The Vicar writes

AUTUMN 2014

Internet site: www.stjamesthegreater.org.uk

Church Office email address: [email protected]

SUNDAY WORSHIP 8.30 am Holy Communion 10.30 am Choral Eucharist

6.30 pm Choral Evensong & Sermon

A CHILDREN'S SUNDAY CLUB

in the Church Hall in school term time starting off in church at 10.30 am

MIDWEEK HOLY COMMUNION

7.15 am or 8.15 (wintertime) Tuesdays 10.15 am Thursdays

See Calendar for variations and details of services on saints' days

MINISTRY TEAM Vicar

Canon Glynn Richerby BD AKC

St James the Greater Vicarage 216 London Road

Leicester LE2 1NE 0116 254 4113

Associate Non-Stipendiary Priest Revd Jane Sharp

0116 270 6002

Honorary Associate Priests

Revd David Clark BA Canon Henry Evans MA

0116 255 8988 0116 270 0954

Very Revd Dr Derek Hole Hon LLD Hon DLitt

0116 270 9988

Readers

Mr Anthony Green BA Dr Angela Jagger PhD BA Mr John Raven MA

0776 970 2272 0116 271 9185 0116 270 7591

Mr David Brunning MA

0116 241 8742

Pastoral Assistant Sacristan

Miss Vicky Roe BPhil.Ed MA Mrs Janet Burton 0116 255 2108 0116 210 3736

In this Autumn 2014 issue …

SERVICE TIMES & MINISTRY TEAM ………………...….…… see inside cover

THE VICAR on a combined anniversary celebration ……………...…....….… 4

PROFILE of David Brunning – to be licensed to preach ……..……...…….…. 6

2014 CHOIR TOUR recalled in words and pictures by Annabel Cowley ....... 8

BOKO HARAM and the Nigerian crisis – Emmanuel Okoli …...……..…..… 10

THE WORD OF THE LORD? – Bible readings in our services …….…...…. 12

CALENDAR OF SERVICES & EVENTS ……………….…….. see centre pages

COMING HOME – a reflection for Remembrance-tide ......…………........…17

CATHEDRALS – William Woolley continues his exploration by train ..…... 20

FRIENDS’ OUTING TO COVENTRY on 1 October …………...….....…… 21

POSTERS – Sarah Kirby’s project for the church porch ………….……….. 23

OBITUARIES – Cathleen Wood, Gillean Russell & Geoffrey Simpson …… 24

COMMEMORATIVE FLOWERS ………………………...…….....…….…… 27

WHAT’S ON & WHO’S WHO ……………….……...……….. see back cover

Copy for the WINTER 2014/15 edition of the Quarterly should reach the Vicar by Friday 3 October 2014

please send as Word Document (*.doc) to g,[email protected]

YOUR QUARTERLY DISTRIBUTOR IS:

…………………………………………………….. TEL’ ………………...…. ………………………...

4

The Vicar Writes …

THE CENTENARY of the completion of our church is in September.

Building had begun – in the traditional way of constructing churches – from

the east (altar) end. The foundation stone was laid in 1899. A temporary

church – a ‘tin tabernacle’ – was positioned on the site close to the London Road in 1881. It was removed in 1900 when the Undercroft was completed

and furnished as a temporary place for the congregation to gather in worship.

Building of the church continued apace until funds ran out in 1901 when a

temporary brick wall was put up. It was not uncommon for newly built

churches to reach a certain point and to remain long or for ever incomplete.

St Anne’s in Letchworth Road is a case in point. But there was tremendous determination that St James’s should fulfil the original vision of Bishop Mandell

Creighton for a church “worthy of the greatness of the town” that would

“arrest the attention of the passer by”.

By the way, no photograph or drawing of St James the Greater showing its

incomplete state is known to exist. It would enormously benefit the church’s archive

if such a picture were to be found.

In 1910 plans were put in place for the completion of the west end. A sticking

point was whether or not to add a campanile – a bell tower. The plans that were approved were estimated to cost £6,000 without the campanile, which

would have cost an extra £2,000. These were huge sums to find at the time.

In view of the cost of

restoration work recently

carried out on the west

front, it is as well that the campanile was not built!

But it is a shame that the

church is without

‘proper’ bells to summon

worshippers and to be rung to mark national

events and other

celebratory occasions.

Here’s an account of the

ceremony in 1914 for the

completion of the church

5

from the History of the Church of St James the Greater Leicester Jubilee 1881 -

1931 written by G F Smith and published in 1931:

The church as it now stands was completed [in 1914] and was dedicated by the

Bishop of the Diocese [Dr Carr Glyn, Bishop of Peterborough] on September 24th 1914, at which date there remained a debt of nearly £2,000. This much exceeded

the original estimate, but the Committee never departed from their desire to make

the building worthy of its purpose and to realise as far as possible the hopes for it

which had been expressed by Bishop Creighton. At the dedication service there was a large attendance of clergy, together with the Churchwardens and Sidesmen of the

three churches in St Peter’s parish, the Mayor of the Borough and members of the

Council, and other representatives of the whole population.

CELEBRATION of the centenary of the completion of our church is being

combined with the 50th anniversary of the LeicesterShire Historic Churches

Trust at a special service of Choral Evensong on Sunday, 28 September

at 6.30. The guest preacher is to be

Bishop Thomas McMahon, Roman

Catholic Bishop of Brentwood and a Vice

President of the National Churches Trust.

As our church benefited from a grant

from the LeicesterShire Historic

Churches Trust towards the recently

completed restoration of the west front

it is highly appropriate for us to host this joint celebration and a privilege to do so.

The service is expected to draw people

from churches all over the Diocese.

