, because it’s not sung very much in other churches. Walton’s 

Jubilate is a wonderful piece. 

Favourite Choral Composers? 

Walton, Howells and Britten — my dissertation is on Britten’s choral music! 

Which instruments do you play? 

I’m a very reluctant flautist but mainly stick to voice these days! 

When and where was your first experience of singing in church? 

Singing at Nine Lessons and Carols when I was 12 years old at St Martin’s 

Church, West Acton, where my mum has sung in the choir for many years. SMR 

was my first experience of singing regular services every Sunday. 

Who has been a big influence on your musical development? 

All of the conductors, section leaders and staff members at the National Youth 

Choirs of Great Britain. I have been a member of both their Training Choir and 

now their Main Choir and the National Youth Chamber Choir. They have given 

me absolutely amazing opportunities; we sang at the first night of the BBC 

Proms in 2018 as well as singing concerts at Snape Maltings. I won’t be able 

to sing the Nine Lessons & Carols Services at SMR this year as I will be singing 

at the Carol Concerts at the Royal Albert Hall from the 21st–24th December. 

They taught me how to be a useful and attentive chorister and I try to impart 

some of the lessons they taught me to our girl choristers during our vocal 

coaching sessions. 

Why is singing in a church choir a good thing? 

St. Mary Redcliffe is a really beautiful space to sing in, and its excellent organ 

enhances the experience too. Ultimately, though, our purpose as a church 

choir is to offer music to the glory of God, and help to lead the congregation 

in meaningful worship. I really hope we achieve this, because I think the 

difference in context compared to other performances singers might give is 

quite important. 

Our Music Scholars, left–right: Matt, Ned, Izzy, Adam & Joe [photo: Andrew Kirk] 

How does singing at SMR compare to other choirs you sing with? 

A real sense of community in the back row, good quality singing, along with 

very efficient rehearsal! 

10 11

The best thing about being in Bristol? 

Absolutely beautiful views from the top of every steep hill! 

Memorable performances you have taken part in before university? 

Taking my ARSM performance diploma in Singing before I left school — it was 

a huge challenge, but I enjoyed both the preparation and the exam itself, 

believe it or not! 

TREEFEST 2019 

3–7 December 

10am to 5pm daily; and 

to 8pm on 5 December 

— Andrew Kirk 

Director of Music 

Note from Andrew — warm Congratulations to Izzy on being awarded an alto 

Choral Scholarship at Worcester Cathedral from Autumn 2020. We will miss her 

very much but it is really pleasing when choristers gain experience here and 

elsewhere and then go onto bigger and better things. 

 

CHURCH LANDS CHARITY: NEW DIRECTORS NEEDED 

ST MARY REDCLIFFE CHURCH LANDS CHARITY (CLC) is looking 

to recruit new volunteer directors, which role is broadly equivalent 

to that of charity trustees. This is the ancient charity (historically known 

as the Vestry) which provides funding to the church for its maintenance, 

staffing and charitable works in the parish. 

It is a responsible role but involvement with this well-funded charity 

gives an opportunity to make a difference to both church and parish. 

We would particularly welcome applications from people under the 

age of 35 and from women, ethnic minorities, and those living or 

working in the parish. Applicants with skills in accounting/treasury, 

investment management and real estate management would also be 

particularly welcome. However none of these attributes is a pre-requisite. 

REDCLIFFE CHRISTMAS DAY LUNCH 

FAITHSPACE, PREWETT STREET BS1 6BP 

Arrive 12 noon for drinks and nibbles. Lunch will be served 

at 1pm, and will end at 2:30pm; we will not be serving alcohol 

at the gathering. We are not currently providing transport but do let 

us know if that’s a problem for you. Parking will be available at 

Faithspace. Please let us know any relevant dietary requirements, and if 

you’re no longer able to attend please let us know by calling 0117-231 0060. 

STEWARDING AT ST MARY REDCLIFFE 2019–2020: AN UPDATE 

We now have 31 Stewards and 6 Reserves, but it would still be good to have 

several more for the Spring and Summer, so please think about volunteering — 

SESSIONS last for 3 hours (10am till 1pm, and 1pm till 4pm). Stewards can 

choose to be on duty each week, once a fortnight or once a month. In October 

nearly 3,700 people visited the church from 53 different countries, including 

several Bristolians who had never been into the building before. Welcoming 

people with a smile, and offering pamphlets to take away and short guides in 

relevant languages to be used while in church, are much appreciated and often 

praised on social media and in our Visitors’ Book. Please see me, or telephone 

or email me if you are interested. 

— Marion Durbur; Head Steward 

tel: 0117-942 2196 / email: marionatberkeley@talktalk.net 

If you are interested or would like to see a detailed Director role 

description please contact John Dunn, the present Chair of Directors, 

on — mob: 07582 988064 or email: johnbdunn@blueyonder.co.uk 

STOP PRESS : THEOLOGY BOOK CLUB meets on Tuesday 21 January at Canon 

John Rogan’s house, and will be studying seeking the god beyond: a beginner’s 

guide to christian apophatic spirituality by J P Williams. For details or if you 

would like to join please contact Chris Duncan — chris.cycling.duncan@gmail.com 

Further Theol. Bk. Club news will follow in the next issue of the magazine. And 

please see the article on page 16 for the Feminist Theology Group. — Ed 

12 13

at church | children’s & youth 

FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT: 

NOVEMBER TO CHRISTMAS — 

BECKY MACRON, FAMILIES & YOUTH MINISTER 

WE’VE HAD an exciting few weeks 

in Children’s Church; this year 

during November we did things 

a bit differently from previous years. 

