Patronal Festival
It was a great joy and privilege to welcome the Bishop of London, the Rt Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally DBE, who presided and preached at this special Festal Choral Eucharist, celebrating our Patronal, the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and closed the 150th Celebrations for the consecration of our church designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott. Bishop Sarah blessed our new internal wheelchair area and the foundations of the South Door ramp, the first parts of our access project to increase our welcome to all. We were honoured to be joined by Pablo Blackwood, Deputy Lieutenant for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and The Worshipful Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Cllr Pretty Hudd. After the service the congregation were invited to continue the celebrations with a lunch in the vicarage garden.
Father Evan joins the team at St Mary Abbots
Fr Evan was licensed by the Bishop of Kensington on Tuesday 29th August and will be making his Declarations, witnessed by the churchwardens, during the notices at the end of the 9.30 Eucharist on Sunday 3rd of September. Father Evan writes:
"I am excited to join the team at St Mary Abbots. Having served in a parish and as a hospital chaplain in the City of London as well as curate in a Lincolnshire market town, I relish the challenges and joys that will come from working in the parish. I am looking forward to sharing hospitality and taking the time to get to know you all. " On the following Sunday he received his licence from the church Wardens. |
Father Christopher's leaving Services and Farewell Party
On 16th July we said our official goodbye to Fr Christopher at both our Eucharist and Matin's service. Although he is not leaving until August for his new role as Rector of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Saint Paul, Minnesota, we wanted everyone to have an opportunity to say farewell before the holidays. The Services were followed by a party in the garden and our thanks to all those who brought contributions to the lunch - it resulted in quite a feast.
London Climate Action Week
We held a special 9.30 Family Eucharist on creation with our children’s choir and at 11.15 welcomed the Revd Dr Andrew Bowyer, Dean of Divinity at Magdalen College, Oxford. This week we also were given our Rocha Bronze Eco Church Award, thanks to Mother Alice’s hard work on a full environmental report on our worship and teaching, as well as a more practical look at our parish buildings, identifying ways in which we can work to reduce waste, and use the land around the church and centre to show biodiversity.
The Friends of St Mary Abbots presenting a cheque for £50,000
towards the access Ramp Project
towards the access Ramp Project
and grateful thanks were expressed to Nigel Grieve on his retirement at Treasurer to the Friends
Rocha Bronze Eco Church Award
Summer Garden Party 2023
A huge thank you to all our amazing volunteers who braved the excessive heat to help set up, then run the bar, BBQ, cakes and other stalls and children's activities at our Summer Garden Party. Another thank you to Action Amanda and Silva Ace, Fitness Trigga who provided fantastic entertainment for the children and to the three Royal College of Music students who played beautifully and soulfully for the adults. A third thank you also to those who donated towards costs or took the time to bake a vast array of delicious cakes and a final thank you for those who came and supported us on the day and made it such a great party.
Confirmation 2023
On 25th May +Emma, Bishop of Kensington confirmed 23 Candidates from St Mary Abbots, St Philips and St Mary the Boltons and afterward there was a small celebration in the Vicarage Gardens. Congratulations again to all the candidates.
Clemson University Singers Tour, 20th May 2023
The University choir started their tour with a lunchtime concert at St Mary Abbots, before going on to St Botolph, Cambridge, Canterbury Cathedral and finishing in Cathedrale Sante-Croix des Armeniers, Paris.
We hope that they enjoyed their trip as much as we enjoyed their enthusiastic and enjoyable performance. |
Street Party in Holland Park, Sunday 7th May
The Street Party was arranged by Sarah-Jane and her Committee, made possible by the generous support of Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, City living Local Life and individuals who donated to the go-fund me page, with thanks to the residents, members of St Mary Abbots School and St Mary Abbots Church who volunteered on the day and for the cooking and baking skills of the residents of Holland Street and adjacent streets who provided vast quantities of cakes, salads and hot food.
The Street Party was arranged by Sarah-Jane and her Committee, made possible by the generous support of Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, City living Local Life and individuals who donated to the go-fund me page, with thanks to the residents, members of St Mary Abbots School and St Mary Abbots Church who volunteered on the day and for the cooking and baking skills of the residents of Holland Street and adjacent streets who provided vast quantities of cakes, salads and hot food.
Festal Family Eucharist to celebrate the Coronation, Sunday 7th May
Civic Service on the Eve of the Coronation, 5th May 2023
Holy Week and Easter Services 2023
The Victorian Society's talk by Robert Stephenson on 22nd March 2023
Mothering Sunday, 19th March 2023
Peter Roper-Curzon Piano Recital, March 2023
Presentation to Stephanie for her 50th Year as a Bell-ringer
Maintenance Work on the Tower and the Steeple
Bishop Emma's Visits the Church and school
Ash Wednesday, February 2023
Why Ashes? For centuries, Christians have begun the season of Lent by being marked with the sign of the cross in ash.
We do this as a sign that we:
• Acknowledge our own mortality
• Feel God’s power to heal brokenness in our lives and in our world
• See our need to respond to God’s call and turn to him again.
We do this as a sign that we:
• Acknowledge our own mortality
• Feel God’s power to heal brokenness in our lives and in our world
• See our need to respond to God’s call and turn to him again.
Shrove Tuesday, February 2023
Traditionally on Shrove Tuesday ingredients would have been used up before the Lent fast. To mark this pancakes were served at the back of church at 3.30 pm until they ran out, for families and others leaving the school or passing by.
The most popular by far was chocolate and a long (but orderly) que formed! |
Repairs to the Spire and Tower, February 2023
The Children's Choir's first Family Eucharist
Candlemas 2023
"Victorian" Christmas Fair 2022
The last of our 150th Anniversary Celebrations
The last of our 150th Anniversary Celebrations
Charity Carol Concerts 2022
Bonfire Night 2022
"Resonances for Sir George Gilbert Scott"
A concert for our 150th Anniversary, written and performed by Royal College of Music students
A concert for our 150th Anniversary, written and performed by Royal College of Music students
Our small team joined the Glass Door Sleep Out and raised £4,603 for this vital Homeless Charity.
Harvest Festival, October 2022
Supporting The Upper Room
Supporting The Upper Room
"Victorian Society Lecture"
150th Anniversary Talk, September 2022
Services in Memory of our late Sovereign, Queen Elizabeth II
"Kensington's Greatest Composers"
150th Anniversary Concert, July 2022
150th Anniversary Concert, July 2022
Jubilee Summer Fair, June 2022
"The Art of Worship"
150th Anniversary Talk, June 2022
150th Anniversary Talk, June 2022
Starting our 150 Years Anniversary Celebrations
Easter Services, April 2022
The London Walk, March 2022
Supporting Glass Door
A 10k charity walk through Central London to raise funds for and awareness of homelessness in aid of Glass Door
Christmas 2021
Christmas Fair 2021
Charity Carol Concerts 2021
Bonfire Night, 5th November 2021
Sleep-out team for Glassdoor, October 2021
Harvest Festival 2022 - supporting The Upper Room
Summer Party 2021
Pre-loved Sale 2021