During this summer we hope that the work on the restoration of St. John’s will begin. As I write (late January) the church’s architect hopes to have the final approval of English Heritage for the work he proposes and then it can go out to tender.

We have to seek English Heritage approval as they are providing the bulk of the money and it is thanks to them that we are able to undertake this work.

The church, at the west end, will be covered in scaffold from ground to the top of the spire and is bound to cause a little disruption, but it will be worth it in the end. The point will be replaced on the spire and the original cross re-instated. Many people have waited a long time for the restoration to begin and at last we are very close to seeing it happen.

Easter is approaching rapidly and in St. John’s we will have the usual services which take us on a journey, with Christ, through His suffering and resurrection.

Palm Sunday 20th March: at 10 am we remember Jesus travelling to Jerusalem with people waiving palms and leading to his arrest. We distribute Palm Crosses to remind us of these events and share together, with a dramatic reading, the events which lead to His death.

Maundy Thursday 24th March: At 7.30pm we commemorate Jesus sharing the Last Supper with His disciples - we too, as in every Eucharist, share in the bread and wine, we remove all the decorations in church to remind ourselves that Jesus went out into the Garden in loneliness and was arrested. We sing the ancient service of Compline, which has been used at the end of day for hundreds of years - singing to the traditional method of plainsong - all sung by candlelight.

Good Friday - 25th March: Jesus was on the cross from 9 am until 3 in the afternoon so we, from 2 - 3pm - share in the Last Hour on the Cross” - a quiet meditative service of thoughts, readings and prayers remembering the last hours of Christ’s earthly life. At 7.30 pm there is a musical meditation on the passion of Jesus recalling that after His death he was laid in a tomb.

Easter Day - 27th March - we celebrate His resurrection. At 8 am there is a service of Holy Communion - quiet but sharing in the joy of the first Easter. At 10 am we joyfully, with special music and candles, really celebrate the greatest event of history.

Everyone is invited to share in this spiritual journey - just come to whatever service you would like - we welcome you to worship with us.

St. John’s has now started a series of “Home Groups”. There are about 34 people meeting fortnightly for worship, study and prayer in people’s homes so that they can get to know both God and each other a little more closely. If you would like to hear more of these please contact the Vicar - details below.

The Rev. John Curtis
Vicar of St John’s
Telephone & fax: 023 8086 1496