Light Party Firstly, we started the month 

with a Light Party — something I have been 

dreaming about for a few years and it 

certainly fulfilled my expectations. Jackie 

Greenwood and Jackie James, two very 

dedicated members of the team, hosted the 

Light Party in the Undercroft on Friday 1st 

November. 

We started with dim lighting and worked 

together on some ‘scary’ crafts. We then 

played some games, in which we discussed 

the things that scare us and what we do to help 

ourselves when we are feeling frightened. 

The darkness then turned to light and we 

enjoyed a nice munch together, before 

working on some more ‘light crafts’, where 

we thought about Jesus — the Light of the 

World — always there, shining a light in 

those dark places; our guide in all we do. 

book and a gas mask for the children to look 

at — not forgetting her whistle, which was 

really useful and rounded up the groups at 

the end of the session! Mildred then worked 

with our older children to make a poppy 

wreath, whilst the younger ones had great 

fun making their own air raid shelters from 

the tables, chairs and blankets. It really was 

an inspirational talk and we are very grateful 

to Mildred for her time and talents. 

Christmas: Children’s Church is now 

preparing for Christmas! I always 

enjoy the lead up to Christmas — it’s 

one of my favourite times of year 

and we’ve lots of exciting plans. 

We are currently working on our 

Children’s and Youth Church Tree 

under the leadership of our very 

talented Natasheya. It’s going to 

be quite spectacular. 

Finally, I’d like to wish you all a 

very Merry Christmas — and to 

thank you for all your support 

and kindness which enables us 

to deliver our children’s ministry 

throughout the year. 

Becky Macron — 

Families & 

Youth Minister 

Light Party 

...who? 

? 

Remembrance Sunday: This was certainly a 

day to remember, thanks to Mildred who very kindly took the time to visit 

us and share her memories of the Second World War. All fifty-one children 

were fully engaged as Mildred told us about the war through her eyes and 

her experiences as an evacuee. She also brought along a tin hat, a ration 

mob: 07934 041638 

email: becky.macron@ 

stmaryredcliffe.co.uk 

[photos & permissions 

Becky Macron] 

14 15 

...what?

at church | 

theology groups 

ONE NIGHT, I came to a very 

lovely concert at SMR. It was 

not my first visit — I’d been several 

times before — but something 

about the light, the dark and the 

music resonated deeply on this 

occasion. 

As I was wondering out at the end 

I cast my eye casually over the 

information table at the back of 

the church, and my attention was 

caught by an invitation to join a 

Feminist Reading Group. Well, I 

thought, maybe interesting things 

were happening in this place, it was 

not just a beautiful building. And 

so it proved. 

The Feminist Reading Group meets 

every month. Our most recent 

book has been Womanist Midrash: a 

re-introduction to the women of the Torah 

and the Throne by Wilda Gafney. 

It is written by a black American 

woman exploring the lives of early 

Old Testament women (think iron 

age). Certainly outside the comfort 

zone of this writer. Gafney uses 

FEMINIST THEOLOGY GROUP 

— A PERSONAL VIEW 

— WENDY GILLMAN 

a powerful mix of academic 

rigour and creative storytelling 

(midrash) to light up the stories of 

these shadowy women who lived 

their lives so long ago. She makes 

them accessible to us and points 

to the parallels to the constraints 

under which they lived and those 

of the black women in the culture 

she is representing. And so we learn 

more about other lives, past and 

present, more about each other and 

ourselves, and certainly more about 

the Old Testament. 

Next up is a work of biographical 

fiction: Phoebe by Paula Gooder, 

a Deaconess in the 1st century, to 

whom Paul entrusted his Letter to the 

Romans — arguably his theological 

masterpiece, says the blurb. 

Come along and join us as we engage 

with the the world of the early 

Christians and explore St Paul’s 

theology. I seem to remember 

Paul was not known for his liberal 

attitudes towards women — should 

make for interesting meetings! 

— Wendy Gillman 

Feminist Theology Group: for more information and times of meetings please 

contact Helena Hoyle King — email: helena.m.hoyle@gmail.com 

at church | education 

“WHAT DOES IT MEAN 

IF GOD IS HOLY AND LOVING?” — 

SARAH YATES 

EDUCATION OFFICER 

THIS IS THE QUESTION which was addressed by the children 

in Year Six from St Mary Redcliffe Primary School in their 

recent workshops. 

We started by listening to some passages from the Bible that talk of God 

being Holy. The children were asked to think of synonyms for holy or holiness 

as they heard each passage. Here are some of the words they came up with: 

special; sacred; important; worthy; honoured; noble; truthful; 

great; beautiful; the one and only; pure; perfect; correct; just; wise; 

the highest; beloved; peaceful, fair, kind, caring, restful, traditional. 

I asked one of the volunteer helpers (Steve, fortunately an ordained 

minister) if he could describe what God would be like if he were just 

‘holy’…. He asked the children to think of a teacher who was very strict 

but very fair. The teacher would want everyone to have 100% in a test 

and to be perfectly behaved. The teacher was perfect himself and expected 

the pupils to be perfect. If you weren’t able to achieve perfection, he was 

disappointed in you. 