Leading up to this great occasion will be the annual sponsored RIDE+STRIDE

event on Saturday 13 September which raises money for the

Leicestershire Historic Churches Trust to make grants to support the repair of churches, chapels and meeting houses. This event coincides with a Heritage

Trail Day sponsored by Leicester City Council. Our church will be open

from 10.00 am until 6.00pm.

It will be good to have many people from St James either sponsored to cycle

or walk from church to church or to be stewards welcoming visitors to our

church on that day. Find sponsorship forms and a sign up list in church.

6

Profile

DAVID BRUNNING would be justified in taking life easy in retirement, but is actually preparing to take on

the role of a Reader (lay preacher) to serve both St

James the Greater and also the Anglican Church on

Sark in the Channel Islands.

In offering himself for this ministry, David is picking up

the threads of a vocation that began to form in his late teens when he began to train as a Methodist Lay Preacher.

David recalls being much caught up in the Church of England in his formative

years: “St Paul’s in Burton on Trent was my introduction to the Christian life.

It was a church in the Anglo-Catholic tradition. Its services were from the

Book of Common Prayer. It had a strong tradition of elaborate and dignified

ceremonial with servers and incense. Mass and Choral Evensong were the main services. It had a large choir.” David was in the Sunday school from the

age of 4, in the choir from the age of 6 to 13, served at early Mass on several

weekday mornings on the way to school and at 14 took up bell ringing.

This involvement tied in with his education: “My A-level history course

covered the Reformation in England and in Europe. I studied the activities of Tyndale, Cranmer, the Prayer Book of 1549 and the extraordinary events of

the 16th century. This study of the Church and the effects of religion in

society was greatly extended when I read history at university.”

But before going up to Oxford, there was a turning point:

“In my late teens I became increasingly restless about the formality of worship

and practice in my Church. In consequence of this I turned to the Methodist Church which was then blessed with some exceptional preachers, including

Soper, Sangster and Weatherhead. The Minister of the local church (who in

years later became my wife’s stepfather) became my spiritual mentor. I was

encouraged to offer myself as a local preacher and was put ‘on Note’ – which allowed me to take services. This coincided with the start of my university

life”.

David joined the Wesley Memorial Church in Oxford and the University’s

John Wesley Society: “It had some 250 members and a system of groups

which met every Sunday to discuss the books we were reading and effectively

to become House Churches.”

7

David’s training as a local preacher continued during vacation times. It

involved theological and biblical studies, church history, sermons of John

Wesley and worship and preaching. “Tuition was given by nominated tutors in my home town of Burton on Trent. Preaching involved constructing a service,

choosing the readings and hymns as well as preparing the prayers and sermon.

I conducted services and preached in Burton on Trent and in villages in

Oxfordshire during my time at university.”

An aspect of Methodism which greatly appealed to David was its tradition of

hymnody. “I had been brought up with the English hymnal and Hymns Ancient and Modern but I thought that the Methodist Church – not the devil – had

the best tunes!”

After university, David trained as a lawyer and in 1969 became a barrister

with chambers in Leicester. David and his wife Dee were members of Bishop

Street Methodist Church, taking a full part in its life along with their 3 sons.

David was appointed a Deputy Judge in 1982 and in 1988 “One of her Majesty’s Judges” – full time in criminal, family and civil courts. He retired in 2008.

“I returned to my roots in the Anglican Church during the 1990s and became

a member of the St James’ Fellowship.” He has been successively a Sidesman, a member of the Parochial Church Council and Standing Committee, a

Church Warden and Lector. He recently became a Eucharistic Assistant.

For over 50 years, David has holidayed on Sark in the Channel Islands and for

the last 5 years has had a house there – where he spends up to four months a

year. The TV series An Island Parish featured a succession of locum priests

serving residents and visitors to Sark. David was somewhat taken aback last year when two successive locum Priests suggested that he should consider

Readership. “As I reflected upon what they said, it seemed extraordinary to

me that so many strands of my Christian life had been pointing towards this

form of service and that I was now called to use that in the office of Reader.”

Ministry officers in the Diocese of Leicester agreed to provide an accelerated

training programme for David, taking into account previous relevant experience. He has to complete a recommended scheme of reading, write a

report on the experience of a placement on Sark and do some leading of

worship and preaching under supervision at St James’s.

David is to be commissioned as a Reader at a special service in Leicester

Cathedral on Saturday, 11 October. He will serve hugely contrasting churches

in urban Leicester and his adopted Island of Sark. Both places will be fortunate to benefit from this late flourishing of his ministry.

8

Choir Tour 2014 to Bristol and Devon by Annabel Cowley

SETTING OFF in the pouring

rain with parents peering on

from the Church porch wasn’t

the best of starts! But the clouds

cleared and we rolled into

Bristol ahead of schedule. Cases

stored and clothes smartened,

we headed for our first engagement – singing with St

Mary Redcliffe on Sea Sunday.

Dinner was at the restaurant attached to our

hotel. There were no complaints about heading to bed, though we were not sure if this was

due to the long day or the fact the World Cup

was on the TV! After a breakfast buffet in the

restaurant, our coach collected us and we headed for Devon. En route, Michael Rule very

kindly treated the choir to lunch at McDonalds

to thank them for

singing at his wedding.

Golden Sands Caravan

Park had a large play

area, pool, and an

entertainment complex

in addition to the nearby beach, so the

youngsters were not

short of things to do.

Teenagers and younger children related

really well.

Tuesday was a free day, so we headed to the beach to play rounders and splash in the surf.

In the afternoon, the Club House was used

for a rehearsal. There were some strange

looks from other holidaymakers who

wandered in, not expecting choral music!

