THE RECTOR WRITES [22nd November]

The Rector writes .. .. ..

This past week’s State Opening of Parliament by the Queen necessarily means that our perceptions of monarchy are influenced by the grandeur of the spectacle – the state coach, the precision of the ceremonial, the crown jewels. None of this helps in our understanding of what we celebrate on this last Sunday of the Christian year – Christ the Universal King. In his dialogue with Pontius Pilate, Jesus made clear that “my kingdom is not of this world”. The symbols of earthly influence and power do not have any meaning for Christ: rather, his insignia is that of a broken heart encircled by thorns. St John’s comment on the crucified Saviour is a prophecy – “they will look on the one whom they have pierced” – for in every generation it is the poor in spirit and the broken in heart who most readily recognise the authentic nature of Christ’s sovereignty. “I come among you as one who serves”.

Most conversations I have had over the past few weeks have centred on how I am settling into a new situation and how Spanish Place compares with Hackney! My response is that people are people: we may come from differing social and ethnic backgrounds but the basic needs and questions are the same. There is one area though that I think can be singled out for particular mention, and that is music. In the East End I was used to vigorous (if not always tuneful) congregational singing – when the new Archbishop had his "welcome" Mass at Kingsland many commented they thought the roof was coming off with the volume of the Missa de Angelis. Here at St James’s the musical offering is very different and quite glorious. I would like to pay tribute to Dr Terry Worroll and to Isteyn Evans for the sheer excellence of what is offered Sunday by Sunday. After experiencing beautiful music in church, St Augustine wrote: “those sounds flowed into my ears, distilling the truth in my heart” – it is our privilege at St James’s to echo the same sentiments.

Several people have expressed concerns about the swine flu epidemic which, although it does not as yet seem to have assumed the proportions predicted, is still a threat to the very young, the elderly and the vulnerable. Some dioceses have already moved to stop the sharing of the chalice, communion on the tongue and the giving of the sign of peace by touch. The Archdiocese of Westminster continues to monitor the situation but, for the present, their advice is to do no more than follow good practice in regard to hygiene: we are not complacent, but now does not seem the moment to take extraordinary measures.

I am pleased to be able to announce that two priests will be joining us in the first part of the New Year. Father David Irwin will be leaving his parish of St Peter in Chains, Stroud Green, to take on a new responsibility co-ordinating the ethnic chaplaincies in the Diocese (there are over seventy of them). It will be good to have this fascinating ministry centred on Spanish Place. Monsignor Francis Jamieson is the Vicar General of the Apostolic Vicariate of Arabia: he has unparalleled experience of guiding the Catholic Church’s mission in strictly Islamic societies, having worked in the United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Saudi Arabia for the past twenty years. Monsignor Jamieson will continue to be incardinated in Arabia and to work for the Vicariate, but he will have residence with us and will help in the parish. It will be a great joy to have Father Irwin and Monsignor Jamieson living in the Rectory, and their breadth of experience will add fresh dimensions to our parish life.