We recognised that this was a hard picture to deal with and so we went 

on to look at some other Bible passages which talk about God being 

love and having a loving nature. Again, the children were asked to write 

down synonyms of these words and here are some they came up with: 

adored; trusted; special; caring; gentle; loving; compassionate; kind; 

respectful; generous; fair; perfect; believing in others; courageous; 

calm; peaceful; truthful; always with you; a tower of strength; complete. 

16 17

Steve again described what God would be like if he were just loving 

by using the example of a teacher who was very kind, very accepting, 

didn’t mind if pupils scored 0% in every test, thinking the best of 

everyone all the time, forgiving them when they did things wrong and 

having very few rules. We wondered if this would mean that no-one 

really made an effort to achieve anything. Fortunately for Christians, 

they believe that God is both Holy and Loving. 

who asked Harry Stammers to design and install the wonderful windows 

in the Lady Chapel instead of replacing the war-damaged windows with 

plain glass. From the rebuilding of the church spire in the 19th Century, to 

more recent times when the church commissioned Robert Coles to design 

and build the wonderful and hugely symbolic boat-shaped altar in St John’s 

Chapel instead of buying a cheap table to use as an altar! All these generations 

of people have felt that God was worthy to be worshipped through 

the beauty and grandeur of the architecture, the design of the building its 

windows and the objects within it. 

In groups, the children did a tour of parts of the church looking at how 

the architecture, the structure and shape of the church building and 

the artefacts inside demonstrate the holiness and also the loving nature 

of God. The very shape of the church (cruciform) reminds us of the 

love of God in Jesus and the gothic architecture with its tall arches and 

the gold-covered bosses point to the glory of God. 

We looked at how, over the centuries, people have felt that the church 

was important enough to spend a lot of money on making it very beautiful 

and grand in order to glorify God. From William Canynges in the 15th 

Century, who paid for a hundred craftsmen to work inside St Mary Redcliffe 

to help make it the grand building it is today, to the post-war congregation 

18 19 

In addition, in groups, the children 

thought about the stories in the windows 

and the colours used to show God’s 

loving nature and his holiness. They 

designed their own windows, writing 

underneath a few words describing 

what a holy nature or a loving nature 

means to them. 

The workshops ended with a short talk by Bryan Anderson about music 

and worship in the church. Bryan talked about and then played two pieces 

of music on the organ: the first conveying the loving nature of God and the 

second demonstrating the grandeur and holiness of God. As ever, the 

children were very enthusiastic to watch the organ being played. 

The workshops took on a challenging question but the children responded 

to it with enthusiasm, curiosity and wonderful participation — see below 

for our volunteer Steve’s account of the morning! 

Sarah Yates, Education Officer 

tel: 0117-2310072 / email: sarah.yates@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk 

“If God is perfectly Holy, who gets to Heaven?” Steve asked the St Mary 

Redcliffe Year Six class who came to the workshop organised by our Education 

Officer, Sarah Yates... 

“No-one”, said one pupil. 

“Correct. Well done. If God is perfectly loving who gets to Heaven?” 

“Everyone”, came the reply from another. 

“So, what problem has God got?” 

SMR Education cont/...

Silence. A bridge too far for these pupils. Steve then said God’s problem 

is how He can be both perfectly just while at the same time forgiving 

and accepting everyone. 

Steve then put his arms out to make the shape of the cross and explained 

that the perfect solution to God’s holiness and perfect love is the death of 

Jesus to take away the sins of those who trust in Him. 

Year Six pupils then did different activities, including depicting God’s 

holiness and God’s love in stained glass pictures [see page 19]. 

Below one picture of holiness one youngster wrote: “Holiness means Bad 

things because he judges all.” Below ‘Love’ was written “Good things 

because He forgives all.” 

Steve then asked him separately: “Doesn’t it also mean Bad things if God 

forgives all, even the worst people who show no sorrow for their badness?” 

“I will have to think about that”, he said. 

“I’ve enjoyed being made to think of new things today”, said many of the 

pupils, and some of the adults too as they were leaving! 

 

Above & p21: At a Sing-along 

morning. Photos: Rosemary 

SING-ALONG 

Below, l–r: Our 

talented pianist 

Lucy with Mabs, 

one of our singers; 

both were with us 

when we began! 

HYMN SING-ALONG 

A WONDERFUL YEAR— 

ROSEMARY KINGSFORD 

CO-ORDINATOR 

SING-ALONG HAS HAD 

a wonderful year singing 

in church, and singing in the 

Faithspace Centre to Lunch Club! 

We enjoyed singing hymns for 

Open Doors Day, and some visitors 

joined in — a particular couple that I 

remember were thrilled to sing 

with us, and afterwards took photos 

of the group to take back to America. 

We are now gearing up for our Carol 

Sing-Alongs. Meeting at 11am on 

Wednesday 4th December, we will 

be carol-singing for SMR’s Treefest. 

Then on the same Wednesday we 

will be gathering in ASDA at 1pm to 

sing carols to the shoppers! If anyone 

would like to join us they will be most 

incredibly welcome (no brilliant 

singing voice necessary — just a love 

for Christmas carols). 

On Saturday 7th December at 11am 

we will be meeting at Stoke Gifford 

Retirement Village (a building worth 

seeing inside). It is their Christmas 

Fayre. We hope to sing twice during 

the morning and will be home by 

about 2pm latest. Coffee, tea and 

mince pies will be served to our 

group during the morning. 

at church 

community 

singing 

Please feel free to join us in any 

of our Christmas Tours — do see 

Rosemary for December Sing-Along 

timetable and directions to Stoke 

Gifford — we can arrange a lift for 

you if you would like (meeting at 

SMR first). 