9

Evenings in the Clubhouse saw choristers discovering their inner disco diva.

Who knew they had such moves!

Wednesday was a trip to Paignton

Zoo. A great time was had by all. Highlights were walking through the

lemur enclosure, seeing orangutans

and a talk on endangered species.

Thursday saw the start of our

residency at Exeter Cathedral. After a quick rehearsal there was time to

explore before Evensong. The same pattern occurred on Friday and Saturday.

Our departure time of 1.30pm from the Park meant that each morning we could swim – its amazing how much fun can be had with a beach ball. On the

Friday we had a guided tour of the Cathedral and on Saturday the Cathedral

treated us to a cream tea in the Chapter

House.

Sunday was a very early start. Getting

everything packed up and into Exeter for a

9am rehearsal wasn’t easy but we made it

with seconds to spare. After the Eucharist

in a rather full Nave, we headed to the local

Wetherspoons for lunch, and had time for some last minute shopping before the

‘Paper Plate Awards’ made to everyone.

Our final Evensong complete, we boarded

the coach for the 4 hour trip back to Leicester tired but very happy.

We are now looking forward to 2015!

10

Boko Haram and the Nigerian political and religious crisis by Emmanuel Okoli

THESE ARE my thoughts and perception of the current Islamic insurgency in

Nigeria where I lived before making a life-changing trip to the United Kingdom

in 2009 to study at the University of Leicester. I joined St James the Greater

at a time I describe as the darkest hours of my life, when a good friend

suggested that I renew my faith in God. This article is not about my trials and travails but about the current struggles of my nation to hold on to its identity

when plagued with so many troubles.

Modern day Nigeria emerged as a result

of colonial amalgamation of northern and

southern Protectorates in 1914. This

merger was to ease Britain’s administrative burden and establish a

colonial territory stretching from the arid

Sahel to the Atlantic Coast.

It is difficult to foster unity between the

North – a largely Muslim population that

shares ancestral lineage and solidarity with the Middle East and the wider

Muslim world, and the South – an

ethnically diverse region of a largely

Christian population with Western and African socio-political influences. The

last hundred years have seen four failed republics, countless ethno-religious

and political clashes, violent sectarian insurgencies, six military coups and a

civil war. Nigeria now faces its worst adversary in Boko Haram.

I spent a better part of my adolescent life in the houses of my Muslim friends

as they did at mine. Some of them will conveniently say ‘the Lord’s Prayer’

without stuttering even as I can recite chapters of ‘surat Al Fatiha’ with conviction. The unity we shared was not in the way we individually seek the

face of God but in the knowledge that everyone has a genuine right to seek

their path to God.

Our agitation then wasn’t of a religious nature but in united demand for

better governance. Corruption in the highest ranks of government have

impoverished and denied opportunities to the majority of Nigeria’s ever growing population. As a result, factions of the faithful from both religions

have come to blame each other and to propose religious reform as a solution

11

to society’s ills. This genuine, but misplaced, quest for a religious solution to

socioeconomic and political problems coupled with a desperate growing

unemployed population has spawned extremist and violent insurgencies such as the Boko Haram Islamist terrorist campaign.

‘Boko Haram’ means ‘western education is a sin’. Mohammed Yusuf founded

the group in 2002 in the city of Maiduguri with the aim of establishing Sharia law in Borno State. Soon the organisation’s ulterior political and rebellious

goals manifested as it began working as a recruiting ground for jihadists to

fight the state.

In 2009 the Nigerian Government launched an investigation into the activities of Boko Haram following reports that it was arming its members. A bloody

confrontation broke out leading to the death of over 700 people – including

Muhammed Yusuf, the founder of the group who was summarily executed by

members of the Nigeria security forces while in police custody. The group retreated and re-emerged under the leadership Abubakar Shekau – a

psychopathic killer with total disregard for human life.

In what initially seemed like a focused attack on the Christian community in

northeast Nigeria, a number of churches and Sunday worshipers where restricted to house fellowship for fear of Boko Haram attack. Unconfirmed

statistics are that over 2000 civilians have been murdered and 10,000 injured.

Schoolchildren are kidnapped on a daily basis. The kidnapping of over 250 girls

in Chibok village in April paints a picture of the kind of monster that faces Nigerians – especially Christians – living in the north.

The menace of Boko Haram and other extremist groups in Nigeria is in large

part caused by successive neglect of the need and aspirations of the growing and active population.

The fight against Boko Haram requires not only military troops, but a new

mode of politics where the people believe that they have a stake in society,

where governance is not a birthright or a ladder to unimaginable wealth for people in elected office while the citizens languish in abject poverty.

Nigeria is a society where questions of peace, stability and prosperity are clearly linked to the building of a secular society free of religious zealots. The

larger society of the world will have to play a major role in curtailing the

growing atmosphere of fear, as the Nigerian government has clearly shown

that it does not have the wherewithal to fight off this monstrous

phenomenon.

Please keep the people of Nigeria in your thoughts and prayers. [Editor]

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The Word of the Lord? Glynn Richerby – on behalf of the Worship Committee – explains recent changes to

the announcing and ending of Bible readings in services.

THE PROBLEM with a nice orderly procession

of Bible readings in an act of worship is that

they can completely wash over us. Then, a

concluding trigger phrase such as ‘This is the Word of the Lord’ merely acts as a wake up

call to dutifully respond to with ‘Thanks be to

God’ – and on we go to the next hymn.

Worse than that, readers can easily get into a

muddle about what to say by way of an

introduction and do their own thing by way of a conclusion which can be a distraction from

the actual reading and maybe an irritation to

the hearers.

