Bath
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Services, Events & News
We welcome you to our services
Details of services and events at the Parish Church of Our Lady & St Alphege, and at St Joseph's, during the current week are
shown in the copy of the Parish Bulletin below.
Listen to a Podcast by Dr Giles Mercer, Bath historian and Diocesan trustee, talking about Alphege and his relevance a thousand years on, giving us insights as to why he is considered a martyr for justice, peace and reconciliation. (It may take a few seconds)
ST ALPHEGE MILLENIUM CELEBRATIONS 2012
In 2012 we celebrate the millennium of Alphege, Archbishop of Canterbury, who was killed by soldiers of the invading Danish army on 19th April 1012.
The manner of his life and death has great significance for Christians today. He was the first Archbishop of Canterbury to suffer martyrdom for the faith. He gave up his life to protect his flock from oppression at the hand of the invader, refusing to allow himself to be ransomed. After his death he was much venerated, and came to be regarded as a saint who could be honoured by both Dane and Saxon. So Alphege is commemorated both as a martyr for justice and secondly as a symbol of reconciliation between peoples.
A committee has been established to publicise the events that will be taking place to celebrate the millennium of the martyrdom, at both national and local levels. It is intended that the celebrations should be fully ecumenical and that all Christians traditions who honour the memory of Alphege should be encouraged to participate.
To view details of the churches and other organisations participating and the various events being arranged, and some resources available, click on the Millennium Website
Our Celebration at St Alphege's, Bath Make a Note in Your Diary
Solemn Mass will be held in honour of the Millenium of the Martyrdom of St Alphege at Greenwich on Thursday 19th April at St Alphege's, Oldfield Lane, Bath, BA2 3NR.
Celebrant: Declan, Bishop of Clifton
Preacher: Abbot of Downside
In attendance will be the Charter Mayor and Mayoress, together with the Rector of Bath Abbey and other local ecumenical Reps, concelebrants, etc.
Music by Capella Nova.
Afterwards there will be a reception in St Alphege's Hall with an opportunity to purchase copies of Caroline Shaw's new architectural history of the church. Watch out for more information on this splendid book.
Bath Foodbank
You may have heard of Foodbank in the national media recently. Every day people in the UK go hungry for reasons ranging from redundancy to receiving an unexpected bill on a low income. 13 million people live below the poverty line in the UK.
Bath Foodbank opened in September. If you would like to get involved or know more about this new project in Bath please contact Paul Solly on paul@genesistrust.org.uk or 07793 726105.
Click on The Trussell Trust for more information about Foodbank in general.
Foodbank is currently feeding around 15 households a week and growing fast. We are feeding single people and families from all over Bath. The most common reasons for needing emergency food aid (3 days of nutritionally balanced food) are problems and delays with benefits, debt and crisis. Vouchers are being distributed to those in need by over 30 agencies and charities.
We have had a huge amount of food generously donated over the harvest season and now we are trying to fill in the gaps by appealing only for the foods we are running low on. We are currently completely out of: Longlife juice; UHT milk; tinned rice pudding; chocolate; Sponge pudding; instant mash and would appreciate any donations to fill in until the Waitrose collection.
Food is given out according to a Trussell Trust set packing list appropriate to the family size. Some of the food items we appeal for might sound odd or less obviously nutritious but are there in order to cover the food groups, give variety and boost morale. Because of food safety regulations we are unable to give out food that is past its use-by date, homemade or already open.
Helen D'Souza is happy to pick up items from the church and take to the foodbank.
Bath Deanery Newsletter
The latest edition of Bath Deanery newsletter has been published. Click here to read it.
Springboard Bath
Encouraging change through active Christian networking
Springboard is a communications hub for Bath’s Christians, with news about shared projects, events and ideas for Christians across the city, helping us all to actively engage with our communities. Have a look at Springboard’s website and keep up to date with what’s happening. News, coming events, projects, ideas and how to get involved.
Our SVP Group. Latest Report
Click on the logo above to go to our SVP page and find out about the 2011 Appeal and the Report to The Parish
Our New Icon of St Alphege
Click on the image to enlarge.
The icon was given in memory of Graham Griffiths and as a devotional focus during 2012, which marks the millenium of the martyrdom of St Alphege at Greenwich. Read all about it
Father Roche's 90th Birthday
Former parish priest Canon Bill Roche celebrated his 90th birthday with a group of loving friends on October 17th.
Clifton Diocese website has pictures
Click HERE .
(It may take a few seconds)
The Containers have arrived in Zimbabwe!
The containers containing the items donated by members of the parish, organised by the Social Justice Group, have arrived in Zimbabwe and have been unpacked.
St Alphege's Social Justice Group
St Alphege's Social Justice Group has been raising awareness of the plight of 1000s of women and children in Zimbabwe. Sr Pontiana (centre) was a parishioner at St Alphege's last year and is now the spiritual leader at Bethany House in Zimbabwe. Her sister, Immaculate, (right) is an active member of the parish. The photo shows them with Fiona Coram (left) at Sr Pontiana's leaving event last year.
Click on the pictures to enlarge.
Click
to read Sr Pontiana's letter about how the money was spent.
Father Leo Goes to the Ministry to draw attention to the Brutal Killings in Brazil
Former St Alphege's priest Fr Leo Dolan and members of Clifton Diocese Justice & Peace Commission met officials at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office on 7th September. The following day Fr Leo spoke to parishioners in Bath.
See our page on Father Leo.
Always keep up to date with the latest news on Father Leo's fight for justice on
Clifton Diocese's website.
Have you noticed the new header on the parish bulletin? It features a cross in a circle. You could call it St Alphege’s Cross because you can find it throughout St Alphege’s church - on the sunburst light fittings above the nave, above the entrance door, on the baldacchino and on the Lady Chapel altar . Sir Giles Gilbert Scott designed it and its first appearance was on the foundation stone which was laid in October 1927. That is the one we show, slightly chipped from 84 years of witness, including a world war.
When the church was finally completed in 1954 twelve more examples were carved around the walls as consecration points, for anointing with holy oil.
Click on the image above for an enlarged version.
For the new parish hall, started in 2009, the same cross was carved on its foundation stone too. Click HERE to see the stone laying ceremony.
Rob Oldfield's photo of St Alphege's portico at night. Click on the photo to enlarge.
OUR WEB ARCHIVE
St Alphege's under Scaffolding, Autumn 2011
Pictures
Latin Mass at St Alphege's
Joseph Shaw's portfolio
of photos of the celebrations of Mass in the Extraordinary Form (Tridentine) at St Alphege's in 2010 & 2011, arranged in association with the Latin Mass Society.
The New Parish Hall
The building of the new hall: turf cutting ceremony, laying of the Foundation Stone, masons working, keys handover,
blessing of the building, and completion. Click here
The Year 2009
Our Methodist Friends Share St Joseph's.
St Joseph's 40th Anniversary Open Day.
Crowning of the Statue of Our Lady.
The Blessing of the Herbs.
Altar servers enrolled. Freddy Baker's medal
Story & pictures
Janet & Ray Ricketts Golden Wedding, 2009
Story and pictures
Organist Josie steps down, 2008
Story & pictures
Father Michael's Jubilee, 2008
Pictures
Autumn Glory, St Alphege's 2010
Click on the picture to enlarge
Fr Richard & Servers. Click on image to enlarge