— Wishing our lovely group of singers 

a very Merry Christmas, and see 

you all in the New Year. 

— Rosemary Kingsford 

T: 0117–922 1627 

E: rosemarykingsford@btinternet.com 

20 21

C 

ommunity 

THE HIGH SHERIFF | legal OF 

BRISTOL’S LEGAL SERVICE 

C 

TO MARK THE START of 

each Legal Year, the High 

Sheriff holds a service to 

celebrate the contribution made 

by the legal community to the 

life of the City of Bristol. This 

year’s High Sheriff, Charles Wyld, 

is a member of our congregation, 

and his chaplain is our Vicar. 

ommunity | 

legal service 

We were very pleased when he asked 

that his service should be held at St Mary 

Redcliffe. So in the middle of October 

we welcomed a colourful procession 

including our Lord Lieutenant, Judges, 

the Lord Mayor and the Mayor of the 

West of England, other High Sheriffs, 

representatives of various public services, 

and the Bishop of Bristol, who gave the 

sermon. Instrumentalists and singers 

from St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School 

with support from members of our choir 

made a joyful noise unto the Lord. Those 

present gave generously to BYCA, a 

programme supported by the City’s 

High Sheriffs to provide occupation, 

inspiration and food to disadvantaged 

children. Altogether a memorable 

occasion, after which Charles Wyld 

expressed warm thanks to all those, 

from the Vicar to vergers to sidesmen, to 

organist and singers who had worked 

so hard to achieve it. 

— RICHARD WALLACE 

Churchwarden 

PHOTOS 

Opposite page, from top 

• Assembled congregation 

• The Rt Revd Vivienne Faull 

• Visiting choirs 

This page, from top: 

• Charles Wyld, High Sheriff 

• Insets: dignitaries, 

including the Lord Mayor 

(far right) 

• Canon Dan Tyndall 

Photos © Evan Davies 2019 

22 23

community | messages 

H 

APPY CHRISTMAS and 

much joy— 

Ros Houseago, who retired 

recently from her work in the 

Parish Office, writes: 

A very Happy Christmas 

from Ros and John Houseago 

to all at St Mary Redcliffe. 

We are now settled in our 

new home, and have put up 

the pictures we were given 

at the service on 8th September 

when I retired. We are enjoying life in the Forest of Dean — I 

hope that the Christmas services bring much joy, and that 2020 will 

be a good New Year for you all. 

[Photo: Ed] 

— God bless, Ros 

community | young people 

SIMPLY BEING TOGETHER 

— REVIEWING THE YEAR 

— DAVID COUSINS 

COMMUNITY YOUTH DEVELOPMENT WORKER 

WE’VE HAD A BUSY MONTH. I always find this time of year a 

struggle with the long nights and colder weather, so it’s been 

great to have been busy with October half-term and some 

really exciting new projects. 

We were involved in organising the community Halloween Party, with around thirty 

young people of all ages coming along to Yeamans Community Room with many 

parents. It was great to see so many different parts of the community there, some 

very familiar and others new. There were some fantastic costumes, music, food, 

games and wonderful decorations courtesy of Marky. The next day (with no sign 

that Halloween had taken any of their energy!), we had over thirty children come to 

the Sports Day with our community police at the Secondary School. 

J 

ENNY MARTIN 

says thank you to 

all who have helped 

to knit blankets in 

aid of Help in Hands 

Myanmar. 

Jenny has received a 

note of thanks from 

Tristan and Elaine 

Evans, who help to 

organise the outreach 

in Myanmar. They say: 

“Thank you for contacting us; we have just returned from Myanmar where we were 

able to see for ourselves the donated goods being used in Children’s Homes, Care 

Homes, and Orphanages — we would be delighted to collect items from you; everything 

is so badly needed.” Please get in touch with Jenny if you would like to know more. 

[Images: knitted blankets in a Children’s Home, Myanmar; photo & permission provided by Jenny Martin] 

— Community Halloween Party, costumes & fun 

The Young Bristol Bus is now coming to us on a Thursday. We’ve had a quiet couple 

of weeks to start with but the facilities on board are fantastic and are offering new 

technological opportunities to young people in the area — not to mention a very 

competitive Fifa tournament! 

Friday evening football coaching has proved a more immediate hit and we have 

LG Sports Coaching running sessions until the Christmas break. 

24 25

Our new weekly programme meant a 

change of day for Youth Group to Mondays 

(4:30–6:30pm) and we kicked it off with a 

very popular trip to Freedog trampoline 

park. We return to Faithspace this week 

and start a 6-week music project with 

Basement Studio — we are still looking 

for volunteers so do get in touch if you 

think you can help. 

As this is the last edition of the year it 

seems a good time to reflect on success 

and take what we’ve learned into the 

new year. It gives me great pleasure to 

think that we have had over 150 young 

people from the parish enjoy activities 

as wide-ranging as forest school, sports, 

music and simply being together. We’re 

still working out what is most wanted 

and needed locally, but having young 

people on an advisory group to steer 

those decisions has only helped. 

We have developed what we offer over 

the year, so we now have three different 

sessions running each week, engaging 

between 40 and 50 different local young 

people each week. Numbers don’t tell 

the whole story though, so next year I will 

be sharing some stories that highlight 

how our work does impact on individuals 

and families. 