I shall always remember in my boyhood

hearing someone end a reading from Genesis

with “…for they were both naked” – and adding without a pause ‘Thanks be to God’

causing everyone in church to giggle! A definite

pause after a reading is necessary to let the

message sink in. The trouble with ending

phrases is that tend to deny hearers that necessary pause for reflection.

The Worship Committee – with the agreement of the Parochial Church

Council – has, in recent months, introduced a standardisation for readers of

the Bible during our services. The announcement is kept as simple as possible. For example: ‘A reading from the book of Genesis.’ or ‘A reading from the

first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians’. The numbers of chapters and verses

are not announced. For anyone wants to know, this information is always

printed in the weekly leaflet. At services of Holy Communion there is a significant pause at the end of the reading, followed by ‘For the word of the

Lord’ (avoiding the highly questionable assertion of ‘This is the word of the

Lord’) to which hearers may respond with ‘Thanks be to God’.

At services of Evensong, there is a simple announcement of the reading and at

the end no concluding phrase, but instead a significant pause in which

everyone can reflect on the passage, before the reader leaves the lectern.

13

Calendar of Services and Events

SEPTEMBER

2 Tuesday 07.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby

4 Thursday 10.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Jane Sharp

7 Sunday 12 AFTER TRINITY

08.30 Holy Communion (BCP) Celebrant: Glynn Richerby

10.30 Sung Eucharist Celebrant: Glynn Richerby

Preacher: Anthony Green 18.30 Choral Evensong Preacher: Glynn Richerby


19.30 Parochial Church Council in the Ashman Music Room

10 Wednesday 14.15 Holy Communion with Good Companions in the Hall 11 Thursday 10.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby

13 Saturday 10.00 – 18.00 CHURCH OPEN DAY

to welcome all taking part in the annual sponsored ‘Ride and Stride’ event 11.30 Architecture Tour of the Church

13.00 Organ Recital

14 Sunday HOLY CROSS DAY Racial Justice Sunday 08.30 Holy Communion Celebrant: Jane Sharp


Preacher: Angela Jagger

18.30 Evensong Preacher: Glynn Richerby



20 Saturday 17.30 Flower Guild Supper

at the home of John & Barbara Raven

21 Sunday MATTHEW Apostle & Evangelist 08.30 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby

10.30 Battle of Britain Service Preacher: Glynn Richerby 18.30 Sung Eucharist (Book of Common Prayer)

Celebrant & Preacher: Glynn Richerby


24 Wednesday Centenary of the Dedication of our completed Church

25 Thursday 10.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby

19.30 Concert by the St James Baroque Soloists with the

Amicable & Friendly Society

14

SEPTEMBER continued

28 Sunday St MICHAEL & ALL ANGELS Centenary of the completion of St James the Greater

08.30 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby 10.30 Sung Eucharist Celebrant: Jane Sharp Preacher: Glynn Richerby

18.30 Choral Evensong

to mark the centenary of the completion of St James the Greater,

the 50th anniversary of the LeicesterShire Historic Churches Trust

and the 25th anniversary of RIDE+STRIDE

Preacher: Bishop Thomas McMahon, RC Bishop of Brentwood

and a Vice President of the National Churches Trust


OCTOBER 1 Wednesday Friends of St James the Greater trip to Coventry

– see further details in the weekly leaflet

14.15 Holy Communion with Good Companions in the Hall


GIFT DAY

Saturday, 4 October 2014 Gifts received by the Vicar in the church for the church fabric repair fund

10.00 am - 2.00 pm

or placed in the collection plate at services the next day

5 Sunday HARVEST THANKSGIVING with thanksgiving for time, talents and money given to the church


10.30 Sung Eucharist Celebrant & Preacher: Glynn Richerby


7 Tuesday 07.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby 9 Thursday 10.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby

10 Friday 19.30 Leicester Theological Society at Holy Cross Centre,

Wellington Street. Mark, the Controlling Gospel

Fr Neil Ferguson OP – Lecturer in Scripture, Oxford


08.30 Holy Communion Celebrant: Jane Sharp

10.30 Sung Eucharist Celebrant & Preacher Glynn Richerby

18.30 Choral Evensong Preacher: Angela Jagger

15

OCTOBER continued

14 Tuesday 07.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby 16 Thursday 10.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Jane Sharp

17 Friday 19.30 Concert by the Boyan Ensemble of Kiev

18 Saturday St Luke the Evangelist Commissioning of David Brunning as a Reader at Leicester

Cathedral – see weekly leaflet for further details


08.30 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby


Preacher: David Brunning 18.30 Choral Evensong Guest Preacher: Sheila Roberts



25 Saturday 10.30 Baptism of Matilda Taylor

Bishop’s Lay Congress Saturday 25 October

09.30 at St Martin’s House

Fully Alive? Being an apprentice of Jesus

To book: [email protected] 0116 261 5317

Clocks go back!

