St Mary's the virgin Anglican Church, Innox Hill, Frome

The first thing that you notice about St Mary's is the way the Church Hall links the church and the vicarage. Having been built as a unit, they are a handsome set together.

The octagonal sancutary is beautifully and highly decorated and rounds this smallish church off well.

It is outside that the distinctives style can be seen. Unusually there are two bells towers. Just above the sanctuary is a short spire containing a single bell ( presumably a consecration bell ) while at the West end is a carrilion with three bells and some rather fine finials.

Built originally as a chapel of ease for St Johns in 1863/4 in conjunction with the rebuilding/reordering work on St Johns, its interior is unplastered.

Photo : © Brendan Balhetchet LRPS

Sunday Spotlight - October 4th 2009

Climate Change Sunday

Roman Catholic/Methodist/URC - 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Anglican - Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost, Proper 22

Job 1:1, 2:1-10 or Genesis 2:18-24 * Psalm 26 or Psalm 8 * Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12 * Mark 10:2-16

Today's Gospel ( and indeed the other readings ) might be seen as solely seen as a teaching on marriage and the Christian attitude towards it. However, here we are again presented with a set of readings which have passages in them which point to something different.

Indeed, I am preaching today and I have chosen to come at it from a different angle entirely, linked with the fact that today is Climate Change Sunday. Of course this date is chosen because it is the 4th October, Feast of St Francis of Assisi, patron of the environment. However this year it fits beautifully, I think with the readings and its a lovely "God-incidence"

We are presented in the Old Testament reading with the creation story and Adam being given charge of the animals ( through his naming of them ). We are charged with this too, this planet and all its God given creatures and environments are ours to protect. If God's own people aren't going to do this then who else will. In a way it is a marriage situation. When those of us who are married made our vows, we promised to care for our spouse, in the good times and the bad. This means that we will take care of them, even when they cannot take care of themselves. We love our spouse, they are part of what makes us who we are.

Its the same therefore with ourselves and the planet. It cannot take care of itself, we have been given charge of it and we must look after it and care for its needs. Its a God given task and one in which we must as Christians take the lead. At the last exec meeting we talked about developing the eco-congregations model in our churches in Frome. If we don't take this responsibility seriously, then there will literally be no future generations of children to bring to Jesus.

Premananda Orphanage - Update

You will probably remember that last Advent, the proceeds of the FACT Advent service went to the Premananda Orphanage in Southern India, which St Catharine's supports. Little did we know that at the time of the service, the founder of the orphanage Fr Jojaih was being buried after suffering a heart attack. His co-founder Prof John James from Hawaii came with the bishop of the area to St Catharine's this week to say thank you in person. It was a wonderful chance to catch up on how our money ( and indeed FACT's donation ) is being spent and to meet those on the ground, who are working against the odds ( including drought again ) to provide a decent start in life for these little ones.

I forgot to mention the visit, in case any of you wanted to come ( apologies ) but the bishop and Prof James were certainly very greatful for what has been donated.

Ecumenical Accompaniers in Palestine

Its always good to hear about bigger projects where denominations are working together for the common good.

Frome Friends of Palestine, are organising a talk about the Ecumenical Accompaniers Programme in Israel/Palestine. Sr Josephine ( who many in Frome will know as the former head of St Louis' School ) has been in the Middle East observing interactions between the Israeli army and civilians for this programme, and she is coming to St Catharine's Hall this coming Friday ( 9th October ) to talk about this work.

The programme she was involved in is organised by the Society of Friends ( Quakers ) and is a genuinely ecumenical enterprise.

It's Not Too Late !

If you aren't already signed up, its not too late to sign up for the Bible Reading Marathon ( we will find you a slot somewhere ! ) or the Frome Clean Up !

See you leader, HOPEFrome rep, Exec rep or get in touch with me in the next couple of days.

You won't regret it !

David Sheppard and Derek Worlock and George Fox

We've got three heroes this week, because two of them are linked together forever in memory of many in their home city and the ecumenical movement in this country as a whole !

David Sheppard - Anglican - Bishop (6 March 1929–5 March 2005)

David Sheppard was one of those unusual people who were famous for more than one thing. An accomplished England Cricketer, whose career included being 1953 Wisden Cricketer of the Year. He continued to play test cricket even after his ordination as an Anglican priest. He became Bishop of Woolwich in 1969 and Bishop of Liverpool in 1975. It was in this role that he rose to prominence, speaking out on social justice issues and forming a close relationship with his Catholic counterpart in the city. He retired in 1997 and was made a life peer sitting on the Labour benches. His memorial states "He went to bat for the poor "He died in 2005.

Derek Worlock - Roman Catholic - Archbishop (4 February 1920 – 8 February 1996)

Derek Worlock was born in 1920 and ordained a Roman Catholic Priest in 1944 and served the Cardinal Archbishops as their secretary for 19years. He became Bishop of Portsmouth in 1965 and went onto be appointed Archbishop of Liverpool in 1976. He was made a freeman of the city along with his Anglican counterpart and was awarded the Companion of Honour by the Queen just before his death from Cancer in 1996.

The two ordinaries of Liverpool were known locally as "Fish and Chips" because they were always together and always in the papers. Their example of ecumenical co-operation for the good of the local communities is an example to us all. Their statue stands half way down the aptly names Hope Street which joins the two Cathedrals in the city which "has one to spare!"

George Fox- Quaker - Religious Founder ( July 1624 -13th July 1691)

George Fox was an English Dissenter and a founder of the Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as the Quakers or Friends.
The son of a weaver from rural England , Fox was apprenticed to a cobbler. Living in a time of great social upheaval and war, he rebelled against the religious and political consensus by proposing an unusual and uncompromising approach to the Christian faith. Abandoning his trade, he toured Britain as a dissenting preacher, for which he was often persecuted by the authorities who disapproved of his beliefs.
Fox married Margaret Fell, the widow of one of his wealthier supporters; she was a leading Friend. His ministry expanded and he undertook tours of North America, and the Low Countries, between which he was imprisoned for over a year. He spent the final decade of his life working in London to organize the expanding Quaker movement.
Though his movement attracted disdain from some, others such as William Penn and Oliver Cromwell viewed Fox with respect. His journal, first published after his death, is known even among non-Quakers for its vivid account of his personal journey.

One Week to Bible Marathon

Well, after a wobble last weekend when it looked doubtful, we are just about there and only a few spots remain to be filled and "we are go for launch"

Please still get in contact with me if you want to read ( we can find you a slot ) or will offer to do refreshments.

If your not reading you can do your bit : -

1 ) Sponsor someone for reading
2 ) Attend and do some marshalling or refreshments
3 ) Offer to be a "Captain" and be present at a venue to stand in if needed
4 ) Put a poster advertising it all up somewhere, like a shop window

Lets make this wonderful event a real unifying one for all of us and a big fundraiser for Zimbabwe's people.