— above: at the Freedog trampoline park 

below: in the Young Bristol Bus 

— All photos & permissions: David Cousins 

I’d like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to everyone who has helped, 

volunteered and prayed for our work this year. I wish you all a wonderful Christmas 

and fruitful New Year. 

— David Cousins; Community Youth Devt Worker 

t: 0117-231 0069 / m: 07928 349523 / e: david.cousins@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk 

community | home & abroad 

NOTES FROM RWANDA — 

ANNA BROOKE, VOLUNTEER FOR “HANDS ACROSS THE WORLD” 

Thank you to Anna for sending us photos and notes from her diary as a volunteer 

with Hands Across the World in Rwanda; see her inspiring article in the September 

edition of the magazine, and read on — 

...H 

ERE ARE SOME PHOTOS 

from our time this week 

here at Mbilizi Hospital where we’ve 

been putting in a new ceiling and 

painting this week — tomorrow we 

head off to paint schools in Bugurama 

for the next couple of weeks. 

There are ten of u s— seven from Jersey, 

me, and Eric and Esther, two young 

Rwandans who are working with us. 

The church service on Sunday morning was 

attended by 3,000 people, 600 of whom 

stood outside to listen. As “umungu” — 

foreigners — we were seated right at the 

front and introduced and applauded by 

them all. We were summoned to church 

by drums. Awesome! 

There are genocide memorials dotted 

throughout. The photo overleaf is 200 

metres from where we’re staying. 

If you’d like to donate, my JustGiving page 

is still open at https://www.justgiving. 

com/crowdfunding/anna-brooke — we 

want to fundraise to support a Christmas 

party for the children of Ryankana, an 

area here in SW Rwanda; it occurs to me 

that anyone thinking of giving to a cause 

rather than sending Christmas cards, for 

example, could perhaps donate to that. 

— with love, Anna 

26 27

BRISTOL CHURCHES WINTER NIGHT SHELTER 

The night shelter at Faithspace begins in January. We are grateful to 

those who would like to donate something for our guests. This year 

we need: 

• SMALL toiletries (TRAVEL SIZE ONLY PLEASE) deodorant, 

shampoo, shower gel, toothpaste, toothbrushes, hand towels. 

• NEW men’s socks, underwear, gloves, hats, scarves 

(NO SECOND-HAND CLOTHES PLEASE and ONLY FOR MEN). 

NB: we can’t accept large bottles of toiletries as our guests cannot carry large, 

heavy things around with them. Last year we had so many second-hand clothes 

donated that we ended up having to take a carload to the charity shop — this 

year we would like only new things please. 

Thank you! 

— Sarah Yates; night shelter co-ordinator at Faithspace 

Donations: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/anna-brooke 

Hands Across the World — visit: http://hatw.org.uk/ 

Photos — p27: a street scene in Kamembe; p28 — Top: Ebola information 

poster / above left: 2 young girls at Mbilisi Hospital / above right: one of 

many memorials to the genocide // Photos and permissions: Anna Brooke 

About Anna: Anna is a member of the St Mary Redcliffe congregation; her 

husband Stephen is SMR’s Safeguarding Officer and sings in the choir with 

their son Daniel; their daughter Catherine has been a Chorister in the choir 

Wreath by Children’s Church; photo Ed 

community | remembrance 

HERE and overleaf are some reflections 

prompted by our Remembrance Service 

on Sunday 10th November — Remembrance 

Sunday — and the wreaths we laid. [Ed] 

On Christmas in Prison: 

From the Christian point of view there is no special 

problem about Christmas in a prison cell. For many 

people in this building it will probably be a more 

sincere and genuine occasion than in places where 

nothing but the name is kept. That misery, suffering, 

poverty, loneliness, helplessness, and guilt mean 

something quite different in the eyes of God from what they mean in the judgement of men, 

that God will approach where men turn away, that Christ was born in a stable because there was 

no room for him in the inn — these are things that a prisoner can understand better than other 

people; for him they really are glad tidings, and that faith gives him a part in the communion of 

saints, a Christian fellowship breaking the bounds of time and space and reducing the months 

of confinement here to insignificance. 

— Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 1906–1945 

from An Anthology for the Church Year; Ed H J Richards; Kevin Mayhew Publishing © 1998 

28 29

Re-read the notes below — published in the 2018 summer edition of the 

magazine — of last year’s lecture by Revd Andrew Totten, Principal at the 

Armed Forces Chaplaincy Centre, on the use of silence in the memorialisation 

of war and tragic events. Titled Military Remembrance: the personal and the 

political, the lecture was the first of four in Bristol Cathedral’s undivided lecture series 

in June 2018. The excerpt and quote below are from the review of it published on 

the News section of the Cathedral website that year. 

community | culture 

POETRY FOR ADVENT & CHRISTMAS 

undivided: One Hundred Years of Remembering and Forgetting, 1914-2018 

SILENCE is not, in general, a key feature of our culture—we are generally a very 

noisy and busy society. There is one area, however, in which silence has become 

increasingly common — the numerous occasions on which we are called to observe a 

national silence in the wake of tragic events or on their anniversaries... 

Revd Andrew Totten MBE ... explored 

the tension between the political and 

the personal within the area of remembrance. 