26 Sunday LAST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Bible Sunday 08.30 Holy Communion Celebrant: David Clark


Preacher: Glynn Richerby


28 Tuesday 07.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby 19.30 Standing Committee meets in the Vicarage


NOVEMBER

2 Sunday ALL SAINTS’ SUNDAY


10.30 Requiem Celebrant: Glynn Richerby

Preacher: Jane Sharp

18.30 Evensong Preacher: Glynn Richerby 4 Tuesday 08.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby

mailto:[email protected]

16

NOVEMBER continued

5 Wednesday 14.15 Holy Communion with Good Companions in the Hall 6 Thursday 10.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby

9 Sunday 3 BEFORE ADVENT Remembrance Sunday

08.30 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby 10.45 Service of Remembrance

Preacher: Glynn Richerby

18.30 Sung Eucharist (Book of Common Prayer)

Celebrant: Glynn Richerby

Preacher: David Clark 11 Tuesday 08.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby


19.45 Parochial Church Council in the Ashman Music Room

14 Friday 19.30 Leicester Theological Society at Holy Cross Centre, Wellington Street. God’s Mission – in a land of many faiths

Bishop Michael Ipgrave – Bishop of Woolwich

16 Sunday 2 BEFORE ADVENT

Prisons Week National Interfaith Week 08.30 Holy Communion Celebrant: Jane Sharp

10.30 Sung Eucharist Celebrant: Derek Hole

Preacher: David Brunning

18.30 Choral Evensong Preacher: Angela Jagger 18 Tuesday 08.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby

19.15 Stewardship Meeting


21 Friday 19.30 Grand Auction in aid of the Church Repair Fund

23 Sunday CHRIST THE KING Sunday next before Advent



Preacher: David Clark

18.30 Choral Evensong Preacher: Glynn Richerby 25 Tuesday 08.15 Holy Communion Celebrant: Glynn Richerby


29 Saturday 19.30 Messiah – The Bach Choir & Bach Camerata

30 Sunday ADVENT 1


10.30 Sung Eucharist Celebrant & Preacher: Jane Sharp

18.30 Advent Carol Service – ‘from darkness to light’

17

Remembrance tide – Coming Home by Glynn Richerby

THE SOLDIER shown in the photo

is one of the lucky ones coming home from Afghanistan. He

evidently has an adoring wife and

daughter to return to. He is not

coming home injured. Hopefully he is not traumatized as so many have

been – some physically and

psychologically maimed for life,

some suicidal. Above all he’s coming

home alive. The UK’s military role in Afghanistan has brought with it a

heavy human toll. Since 2001, 453

members of the Army, RAF, Royal Marines and special forces have lost their

lives. The final pull out from Afghanistan is due by the end of this year. It can’t come too soon for the families of the last to leave.

Also at this time of the year we can in have our minds’ eye scenes that I and my generation onwards only know from grainy black and white photos and

newsreels of the great homecomings of the First and Second World Wars.

Men in uniform waving from the decks of their ships as they pull into port –

thousands waving back. Emotional embraces at the harbour side when lovers,

partners, families are reunited.

Scenes at railway stations –

the dirty smoke from steam

trains filling the platform failing

to dampen the spirits of those reunited with their loved ones.

And on the streets there were

gatherings of hundreds and

thousands of people to greet those returning from war.

Flags flying, bands playing,

handkerchiefs waving – joy all

around. Big homecomings like these still happen in Leicestershire and all

around the country to greet servicemen and women coming home to where they and their families are stationed.

18

Smaller homecomings are just as special too. The first visit of the returning

young serviceman to his beloved grandmother, the sideboard in her flat full of

photographs of that same young man in uniform, and other older photos of other young men in uniform – the grandson’s father and grandfather in their

time of service. The grandmother has spent so much time in her life waiting

for moments such as these – special moments when the doorbell rings and

her heart leaps because the young man in her life has come back home.

Soldiers, sailors, air -men and -women coming home is such a vital part of any

conflict. It can mean that war is over completely. Or it can mean that there's

at least a break, some respite for the family while the loved one is back with

them.

At times the call from ordinary people to governments and military leaders is

'Bring our troops home', when – as now in Afghanistan – we begin to assess

what has actually been achieved and count the cost in the waste of young lives.

At Remembrance tide we particularly recall those who did not come home

from the global wars of the twentieth century, as well as ongoing conflicts of

the early years of this century, where our men and women are involved on the front line. To be buried

with honours is a bitter

homecoming. Worse is to be

buried in some foreign field and never to come home

again. Those to whom this has

happened – those called away

from their homes and jobs to serve their country and who

made the ultimate sacrifice for

the cause of right and justice.

God knows about homecomings. God shares homecomings with us – the

joyful ones, the relieved ones and the bitterly sad ones.

Christians take our example from Jesus who called people away from their

homes and jobs to follow him in a mission for the greatest good – to share

the good news of his kingdom with others. He calls us now to follow him, in just the same way.

And we ask the question – if we follow Jesus and embrace his mission, will there be a homecoming?

19

Jesus said to his friends ‘trust in God’. He was preparing them for his own

death. They were bewildered for he was still a relatively young man, in the

prime of life, and he was not at all unwell. But he knew what was in store and was facing the prospect of his own death with calmness and confidence.

He said to his friends ‘You know where I am going’.

One of those first followers, Thomas, was spokesmen for the rest – and for

anyone who hesitates to accept easy assurances about life beyond death.

Thomas, unable to understand what Jesus was saying, comes out with:

‘We don’t know where you’re going, so how can we know the way?’ John 14.5 Jesus gives Thomas – and all of us – the promise that death is not oblivion but

a home-coming, that we should not be afraid to follow him to new life.

And so, at Remembrance tide, we recall all who have been waited for to make

their return. We commemorate soberly and with due dignity those who

never made the homecoming they and their loved ones so dearly desired.

And, as Christians, we do all this in the hope that all the conflict, all the suffering, all the sadness of the life of the world as we know it and have

known it, that all these things will pass away – that there will be

‘a new heaven and new earth … God will wipe every tear from their eyes.

Death will be no more … mourning and crying and pain will be no more …’ Revelation 21.1-4

All the homecomings we have known and will ever know in our span of life will be eclipsed by that one great triumphant homecoming. Then we shall

share the joy of eternal life with Jesus and all those who have gone before us

in faith, including those we have known and loved and all whom we remember

with thanksgiving.

