Category Archives: religion

16th November – Ælfric of Abingdon – d.1005

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Ælfric of Abingdon
November 16th is Saint Ælfric’s Feast Day. Ælfric, a monk from Abingdon, went on to become Abbot of St Albans, and then Archbishop of Canterbury.
Ælfric of Abingdon
Quite by chance, during a lunchtime walk, I found the parish church of St Mary’s, in the parish of Cardington, was open and so had a few minutes to look round inside. One notable feature is a chapel dedicated to Samuel Whitbread, the brewer and his family, who was born in Cardington.

I also noticed a book of saints and pilgrims – open at 14th-15th November, and so turned the page to 16th-17th and saw Ælfric of Abingdon – d.1005. Ælfric became well known far beyond Abingdon. I was suprised to see Abingdon mentioned in such a far away church. He died on this day in 1005.

Coincidentally it is also the Feast Day of St Edmund of Abingdon who died on 16th November 1240, at Soisy-Bouy in France.

Harvest Service at Trinity

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Harvest Service
At Trinity Church, in Abingdon, on Sunday the Harvest Service was taken by Deacon Selina. There were displays of flowers on every window sill, and in the Welcome Area, which made the church even more beautiful than usual.
Harvest Service
The alter was also well decorated, and before the first hymn people brought up their bags of groceries, specially chosen to be of use to Asylum Welcome in Oxford. The first hymn was “We Plough the Fields and Scatter.”

Selina preached on refugees, and how we should receive them. Selina had once had to escape from her family home in Africa where she was born. She said Jesus had been a refugee. Afterwards she said “Deeply deeply moved to see young and young at heart, bring so many gifts for our sisters and brothers at Asylum Welcome in Oxford.“

Light House Church

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Light House Church
The Abingdon Lighthouse Church had a musical event on the Market Place on Saturday August 12th. They have been in Abingdon for about a decade and are part of the much larger Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). RCCG is a worldwide church that was established in 1952 in Lagos, Nigeria, and now, according to wikipedia, has a presence in 196 countries.

Thanks to Elizabeth for sending the picture. I am away for a few days but can publish anything sent to backstreet60@gmail.com. There might even be the odd entry on notabingdon.blogspot.com

Thy Kingdom Come

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They Kingdom Come
Between Ascension Day (25th May) and Pentecost (4th June), some of the churches in Abingdon are taking part in the 11 days of prayer initiative begun by the Arch-bishop of Canterbury and called Thy Kingdom Come.

The full Abingdon programme can be seen on the Trinity web site.

This afternoon, Deacon Selina Nisbett led one of the events – a Prayer Walk around Abingdon – starting at Trinity, pictured above.

Here are some of the places the walk visited, and some of the words from the sheet which was followed …
They Kingdom Come
Pray for those marginalised in society; the unemployed, those on zero contract hours and all who struggle to make ends meet.
They Kingdom Come
Pray for all those who work in the health profession, paramedics, all who work in hospitals and hospices, hospital chaplains, and all those we know who are sick in body, mind and spirit.
They Kingdom Come
Pray for teachers, authors, academics and those employed in research that they might use their wisdom to transform the world.
They Kingdom Come
Give thanks for those who use their creativity to share their faith with others. Pray that we may use creativity to build bridges where there is brokenness.
They Kingdom Come
Pray for our armed services, police and all who have sacrificed themselves for others …

A few sheets were left in St Nics for anybody who wants one.