He focused on the use of silence 

as a public way of remembering and 

marking grief, following its development 

through modern history. Its most 

famous and consistent use over the last 

one hundred years has, of course, been 

in the observation of two minutes of 

silence on Remembrance Day to commemorate 

those who died in the two 

great wars. Over the last twenty years 

the observation of silence has become 

increasingly common — we are experiencing 

what the speaker called “silence 

inflation’”. Whilst there is certainly a place 

for silence, Revd Totten reflected that its 

overuse and misuse has cheapened it. 

Through his extensive experience as a 

military chaplain he has seen that the 

political motivations behind public 

— Revd Andrew Totten, MBE 

displays of grief are often to the detriment 

of the personal and pastoral needs 

of those most closely affected (families 

and troops) — which can often lead to 

emotional fatigue. Silence is a powerful 

tool. Although it can often be used for 

good — helping people stop and reflect 

in times of deep emotional crisis — it can 

also be a means to close down discussion, 

to enforce conformity in a world 

where people do not necessarily agree 

about the circumstances of grief. Revd 

Totten finished by drawing a link with 

the words of Ecclesiastes which tells us 

that there is a time for silence but also a 

time to speak out, a time to hold on and 

a time to let go. As the Cardinals Winning 

and Hume observed in the wake of the 

Dunblane school massacre — in times of 

crisis the church’s response should not 

be silence, but instead in speaking out 

and fervent prayer. 

Revd Andrew Totten MBE is Principal at the Armed Forces’ Chaplaincy Centre 

and an Honorary Chaplain to the Queen. He has been a British Army Chaplain since 1994 

NATIVITY 

Into the straw, 

Mucky and raw, 

The baby cries, 

Mother sighs, 

And the Creator of the Universe arrives 

In human form; 

‘Tis not the norm, 

But otherwise how 

In the here and now, 

Can the Creator come into our lives? 

Woman borne, 

That mystic morn, 

The God of Grace 

Joined the human race. 

(Not all were pleased when they heard the news). 

Born to pain, 

Souls to gain, 

No king of this world, 

But glory unfurled. 

Believe in Him and you will not lose. 

Geoffrey Robinson 

— a new poem , and some twentieth century classics (whole and in part) overleaf, 

Nativity © Geoffrey Robinson 2019 | p32: “Christmas Landscape” by Laurie Lee, from An Anthology for the Church 

Year; Ed H J Richards; Kevin Mayhew Publishing © 1998 | p33: a quotation from “Advent 1955” by John Betjeman 

30 31

TONIGHT the wind gnaws 

with teeth of glass, 

the jackdaw shivers 

in caged branches of iron, 

the stars have talons. 

There is hunger in the mouth 

of vole and badger, 

silver agonies of breath 

in the nostril of the fox, 

ice on the rabbit’s paw. 

Tonight has no moon, 

no food for the pilgrim. 

The fruit tree is bare, 

the rose bush a thorn, 

and the ground bitter with stones. 

But the mole sleeps, and the hedgehog 

lies curled in a womb of leaves. 

The bean and the wheatseed 

hug their germs in the earth, 

and the stream moves under the ice. 

Tonight has no moon — 

but a new star opens 

like a silver trumpet over the dead. 

Tonight in a nest of ruins 

the blessed babe is laid. 

And the fir tree warms to a bloom of candles, 

the child lights his lantern, 

stares at his tinselled toy, 

our hearts and hearths 

smoulder with live ashes. 

In the blood of our grief 

the cold earth is suckled; 

in our agony the womb 

convulses its seed; 

in the cry of anguish 

the child’s first breath is born. 

CHRISTMAS LANDSCAPE 

— Laurie Lee 

1914–1997 

ADVENT 1955 | John Betjeman 1906–1984 

THE ADVENT WIND begins to stir 

With sea-like sounds in our Scotch fir, 

It’s dark at breakfast, dark at tea, 

And in between we only see 

Clouds hurrying across the sky 

And rain-wet roads the wind blows dry 

And branches bending to the gale 

Against great skies all silver pale 

The world seems travelling into space, 

And travelling at a faster pace 

Than in the leisured summer weather 

When we and it sit out together, 

For now we feel the world spin round 

On some momentous journey bound — 

Journey to what? to whom? to where? 

The Advent bells call out ‘Prepare, 

Your world is journeying to the birth 

Of God made Man for us on earth.’ 

CHRISTIANS IN SCIENCE (CiS) 

LECTURE SERIES 2019-2020 

— 5 LECTURES ON SCIENCE 

FAITH AND SOCIETY 

Lecture 2 — 13 December: 

The poetry and music of 

science; comparing creativity 

in science and art. 

Professor Tom McLeish FRS 

Lecture 3 — 31 January: 

Science, creativity and faith 

in the classroom. 

Lizzie Henderson 

7:30-9:30pm at Redland Church 

Hall, Redland Green Rd, Bristol BS6 

7HE | FFI visit CiS Bristol at https:// 

www.cis.org.uk/groups/bristol/ 

Advent 1955: many thanks 

to Liz Hewitt for having 

brought to our attention this 

classic poem by John Betjeman, 

Poet Laureate of the United 

Kingdom from 1972 to 1984, 

which is quoted here* to help 

explore our understanding of 

the experience of Advent. The 

poem is readily available in 

print and online; our readers 

familiar with the work will be 

reminded of its character and 

breadth from the first few lines, 

but otherwise I hope the notes 

below might encourage those 

who aren’t to read it: 

Verse 1 rushes us headlong 

through a wet and windswept 

landscape whilst “the Advent 

bells call out ‘Prepare ... | the 

birth of God made Man for us 

on earth’. ” Verse 2 tells out the 

many hectic ways in which we 

do prepare, and Verse 3 calls 

out our lack of focus: “ ‘The time 

draws near the birth of Christ’. | A 

present that cannot be priced...” 