Special Services in Remembrance tide

Battle of Britain 74th Anniversary Service of Thanksgiving

Sunday, 21 September at 10.30 am

Attended by RAF Associations and ATC Squadrons

All Souls’ Requiem Sunday, 3 November at 10.30 am

With the music of Gabriel Fauré

Annual Service of Remembrance Sunday, 9 November at 10.45 am

with radio link to the national ceremony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall

20

Cathedrals William Woolley continues his explorations by train

IN RESPONSE to popular request, off I went again. There was no particular

theme this time – just visiting a cathedral when my wanderings took me near one.

Day 1 Most Leicester Anglicans asked to name Roman Catholic cathedrals reply

“Westminster, Liverpool and...er,er... Some

do know that we live in the Roman Catholic

diocese of Nottingham where St Barnabas Cathedral is situated on Derby Road. The

Church of Rome was suppressed in this

country until 1829 so most of their buildings

date from the 19th century and have a lower profile than their Anglican counterparts. The

Architect here was Augustus Pugin who designed many buildings including the

Houses of Parliament. It has been re-ordered and modernised over the years

but retains a coherent feel. Many saints are commemorated with chapels,

statues and stained glass windows.

Day 2 Birmingham is one of the eight cities

with both Anglican and Roman Catholic cathedrals. My train arrived at Snow Hill Station

which is close to the latter so thither I repaired

first. Designed by Pugin, it was the first Roman

Catholic cathedral erected

in England since

the Reformation.

A notable feature

is a 16th century oak statue of St Chad holding

a model of Lichfield Cathedral which is also

dedicated to him.

The (Anglican) Cathedral Church of St Philip is

one with which we should feel an affinity as

Thomas Archer, the architect, took inspiration

from his travels in Italy, especially Venice. The building was consecrated in 1715, enlarged by

21

the addition of a new chancel in 1884 and elevated to cathedral status in 1905.

Four great stained glass windows are prominent features but the whole

architecture is unlike any other cathedral I have visited. The building across the square originally housed the cathedral library, then became a bank and is

now a public house, acting as a useful pit stop on the way to New St station.

Day 3 started with a disappointment. Shrewsbury Cathedral was closed and

the gates locked so it will have to be visited on a later occasion. This did leave

more time for inspecting the interior architecture of Salopian hostelries! The

Cathedral Church of St Mary, Wrexham was open to visitors. Designed by Edward Pugin (son of Augustus) as a parish church, it became a cathedral in

1907. Modifications took place in 1957 and 1966 and the spire (the only one

left in Wrexham) rebuilt in 2007. The style of the interior is described as 13th

Century Gothic or Decorated.

Day 4 Last time I visited Chester

Cathedral they indulged in the doubtless commercially sound but spiritually

questionable practice of charging for

admission. This can be circumvented by

the simple expedient of attending a service so 0945 saw me firmly established in the

nave. The present building was erected

between 1250 and 1538 but most of what

we see today is the result of restorations in Victorian times by prominent

figures such as Gilbert Scott and the ubiquitous Pugin. The last Consistory

Court in the country remains, along with the best preserved monastic

buildings. The west window is another striking feature. I will be returning as

tours of the upper levels, not normally open to the public, are on offer.

A more detailed exposition of this material can be found in ‘England’s

Cathedrals by Train’ by Murray Naylor published by Pen & Sword Books – a

most entertaining and informative read.

Friends of St James the Greater Outing

A VISIT to Coventry Cathedral is being organised for Wednesday, 1

October. Further details will be received by Friends via email. Places

will be available to members of the congregation – see weekly leaflet for

more information.

22

Posters… Sarah Kirby’s project to provide posters for the church porch

I DON’T remember quite whose idea it was,

but Glynn agreed to me creating a series of

new occasional posters for St James. This

provided me with a tangible reason to focus, a

way of linking what I do for a living to this other important part of my life.

I’m a newcomer to the Church and as such

have not attempted to read the whole Bible,

but have had opportunities in the last couple

of years for study by being asked to read a

lesson in services. The given passage provides me with a direction to get to know a small

part of the bigger story. Reading and re-

reading a particular passage presents me with an opportunity to explore and

understand. Often, as I did so, I’ll be conjuring up images which in turn made

it real and memorable to me… in a way the picture in my head cements the

passage and lets other thoughts expand around the picture. I know so little of

the Bible – these give me good starting points.

My work as an artist is often described as ‘illustrative’ but I’m not technically

an illustrator. I’m not often given a brief to complete or a subject to work on

by anyone other than myself. Sometimes this complete freedom about what

picture to make, what to draw, where to start, is daunting – not so much as

what can I do, but how do I choose? How to narrow down the mass of ideas

running around in my head? I’ve got very used following my own ideas – and

am generally reluctant to follow others’ instructions or timetables!

So this presentation or concept of ‘projects’ fits in well with my self-directed

work pattern – but also gives me a re-assurance of a pattern … Having only a responsibility to myself is both fantastic and onerous at the same time – an

overt purpose, a destination, a framework and narrative outside of me is

challenging but can also be helpful…and I’m enjoying it!

I am often prompted by words in the way I find inspiration for images –

whether a short phrase, a line of poetry or a single word. It seems a natural

thing to do to explore this new chapter and aspect of my life so built around a book – a great text and unending story – by making pictures of it!

23

The suggestion was that I begin by

working around the season or festival

days. I’ve done a few already this year to chime in with Lent, Easter, Pentecost and

now St James. If Glynn lets me carry on

(!), I hope to continue and be able to

include seemingly random or less

important days, dates or events as the

years go on as well. As I become familiar

with the pattern of the church certain

words get repeated, psalms sung again and

the rhythm of worship begins to be part of my daily, weekly and yearly cycle.

