Last time I visited Abingdon Library I picked up a book of poems called Winter of the World and then got 4 more books on the same theme – mostly about WWI. The self service receipt had a curiously symmetrical number for the return date, and 2 days ago I got a reminder by email. So I will remember 11/11/11 as will a lot of other people for a more significant reason… hostilities formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.

There was a two minutes silence in the library, and many other work places.

From those books the one I would most recommend is “Behind the Lines – revealing and uncensored letters from our war-torn world” by Andrew Carroll. It is back there now.

There was also a 2 minutes silence at the war memorial. Most of the people were standing on the Bath Street pavement so are not in this shot.

I see in the Abingdon Herald, and now on BBC Local, that as part of Christ Church’s 50th anniversary celebrations the bible is being read aloud in 4 days. Many people are taking part including our Mayor, MP and Bishop, and lots of people who go to Christ Church.

This feat has been attempted before in Abingdon. That was back in September 2003, at Trinity Church.

On that occasion one young lad attempted to read through the bible in 24 hours.

It quickly became apparent that 24 hours would never be long enough. The going got tough as he entered the books of I and II Chronicles – where there were long lists of people begetting other people with no other narrative.

At that point the audience of young friends started drifting away, and the young reader jumped forward a few pages to something more interesting. He then started taking requests. The highlight turned out to be the Song of Songs with piano accompaniment.

I look forward to going down to Christ Church to listen for a bit. I’m sure there will be no skipping any difficult passages there – and 4 days sounds more possible.

The Sisters of Mercy first came to Abingdon in 1860. There was a great need at the time to educate the children of Catholic familes, and also – as it turned out – to provide education for the children of the poor – irrespective of religion.

You can see memorials to individual sisters in St. Edmunds Churchyard.

There is also a living legacy in St Edmunds Primary School, and Our Lady’s School, and the many thousands of people who have the Sisters to thank for their education.

These pictures were taken last Friday, and show the last two Sisters taking their leave of Abingdon.

Father Jamie, the Parish Priest at Our Lady and St. Edmunds, Abingdon, was there to thank them for their work here among us – A GREAT WORK. I wrote more about their history back in abingdon2006.blogspot.com .