Saint David’s Day was celebrated today, 1 March. In Abingdon, Helen and Douglas House marked the day with a red-and-white display and daffodils.

At Trinity Church there were displays of daffodils outside the building, inside the building, and some people wore daffodils.

Three Welsh hymn tunes were sung (with English words). The story was told of Saint David’s last sermon. People had heard that he was dying and came from far and wide, expecting something momentous. Tradition says that Saint David had a surprisingly simple message:

Brothers and sisters,
be joyful.
Keep your faith and your creed.
And do the little things
that you have seen and heard me do.

This morning volunteers were assembling Christingles at St Helen’s Church. A Christingle is a Christian symbol used at Christmas. An orange represents the world, a candle Christ the light, red ribbon God’s love, and sweets or dried fruit creation’s gifts

At St Helens they were making 300 Christingles.

Below is a list of all the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services in Abingdon that I could find online. They include 7 Christingle Services – a lot of oranges. (Please check individual church websites or face book pages before attending, in case I made an error.)

Abbey Baptist Church (Checker Walk)
Christmas Day
* 10:30 am – Christmas Day Service

Abingdon Baptist Church (Ock Street)
Christmas Eve
* 11:30 pm – Midnight Communion
Christmas Day
* 10:00 am – Christmas Day Celebration

All Saints (Appleford Drive)
Christmas Day
* 10:00 am – Morning Worship

Christ Church Abingdon
Christmas Eve
* 3:00 pm – Christingle Service (Northcourt Road)
* 4:00 pm – Christingle Service (Long Furlong)
* 4:30 pm – Christingle Service (Northcourt Road)
* 11:00 pm – Midnight Communion (Northcourt Road)
Christmas Day
* 10:00 am – Christmas Family Worship (Long Furlong)
* 10:30 am – Christmas Family Worship (Northcourt Road)

Our Lady & St Edmund (Radley Road)
Christmas Eve
* 6:00 pm – First Mass of Christmas
* 8:30 pm – Christmas Vigil with Carols
* 9:00 pm – Christmas Mass
Christmas Day
* 8:00 am – Christmas Day Mass
* 9:30 am – Christmas Day Mass
* 11:30 am – Christmas Day Mass

Peachcroft Christian Centre (Peachcroft Shopping Centre)
Christmas Eve
* 3:00 pm – Christingle Service
* 5:00 pm – Christingle Service
Christmas Day
* 10:00 am – Christmas Day Celebration

St Helen’s Church (West St Helen Street)
Christmas Eve
* 4:00 pm – Christingle Service
* 11:00 pm – Midnight Mass
Christmas Day
* 8:00 am – Holy Communion
* 10:30 am – Family Service with Eucharist

St Michael & All Angels (Park Road)
Christmas Eve
* 3:00 pm – Crib Service
Christmas Day
* 9:30 am – Sung Mass

St Nicolas’ Church (Market Place)
Christmas Eve
* 4:00 pm – Crib Service
Christmas Day
* 10:00 am – Holy Communion with Carols

Trinity Church (Conduit Road)
Christmas Eve
* 4:00 pm – Christingle Service
Christmas Day
* 10:00 am – Morning Worship

All Saints’ Day was marked in churches today. At Our Lady & St Edmund of Abingdon Church, the celebration – normally on 1 November – was transferred to Sunday 2 November this year, with All Souls’ Day to be celebrated on Monday 3 November. All Saints’ honours the saints of every age, known and unknown.

Abingdon has a particular connection to Saint Edmund who was born here around 1175. His childhood home stood near West St Helen Street. His mother, Mabel, was remembered for her faith and her care for the poor. Her influence shaped Edmund’s life. He studied and later taught at Oxford, and in 1234 became Archbishop of Canterbury. He was respected for his learning, integrity, and efforts to bring peace.

His name lives on in Our Lady & St Edmund Church in Abingdon, St Edmund’s Catholic Primary School in Abingdon, and St Edmund Hall, the Oxford college.

In the church notice at Our Lady & St Edmund of Abingdon church, they recognised that Abingdon may have more than one or two saints: Today we honour in a special way the “little” saints – those who will never be officially canonised. Think for a moment of people you have known. What was it about them that impressed you? To be a saint is to be Christ-like …

This evening (Tuesday, 21 October) at St Helen’s Church, the Rev Dr Jen Brown was formally welcomed as the new Team Rector of the Parish of Abingdon-on-Thames by the Bishop of Dorchester, Gavin Collins, and members of the churches.

Jen is already well known in Abingdon. She has been serving as Associate Priest in the parish while also leading training for the College of Preachers. Before that, she taught theology.

Her interests include the links between science and faith, care for creation, and animal welfare. She holds a PhD in the Psychology of Religion, exploring how people’s faith connects with their sense of right and wrong.

As Rector, Jen will now have oversight of the parish’s three churches – St Helen’s, St Nicolas’, and St Michael and All Angels. She made and signed some declarations and was given the keys of the churches. She takes over from the Rev Dr Charles Miller, who retired last year.

Thanks to the St Helen’s Zoom Meeting for the second image.

P.S. The Creation by Haydn already mentioned in last week’s What’s on is a joyful piece of classical music performed by the Inauguration Choir and Orchestra conducted by Sally Mears to welcome Rev Dr Jen Brown to become Rector of St Helen’s Church.