Some of you may already know my work

in other contexts. Starting these posters

has coincided with my own exploring of

other ways of working. I am

predominantly a printmaker – I work mostly in linocut, but I have also been

increasingly involving collage. Again, this has given me a freedom to work in a

different medium – which I relish.

The original artwork is much smaller than the poster you see. When I

complete each piece I have it digitally scanned and printed in a large format.

I’m trying to give Annabel a disc of this

scan for her computer as a few people

have requested copies for themselves.

The Church office has a good quality

printer and can produce an A4 version

for your own notice board if you would like one.

It is also so lovely for me to hear people’s

responses. But I don’t mean this to be an

invitation to tell me you like them – tell

me if you don’t too!

But also tell me if you have a different

vision or invite me to think about a

different set of words – a particular well-loved or meaningful prayer, a line of text,

or a special day of the year.

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Obituaries Cathleen Ruth Doncaster Wood

died 9 June 2014 aged 78

In recent time, Cathleen has been known as the

‘litter lady’ of Evington Village – setting out on a

daily clear-up and inspiring others to take a

greater pride in their locality. For nearly 20 years, Cathleen taught RE at Judge Meadow

School. She became a worshipper at St James the

Greater at a time when she was exploring

contemplative prayer – finding the ordered

worship and music particularly helpful.

Cathleen was born in Selly Oak, Birmingham, the eldest of five children, her father a Methodist minister, her mother a Cambridge graduate. Shortly after

she was born the family moved to Secunderabad in India, when her father

took up a position with the Methodist Missionary Society. At the age of 13

Cathleen returned to England to board at Hunmanby Hall Methodist School in

Yorkshire where she became head girl. She went on to St Andrew’s

University to study history followed by teacher training in Oxford and began

her teaching career in Bristol before moving to Wolverhampton. It was there

she got involved with the Community of Prayer and Action led by David Wood who was at that time Vicar of St George’s – the church providing a

community of care to men who were in any kind of need. Cathleen became an

affiliated member of the community, running a house for women in need.

After David and Cathleen were married they left the Community and took on

a farm in Herefordshire, before David became warden of an ecumenical

project designed to nurture the spiritual life of the community of Killingworth,

a new town near Newcastle. Rachel was born in 1971. Three years later Cathleen and David separated and Cathleen and Rachel moved to Leicester.

Cathleen had a deep and wide spirituality. She enjoyed study and led an

evening class on prayer – a first for the evening class curriculum. She was an

active member of the Christian-Muslim Women’s Dialogue Group and very

involved in the Quiet Gardens movement. She became an oblate at the

Community of the Holy Cross in Costock. She was a good friend to many,

offering strength and support through her gifts for listening, prayer and letter-

writing. After a protracted and painful time of living with leukaemia, Cathleen

approached death with truly inspiring serenity, openness and honesty.

25

Gillean Mary Cherill Russell

died 11 June 2014 aged 76

With the onset of her final illness nearly a year ago, Gill knew her condition was

terminal. She was not morbid about this –

far from it. In a note to the congregation

last August, Gill wrote

“Thank you so much for all the kind messages … the next part of my journey is

both challenging and – in a strange way –

exciting.” Gill’s hope and prayer was that

the end would come quickly. In the event she was a long time dying.

Gill grew up in Crewkerne, rural Somerset – where her father was a teacher. She left school aged 16 and eventually decided to be a physiotherapist. After

training at St Thomas’s Hospital, Gill remained in London until 1974 apart

from 2 years working in a government hospital in Tanzania. Becoming more

interested in what makes a person ‘tick’ than how their body works Gill

trained for 5 years as a counsellor and psychotherapist at the Westminster

Pastoral Foundation.

Illness with ovarian cancer changed the course of Gill’s life. She went to work

as the Administrator of the Retreat Association. After 5 years, Gill fulfilled a

strong desire to work in a retreat house by moving to Launde Abbey to be

sub warden, working initially with Henry Evans. In 1994 when Graham

Johnson had settled in as Warden she decided to move out and see if she could live by listening to people, renting a room at St James’ for counselling.

Very many people have been enormously helped by Gill’s wise counsel and

supported by her prayers to be released from the effects of harm or

disappointment and to come to terms with personal circumstances so as to lead liberated and fulfilled lives – for which they shall be eternally grateful to

her. Changes of career have resulted in Gill attending to people’s needs

successively in terms of body, mind and spirit.

Drawn to the religious life, Gill became an Oblate of the Sisters of the Love of

God at Fairacres from 1999, appreciating their focus on contemplative prayer

in periods of silence. Gill hugely appreciated St James the Greater as a spiritual

home and valued the many friends she made.

At the prospect of dying, Gill said “Wow, what a wonderful time I have had!”

26

Geoffrey George Simpson MBE TD DL

died 29 July 2014 aged 75

“Accentuate the positive” was one of

Geoffrey’s favourite expressions. This was

no less so than when diagnosed with

inoperable cancer. When made very weak

and utterly drained of energy by the side-

effects of treatment Geoffrey said he found

deep serenity.

Born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1938, the

eldest of three boys, Geoffrey attended the

Royal Grammar School before studying Economics at the University of Durham.

For National Service, Geoffrey was given a compassionate posting to Glen

Parva Barracks as his father was very ill. There he spent 18 months teaching

before joining Lloyds bank. In 1971 he married Hilary and returned to

Leicester for his first managerial appointment. He soon became involved at St

James the Greater and in the life in the City and County, making very many

good and faithful friends along the way. As Major Simpson, he rose to be

second in command at the TA headquarters in Ulverscroft Road. Toby was

born in 1972 and christened at St James’. Geoffrey took great delight in Toby’s marriage to Elaine, and in his grand daughters Emily and Felicity.

