Barnes in Common

the magazine of Churches Together in Barnes
September/October 2005

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Church News

Baptist Church   |   Holy Trinity   |   Methodist Church
St Mary's   |   St Michael's   |   St Osmund's

Baptist Church

The last couple of months have proved to be busy ones for the fellowship. Barnes Fair always involves a lot of effort – both in preparation and on the day itself. Twenty-four hours later many of us were in St Mary's attending the marriage of one of our members Naomi Shute to Peter Geilich. As our own Church would have been too small for the blessing ceremony we were grateful to Ross and the folk of St Mary's for use of their premises. A good, practical example of ecumenism at work. Having concluded our 'Journey' video series we now set our sights on this September's National Alpha Initiative. There will be an introductory talk/video at our Harvest Social on 25 Sept and the course itself will begin the following Thursday, 29th Sept at 7.30 p.m. with a talk entitled 'Who is Jesus?' Folk from all Churches or none are most welcome. We have a number of events happening at the Church this October. These include a joint celebration with our friends from East Sheen Baptist Church and Ham Christian Fellowship on 23rd and the CTiB 'One World Week' service on 30th. Again, please feel free to 'look us up'.

Graham Pulham

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Holy Trinity

The Children's Festival on Sunday 26th June was a great success. The Children’s Eucharist was well attended, and afterwards a good time was had by all in the grounds of the Vicarage and Church Hall. The Donkey Rides, Bouncy Castle and Coconut Shy especially popular.

The following Sunday 3rd of July was Father Godfrey's last service, followed by lunch in the Church Hall where we bade farewell to him and Moira and thanked them for their work and support over the past 12 years.

We consider ourselves very fortunate that our new vicar has been chosen. She is the Reverend Jean Boulton-Reynolds and we look forward to her arrival at the Vicarage in October and official Licensing in early November.

The Sunday School will resume on Sunday 4th of September in the Church Hall, thanks to our volunteers!

Our Harvest Festival will be on the Sunday 2nd October. The Church will be prepared and decorated for this on Saturday morning 1st October, and the presentation of gifts by the children will take place at the Parish Eucharist on Sunday followed by Harvest Lunch in the Church Hall (12 for 12 30).

Finally on Sunday the 30th of October we will be celebrating All Saints' Day.

John Richmond and Anthony Phillips, Church Wardens

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Methodist Church

Well I guess there is only one thing I can really talk about this month, and that is the Grand Reopening of our Church after eight months of building work. I have described our newly redeveloped premises before in these pages, so I won't do it again – why not come to the Opening Service (details below) and see it for yourself.

Instead, a few thoughts on the past five or six years – which is how long it has taken to get this far. We began with a vision of a flexible, welcoming worship space designed with two things in mind. We wanted to hold on to the sense of history and architectural style of the original building. But we wanted to be able to provide ourselves – and more importantly the people of Barnes and those who will come to us new over the years to come – with a space suitable for the 21st century. We also wanted to offer to our local community space for all kinds of activities, from concerts to business meetings, with well fitted facilities. And we think we have done that.

It has taken us – as these things always do – longer than we had originally hoped. But – as it happens we will be reopened just in time for our Centenary Year – so on reflection God's timing is as usual better than ours!

See you there!

SATURDAY 10 SEPTEMBER 6.30 p.m.

Veronica Faulks

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St Mary's

Ten years ago the Friends of St Mary's was set up by Lady White as an organisation to assist with the upkeep of the fabric of the oldest building in Barnes and to enhance its place in the community. Since then, The Friends have raised tens of thousands of pounds which have helped maintain the church and added to it. For example, the floodlights you will have seen over the last 18 months were provided by The Friends. Their fundraising events have been memorable and always enjoyable and have included such things as a series of concerts on composers who lived in Barnes, a talk by Lord Patten, an evening with Jimmy Perry, the creator of Dad's Army and the Antiques Valuation Day of last year. Their latest venture has been an exhibition of paintings by a talented young German artist, Raimund Schmolze, which explore the theme of numbers in the Book of Revelation,were hung in the church. On October 2nd the Friends will put on a "Stars of Barnes" celebrity evening hosted by Gyles Brandreth. You will find details of this elsewhere in Barnes in Common and we hope to see many of you there.

Ross Collins

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St Michael's Church

In July a group of us went to Walsingham on pilgrimage. Our visit had an ecumenical flavour with members of St. Osmund's Church as well as a Baptist joining us. The grounds of the shrine have been re-ordered, opening up a sense of space. As we had fantastic weather, our traditional walk to the Slipper Chapel along the Pilgrim Way was a taste of real summer.

On 25 September we will be celebrating at the ten o'clock service our Patronal Service where we will have Canon Lucy Winkett to preach from St. Paul's Cathedral. Some of you may recognise her as she played a part in the television series about St. Paul's Cathedral. Canon Winkett is also tipped to become one of the first woman bishops in the Church of England.

At long last work has begun on our new community centre. The south side of the Church grounds has been cleared, revealing for the first time the architectural lines of the building. The Church building can now be seen in all its glory. Most of the new space that is now visible will be returned to a green area where people can enjoy walking through on their way to Barnes Bridge Station.

Paul Holland

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St Osmund's Church

As the holidays approached there was a Thanksgiving End of Term Mass for the entire school on Wednesday 20th July. The Parents and Toddlers Group, which closed for the summer holidays, will regroup on Thursday 15th September.

Barnes Fair was a very successful day for St Osmund's. The church stall raised £750.00 and the school won the award of First Prize in the Parade. The annual family barbecue Sunday 3rd July, was another extremely enjoyable and successful day, a great gathering of parish and school families.

The Celebration of Barnes on Sunday 17th July, with the theme, 'Make Poverty History' was made special for us by hearing former altar server Jonathan Glennie speak about Christian Aid.

Our Archbishop, Kevin MacDonald, has called a Diocesan Celebration of the Eucharist at Aylesford Priory in September.

Sister Anne-Marie, first Headteacher of St Osmunds, is keen to contact past pupils for a reunion. Please let us know of any such "old" boys and girls.

Father Romano arrived from Uganda and was with us throughout August.

Fiona Keane

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