(For a thoughtful view of 

the poem do have a look at 

Contemplation in the Shadow 

of a Car Park, the blog of the Rt 

Revd Sarah Mullally, Bishop of 

London — archive post: “Advent 

Bells”, 01.12. 2010). 

— Ed 

* [we print an excerpt from the poem; 

rights otherwise to the work are reserved] 

32 33

Listings | church diary & records 

CHURCH DIARY — DECEMBER 2019–JANUARY 2020 

Please note that in addition to the monthly listings below, which vary in frequency or other 

details, the following events happen every week in this period: 

tuesday Coffee Morning / 10am–12 noon | Faithspace Community Centre 

Christian Meditation / 6:15–7pm | Parish Office 

wednesday Jazz in the Undercroft / 7:30–10pm | SMR Undercroft 

thursday Redcliffe Gardening Group / 10am–12 noon | at Somerset Square 

friday Toddler Church / 9:30am | SMR North Transept 

Coffee Club / 11am | SMR 

Police Beat Surgery Drop-in / 1–2pm | Faithspace 

Christmas closures (events above): 

• The last Faithspace Coffee Morning before Christmas is Tuesday 17 December 

• There is no Christian Meditation on 24 & 31 December (times otherwise as normal) 

• The last Police Beat Surgery Drop-in is Friday 20 December (restarts Friday 10 January) 

• Due to the number of events in church during December, Toddler Church & Coffee 

Club are only happening in December on Friday 13 (both restart Friday 3 January) 

December 2019 

1 ADVENT 

From Darkness to Light; Advent Service / 6:30pm 

3 Holy Communion / 12:30pm | St John’s Chapel 

3–7 TREEFEST / 10am–5pm daily; late night Thursday till 8pm 

4 Hymn Singalong / 11am 

4 Redcliffe Film Club / 2pm | at Faithspace 

4 Amos Trust Carol Service | 7pm 

5 Holy Communion / 12:30pm | Lady Chapel 

5 Organ Recital / 1:15pm / Andrew Kirk 


7 Community Carol Service / 5pm 

8 Bristol Masonic Society Carol Service / 3pm 



12 Organ Recital / 1:15pm / Andrew Kirk 

13 Toddler Church / 9:30am | North Transept 

13 Coffee Club / 11am 

13 Christians in Science; The Poetry & Music of Science / 7:30pm | 

Redland Parish Hall 

14 Mercy Ships Carols Service / 2:30pm 

15 SANDS Christmas Service / [Service time not available at point of print] 

16 WI Carol Service / [Service time not available at point of print] 


17 United Carols / 7:30pm 

18 Carols at Lunctime / 1:15pm 


20 Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols / 7:30pm 

21 Christingle Service / 4pm 

22 Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols / 6:30pm 

24 The Parish Office closes and reopens on 2 January 

24 CHRISTMAS EVE 

Crib Service / 4pm 

Midnight Mass / 11:30pm 

25 CHRISTMAS 

Holy Communion / 8am & 10:30am / Church then closes until 27 December 

25 Redcliffe Christmas Lunch / 12 noon; lunch at 1pm | Faithspace 



January 2020 

1 NEW YEAR’S DAY / church closed 


6 EPIPHANY 



12 The Baptism of Christ 



16 Organ Recital / 1:15pm / Jeremiah Stephenson; All Saints, Margaret Street 


21 Theology Book Club / 8pm | at Canon John Rogan’s house 


23 Organ Recital / 1:15pm / Simon Russell; St Mary’s, Nantwich 



30 Organ Recital / 1:15pm / Hamish Wagstaff; Sydney, Australia 

31 Christians in Science / Science, creativity and faith in the Classroom | see p34 

February 

2 Candlemas 

NB: diary entries are correct at the time of going to print given the information supplied; for 

event details provided later on please see the church website or contact the Parish Office. 

34 35

PARISH REGISTER — Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals 

Our apologies: for privacy reasons (GDPR) the publication of the Register in the magazine 

is under review; we will keep readers informed but it remains suspended until then. — Ed 

• 

SUNDAY CHURCH SERVICE ATTENDANCE — Period: 27 October–24 November* 

Date 2019 27 Oct 3 Nov 10 Nov 17 Nov 24 Nov 

Adult Child Adult Child Adult Child Adult Child Adult Child 

8:00am 

9:30am 

11:15am 

6:30pm 

*Figures have been received for the period above but due to technical problems it hasn’t 

been possible to inset them. Apologies for the inconvenience and we will include them 

instead in the next edition of the magazine. 

 

Editor’s note 

email: editor.mag@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk 

Christmas... “Immortal, invisible” are the opening words of a 

well-known hymn — a meditation on the qualities of God: our 

experience during Advent? At Christmas that second descriptor 

is surely “visible” — God whom men and women have in fact seen, 

who has been made visible to all generations in the Gospels, in later 

writings, in poetry and (some may say) in art; known aurally through 

preaching, action and music: the list goes on. At the centre of it all, a 

newborn; a family in harm’s way; children in mortal danger; refugees. 

