Autumn is a time of visible change in our surroundings, yellow, brown and red foliage is everywhere, and the nights are drawing in. However much the approach of winter may be regretted it is inevitable as the year draws to a close. Many people, more knowledgeable than I, have reflected on change. There are many examples of their thoughts from the pessimistic “There is a certain relief in change, though it be for the worse” to the realism of “The old order changeth, yielding place to the new and God fulfils himself in many ways”. Quotations from Washington Irving (1824), and Alfred Lord Tennyson (1869) respectively. It is only a few months ago that Fr John announced his retirement and for me, this time has raced past, and his departure is a fact. So now we have to cope with our own time of change at St Johns, and...

VICAR’S LETTER Dear People of St John’s Planting begins:  The first day of planting of the re-designed scheme for the gardens around the church begins on the afternoon of Saturday 6 August. The first two areas to be planted up are: the small area below the Foundation Stone at the...

Dear People of St John’s Now the Fête is over … There’s always something going on at St John’s! As I write this letter for July, the Fête is yet to happen. After the cold and wet spell we’ve been having, let’s hope the weather on 2 July is as...

Dear People of St John’s The time has come … Having thought and prayed about it for some months, and taken advice from our Bishop, I have decided that the time has come for me to retire as Vicar of St John’s later this year. I made the announcement of...

It may have puzzled many members of the Church of England to discover that last Saturday, just a few days before the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster ordained three former Anglican Bishops into the Roman Catholic priesthood! This annual week of prayer is...