Geoffrey did two stints as churchwarden of St James the Greater, exercising

upbeat and wise leadership. For a number of years he led the Outreach

Committee. He successfully led a fund raising campaign for an extension onto

the church to provide disabled access to the Undercroft and Church Hall.

Taking the opportunity of an early retirement package at the age of 55,

Geoffrey devoted his time, abundant energy and talents to St James’, to the

Cathedral, to the Red Cross, to Masonic charitable objectives and more

besides. He got things done by motivating other people to enjoy working with

him in seeing through projects until thoroughly accomplished. He was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of the county in 1986 and made an MBE in 2010.

A deeply religious man, his faith was always evident by his words and actions.

The suddenness of Geoffrey’s death came as a shock to us all. Our deepest sympathy goes out to Geoffrey’s mother, brothers, Hilary, Toby and family.

Your love, dear brother, has brought me great joy and much encouragement! You have cheered the hearts of all God’s people. Philemon 1.7

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Commemorative Flowers

SEPTEMBER Flowers given by:

7th David Goddard in memory of Niccola

Altar Frontal

Vicky Roe

14th The Finn Family in memory of Vera & Verrall Clark

21st Rosemary Freer

28th Derick Horsfall in memory of Pam

OCTOBER

5th HARVEST 12th Lindy Forbes in memory of her parents

Pamela and Frank Hiles

Altar Frontal

Rachel Chizema in memory of her father

19th Kathleen Sowman in memory of Bill

26th Pat & Peter Ireson

in memory of The Reverend John Ireson – husband & father NOVEMBER

2nd Iain & Sue Davidson in memory of Tom & Cathie Davidson

9th REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY

16th Rosemary Lowe in memory of John

23rd Peter Durham & Jo Wood

in loving memory of Suzanne Durham greatly missed wife & mother

Lady Chapel

Henry Evans in memory of Ruth Evans

30th ADVENT

28

What’s on ... SUNDAYS

Sunday Club in school term time 10.30 Large Hall

Contact Mrs Jo Stapleton 39 Craighill Road, Leicester LE2 3FD 270 2001 WEDNESDAYS

Good Companions 14.30 Large Hall Leader Mrs Janet Burton 20 Holderness Road, Leicester LE4 2LP 0751 035 3097

SJ2 – Under 14s’ Youth Club 19.15 – 20.45 Undercroft Leader Mr John Raven 291 London Road, Leicester LE2 3ND 270 7591

THURSDAYS

Coffee Drop-in 10.45 – 11.30 Large Hall Organiser Mrs Doris Makepeace 7 Bransdale Road, Wigston, Leicester LE18 1XU 288 5315

St James’ Singers 19.45 alternate Thursdays Ashman Music Room Director Mr Michael Rule 99 Ratby Road, Groby, Leicester LE6 0GF 0787 530 5296

Scouts Beaver Scouts 17.30 – 18.30 Cub Scouts 18.30 – 20.00 Scouts 19.30 Undercroft Leaders Mr Tony & Mrs Alison Hurst 30 Repton Road, Wigston, Leicester LE18 1GB 288 9457

FRIDAYS

Boys’ Choir & Girls’ Choir Practices 18.00 Full Choir Practice 19.30 Ashman Music Room Director Mr Matthew Haynes 44 Conaglen Road, Aylestone, Leicester LE2 8LD 0788 576 0364

SATURDAYS Stop-by Project for the homeless 11.00 – 14.00 Undercroft

Coordinator Salma Ravat Contact through Church Office 254 2111

Who’s who … Ministry Team – see inside front cover

Churchwardens Miss Julia Walker 3 Paddock Close, Oadby, Leicester LE2 5GG 271 9347

Mr Michael Bull MBE 15 Dore Road, Leicester, LE5 5HG 220 1581

Deputy Wardens Dr Tony Bentley Contact through Church Office 254 2111

Mrs Angela Hefford 15 Southernhay Road, Leicester LE2 3TN 270 6060 Mrs Margaret Terry 26 Woodbank Road, Leicester LE2 3YQ 288 3668

Mr Keith Vaughan Stretton Cottage, Great Stretton, Leicester LE2 2FR 259 2524

PCC Secretary

Mr Philip Jones 52 Carisbrooke Road, Mountsorrel, LE12 7BR 237 4894

Church Administrator & Hall Booking Secretary Mrs Annabel Cowley Church Office, St James Hall, St James Terrace, LE2 1NA 254 2111

Treasurer & Gift Aid Secretary Mr John Sharp Orchard House, 15 Orchard Lane, Great Glen, LE8 9GJ 259 2758

Chairman, Stewardship Committee

Mrs Pam Spokes 7 The Albany, London Road, Leicester LE2 1RH 270 4710

Director of Music

Mr Matthew Haynes 44 Conaglen Road, Aylestone, Leicester LE2 8LD 0788 576 0364 Organist & Associate Director of Music

Mr Michael Rule 99 Ratby Road, Groby, Leicester LE6 0GF 0787 530 5296 Assistant Organist Ms Roxanne Summerfield

Head Servers

Mr John & Mrs Angela Finn 4 Colne Close, Oadby, Leicester LE2 4GA 292 9562 Flower Guild Co-ordinator including commemorative flowers

Miss Julia Walker 3 Paddock Close, Oadby, Leicester LE2 5GG 271 9347 Child Protection Officer Vicky Roe 4 St James’s Terrace, LE2 1NA 255 2108

Vulnerable Adult Officer Ms Maggie Weller Contact through Church Office 254 2111

Documents

The Vicar writes