God at the margins. 

“ a detail of a piece inspired by the painting the adoration of the shepherds (studio of rembrandt), 1646 ” 

INCARNATIONAL — the word I heard Kat say at last month’s Diocesan 

Synod, and it struck a chord. God in all creation; in the stuff of life; God 

who is apprehended through our senses. Thank you to all contributors in 

this issue and, again, to all contributors this year — let’s finish the year and 

start the next with Dan’s paean of praise to “the Son of Mary and the Son 

of God” and thanks for the flock at SMR. Enough said; Happy Christmas! 

adoration / monoprint / EV 

— best wishes, Eleanor 

Eleanor Vousden, Editor; tel: 0117-9634856 (direct) or 0117-2310060 (Parish Office) 

The February–March 2020 edition deadline is Thursday 18 January 

36 37

Prayers • Advent & Christmas 

The greatness of God 

Great are you, O God, although we know you only as in 

an obscure saying and as in a mirror, yet in wonder we 

worship your greatness — how much more we shall praise it 

at some time when we come to know it more fully! When 

under the arch of heaven I stand surrounded by the wonders 

of creation, I rapturously and adoringly praise your greatness, 

you who lightly hold the stars in the infinite and concern 

yourself fatherly with the sparrow. 

— Søren Kierkegaard 

1815–1855 

Peace and calm? 

The sermon annoyed me. Which was doubly frustrating, 

since I had deliberatly gone to Mass on my own to have 

a quiet hour without the usual distractions. ... He was talking 

about preparing for Christmas. All our rushing about, our 

shopping and planning of special meals, our worries over 

choosing presents, our paper chains and tinsel, our frantic last 

minute sending of cards—all this was worldly and contrary to 

the spirit of Christmas. Christmas, he said, is about the quiet 

coming of Christ into the world. We can only recognise it in 

peace and stillness. 

At this point I wanted to stand up and shout, ‘Objection!’ God 

only present in peace and calm? Surely the whole Christmas 

story is about God being present everywhere, especially in the 

most ordinary events of life. Certainly the ordinary event of 

the birth of a baby is not a calm and still experience. Ask the 

women who have been through it. 

— Claire Richards 

b.1938 

permissions — prayer reflection from the works of søren kierkegaard in the complete 

kierkegaard; eds h & e hong 2001; princeton press; p.276 [“fair use” permission] | peace and calm? 

from an anthology for the church year; ed h j richards; kevin mayhew publishing © 1998 

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 group 

leader concerned from the list below. 

Head Server 

Head Sidesman 

Head Steward 

PCC Secretary 

PCC Treasurer 

PCC Safeguarding 

PCC Recorder 

Children’s Church 

Faithspace Centre 

Lunch Club 

Meditation 

Mothers Union 

Church Flowers 

Coffee Rota 

Bell Ringers 

Canynges Society 

Journey into Science 

Magazine Editor 

get in touch 

Dean Barry 

Graham Marsh 

Marion Durbur 

Keith Donoghue 

David Harrowes 

Stephen Brooke 

c /o Parish Office 

Becky Macron 

Sarah James 

c/o Parish Office 

Lewis Semple 

c /o Parish Office 

Mildred Ford 

Christine Bush 

Gareth Lawson 

Pat Terry 

Eric Albone 

Eleanor Vousden 

0117-9099862 

01275-832770 

0117-9422196 

0117-9422539 

0117-9779823 

0117-3311260 

0117-2310060 

07934-041638 

0117-9258331 

0117-2310060 

0117-9255763 

0117-2310060 

0117-9359064 

0117-9773023 

07798 621834 

0117-2310060 

0117-9247664 

0117-9634856 

If you or one of your family is sick or has gone into hospital, please let 

us know — contact the Clergy or Vergers as soon as possible. 

Please consult the Parish Office before making any arrangements for 

baptisms, weddings or funerals. 

MAGAZINE SMALL PRINT: Please note that the views expressed in the body 

magazine of the magazine small print are not — please necessarily note those that the of the views Editor. expressed Please in also the note body 

of that the every magazine effort are has not been necessarily made to credit those copyrighted of the editor. material please in line also with note 

that UK every copyright effort law has but been in the made event to of credit any unintended copyrighted oversight material please in line email with 

legislation, the editor at but editor.mag@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk in the event of any unintended or contact oversight the Parish Office. please — email Ed 

the editor at editor.mag@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk or contact the parish office 

38 39

sunday services 

8:00am holy communion 

9:30am sung eucharist 

with crèche and Sunday School / followed by coffee 

11:15am choral mattins 

all year round except from mid-July to end August 

6:30pm choral evensong 

weekday services 

holy communion 

Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12:30pm 

2nd and 4th Thursdays at 12:30pm with prayers for healing 

morning and evening prayer 

Monday to Friday at 8:30am and 4:30pm in the Lady Chapel 

toddler church 

Fridays at 9:30am in the North Transept 

opening times 

weekdays all year round 8:30am–5:00pm 

bank holidays 9:00am–4:00pm, except New Year's Day 

Sundays 8:00am–8:00pm 

the church is occasionally closed for special events and services 

The Arc Café in the Undercroft 

serving home-made refreshments every day 

opening hours: 

Monday to Friday 8:00am–3:00pm 

lunch served from 12:00 noon–2:30pm 

tel: 0117-929 8658 

40

St Mary REdcliffe Parish Magazine Dec 2019 Jan 2020

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