Roll out the Red Carpet

Well maybe not quite a red carpet, but good news concerning the carpet that adorns the
chancel in St. Andrew's church.

A carpet that has beckoned over a century of worshippers to the high altar in communion with one another at the Lord's table. I am of course referring to the William Morris carpet, a masterpiece of the Arts and Craft movement, from a textile designer who saw carpet weaving as a fine art to produce a carpet with its rich gradations of colour and text.

If only a carpet could reveal its footprints over time, from hobnail boots to the latest high heels of fashion and a few giggles from choirboys, as on bended knee someone forgot to remove the price tag from their latest acquisition. The young and the old of each generation, winter and summer having trod upon the carpet on that same faithful pathway to share in the heavenly feast.

It's remarkable how the carpet has stood up to the test of time but like human ageing it can become a bit frayed at the edges. Some unique woven patterns now threadbare at the edges, alas even a hole punctuating its woven beauty, just like our lives are woven into the fabric of God's creation in need of healing and repair.

A well known figure, a few years ago, stood upon that carpet looking round at the wonder and beauty of that which adorns the church, a cathedral to the Arts and Craft movement. He commented on his own William Morris carpet in his home. And now almost full circle that person has agreed to fund the repair of the carpet.

As a church we are thankful to the work of the Church Building Trust and Anne Sloman and Pedro Gaspar in particular who have successfully found funding for the carpet repair. The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation has agreed to provide those funds.

Our thanks to all concerned as we look forward to the rolling out of the red carpet when all the dust has settled on window repair, a carpet of exquisite fine art but more importantly its place in the chancel of praise to the wonder and beauty of our God, Jesus Christ, our Superstar.


John Pattinson

For more information on the Andrew Lloyd Webber Trust, visit http://www.andrewlloydwebber.com/

 

Bishop boots up to combat poverty

The Right Revd Paul Butler, Bishop of Durham has put his boots on to combat poverty and tread in pilgrim’s footsteps, walking the historic Bede Way in support of Christian Aid today (Saturday 14th June) writes Keith Blundy.



(c) Keith Blundy

Bishop Paul with Christian Aid supporters boot up to combat poverty.

Bishop Paul along with a large group of other Christian Aid supporters and the Revd Leo Osborn, Chair of Newcastle Methodist District set out on the route between the Anglo-Saxon twin monastic sites of St Peter’s, Monkwearmouth, and St Paul’s, Jarrow to raise money in the fight against global poverty.


Bishop Paul said: “I have always been an active supporter of Christian Aid, so when they asked me to take part in the Bede’s Way Sponsored Walk I was delighted to accept. Over the last few years, I have been doing prayer walks… taking part in the Christian Aid Bede’s Way Walk will be my own prayer walk and I am really looking forward to it.”

The twelve mile route follows the route between the two monasteries that the Venerable Bede once described as ‘One monastery in two place’ back in the 7th Century, for many this pilgrim trail is equal significance to those in the North and South.

Benedict Biscop, a Northumbrian noble, founded the monastery of St Peter in 674 and its twin house of St Paul was begun eight years later.

For more news from the Diocese of Durham, visit their Newsroom.

"Into The Woods" A Triumph!

St. Andrew's Church Wednesday June 4th

I was young once, full of youthful energy and vitality. Well that's what the memory cells tell me, though perhaps distorted over time a few decades later. Yet it was the exuberant youthfulness of the cast of performers who descended upon St. Andrew's last Wednesday morning that will live in the memory. Sunderland university students, many studying performing arts degrees, who enriched the worship space in the church through their performance of Stephen Sondheim's musical "Into the Woods."

Informed sources describe the musical as one of the most difficult of musicals to master and perform well, not least having to adapt to the space within the church. A musical of characters from Little Red Riding Hood to Jack and the Beanstalk. From the baker to the wicked witch and Rapunzel dominating the pulpit, in the fantasy world of Grimm's fairytale characters brought to life in word and song, to the triumph of good over evil. Perhaps a poignant time as the church moves from the triumph of Jesus' resurrection to empowering of God's goodness at Pentecost, the coming of God's Holy Spirit upon the first disciples and to us today.

One can only describe our engagement with the university students as a triumph, not least the relationships being built up with them and Professor Graeme Danby their musical director, an international opera singer. The quality of performance was mind blowing in the God given abilities in these young people performing at the highest level with an exuberance and maturity beyond their years.

Not only the performances but in the many conversations, listening and engaging with them was a positive experience for the church. The many questions asked about the church, of our faith and belief, to their hopes and aspirations for what the future may bring. For many it was a bitter-sweet moment, emotions were running high, as for many the curtain was coming down on their time at university, a new phase of life yet to begin. Not least the fact that their performances were being marked as part of their university degree courses.

There has been much positive feedback from the students as well as those who attended the performances, not least to our lives being enriched through their presence in church. I bumped into Paul, one of the cast, on the Metro yesterday and his parting word to me was "Thankyou," one small word that means so much.

We look forward to the return of Graeme and his students who will perform a Christmas concert in the church in December.

From one, young at heart.

John Pattinson

For more pictures, click here!

Parish Joy At Fundraising Success

Members of Monkwearmouth Parish dug deep at short notice to raise £1,050.53 on behalf of Christian Aid last month.

During a busy Christian Aid week, members of the congregations pulled together to stage such events as cake selling & wine tasting at Bede's Bakehouse, soup being sold from people's houses & a Spring Fair in the grounds of St. Andrew's. Not to be outdone, Team Rector Dick Bradshaw weighed in to the action by Sumo Wrestling Assistant Curate Paul Child & taking part in a 'Fastest Lap Challenge,' driving a Ferrari around Croft against the clock.

Dick said "This is a fantastic achievement, considering everything was pulled together at such short notice. It gives us a great platform to build on for next year."

 

Jean Rutter, Christian Aid co-ordinator for the Parish, added "The generosity of the congregations of the three churches has been truly wonderful."

 

For more information on the work of Christian Aid, click here.