Happy feast of the Conversion of Paul! Based on Caravaggio’s artistic portrayal of this remarkable encounter with Jesus, I may bear some physical resemblance to the one after whom I was named: ‘a man of small stature, with a bald head and crooked legs’. Sadly, in terms of character, I fear that I possess more of Paul’s weaknesses than his strengths. But what a great role model for an archdeacon: travelling from place to place, encouraging the people of God, and walking alongside them in their trials. Paul doesn’t mention a pandemic, but it’s a pretty impressive list of challenges that he faces: near death, violence, persecution, imprisonment, shipwreck, starvation, weather, wayward churches (2 Cor 11). This year, as we reflect upon Paul’s life and conversion, I give particular thanks for his endurance, perseverance and witness to the God whose grace is sufficient for us and whose power is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor 12:9). As we face the trials of our own day, let us pray for that same power in our lives and for the faith, hope and love which it generates.
The Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, has thanked front line workers, parishes, and all who have made sacrifices to help protect one another from Covid-19, as England prepares to move away from ‘plan B’ restrictions on Thursday.<div>Bishop Sarah, who chairs the Church of England’s Covid Recovery Group, was speaking as new advice was published by the Church of England ahead of Thursday’s change of national rules.She said: “When the first measures to curb the spread of Covid-19 were introduced in March 2020, few would have imagined that we would still be making adaptations to the way we live our lives – including our worship – almost two years on.“It has been a very challenging time.“People have made huge sacrifices to protect one another – not only those they know and love but strangers they might never meet. We’ve learnt again as society something of what it means to love our neighbour, as Jesus taught.“And it has certainly not been without cost.“The loneliness and isolation many have experienced; the impact on people’s mental health; the lost jobs and failed businesses and strained relationships must not be overlooked. “Yet, terrible as the toll from this virus has been, and continues to be, the actions people have taken have saved lives and prevented countless infections, with all the potential long-term consequences that could go with them.“We may never know what good has been done.“So as we can begin to look forward with cautious hope, we once again thank those who have done so much to protect us all - particularly our NHS, carers and other front line workers.“I want to thank everyone who has made sacrifices for others. I think particularly of younger people who, though often least at risk, have sometimes given up the most.“And I want especially to thank our clergy, parish volunteers and congregations for all you are doing - not simply to keep worship going, but to innovate with bold and remarkable new ways of doing so; reaching new people and, of course, serving your communities.“As ‘plan B’ restrictions come to an end the future remains uncertain and we must continue to be cautious. In our churches government rules have been eased but I would still encourage congregations to consider what mitigation can best protect others.“As we look now towards spring and the vivid demonstration of new life it offers us, my prayer is that we won’t forget what we’ve learnt; that we take this opportunity to thank others and that we look with hope to the future.”
St Paul’s Without the Walls has seen its evening service of choral music and traditional liturgy grow in popularity after introducing a home cooked meal. The idea came to parishioner Michael Keeler-Walker following suggestions the service would be stopped.He said: “We had Choral Evensong once a month, but often it was irregular and sometimes just dropped. “Despite a choir of 18, often the only congregant would be the person doing the reading. So, we decided to go back to basics. It became regular, each month, focussing on good food, good fellowship, good preaching, and good music.”A home cooked meal is now offered after each service and the church has seen a large increase in worshippers. Beginning prior to the pandemic, and despite the Government restrictions over the last few years, the services have continued to thrive following lockdown, with guest preachers attracting more congregants and swelling the choir’s ranks. “People are drawn to our services and even after the pandemic we have had more than 50 people coming to services,” Michael added.“We're interacting with people we never did before and it's been hugely enriching for the parish.”The efforts of St Paul’s Without the Walls has been celebrated online, and dozens of parishes have been in contact to learn to replicate the success. “The Book of Common Prayer is seeing a real revival in churches across the country,” said Bradley Smith, the Prayer Book Society chairman. “New generations are discovering the beauty, depth and majesty of these words, many through services of Choral Evensong such as in St Paul’s Canterbury.”
Which Anglican priest and bishop was a friend of CS Lewis, mentor to a future Archbishop of Canterbury, and baptised a philosopher on her deathbed?Simon Barrington-Ward (see photo) died of Covid-19 on Easter Saturday 2020, full of years (89) and full of faith. He had served eminently as general secretary of the Church Missionary Society (CMS) and as Bishop of Coventry.The son of Robert Barrington-Ward, editor of The Times from 1941 to 1948, Simon attended Eton, where contemporaries included Douglas Hurd. He read history at Magdalene College, Cambridge, then lectured for a year (1953-54) at the Free University, West Berlin. There, amid the broken city, his life was transformed and remade by Christ through a small Bible study group.He would become a theologian of mission, pastor, visionary and spiritual father to many throughout his life, including me.In 1982 Simon’s prayer life was transfigured by meeting a Russian monk, Archimandrite (now Saint) Sophrony, who led the Monastery of St John the Baptist, Tolleshunt Knights, Essex.If you are interested in deepening your prayer life, read Simon’s book The Jesus Prayer (1996). It is a simple introduction to an ancient way of prayer, born in the Orthodox Church, and a way of entering into the river of prayer that flows from the heart of God.If the study of mission and world Christianity draws you, read his Love Will Out (1988), a collection of his profound CMS newsletters. In his introduction he mentioned his cohering theme of exchange: “It is a constant coming together of Heaven and Earth, universal and particular, divine and human, judgment and mercy, spiritual and material, ideal and reality, structure and community, joy and sorrow, in a whole range of varied contexts.”If you are attracted to philosophy, read The Christic Cogito, on Hegel, one of his four articles republished in Exchange of Gifts: The Vision of Simon Barrington-Ward (2022), which I have coedited with Ian Randall. The book has 12 other diverse chapters considering his life and influence.Simon was chaplain at Magdalene College, Cambridge, when CS Lewis was a fellow and professor of medieval and renaissance English literature. They used to go on long walks together along the River Cam.Simon’s family lent me four suitcases of his papers and his computer disc. On it, I found a sermon he preached at Little St Mary’s, Cambridge, “For Gillian Rose”.Gillian was a Jewish professor of social and political thought at the University of Warwick, in the diocese of Coventry, and an ardent seeker of the kingdom of God. She had had discussions with Rowan Williams over a period of ten years, and had befriended Simon, whom she asked to baptise her when she was dying of cancer. She died in 1995, on the day of her baptism, aged 48.CS Lewis, Justin Welby and Gillian Rose are three of the countless wise people, of all races and backgrounds, who have exchanged gifts with Simon Barrington-Ward. Join them. His writings are nourishing.
