2. St Martin in the Fields: December 2019

Advent Carols at St Martins

Our day in London ended with a 5pm service at St Martin in the Fields just by Trafalgar Square.

I often attend this church but nearly always that’s on a Thursday lunchtime for Great Sacred Music with St Martin’s Voices.  The Voices are ‘professional’ singers who work at St Martin’s a couple of times a week leading the mid-day and early evening services. Each Thursday, Dr Sam Wells, the Vicar, weaves a theme through five anthems sung by the Voices and two hymns sung by the congregation.  For me, over the last few years, this Thursday lunchtime appointment has been a wonderful ‘wellspring’ which I’ve really appreciated.

The choir rehearsing before the service

However, Sunday was different in that we were attending an Advent Carol Service led by the choir, not the Voices.  The choir is much bigger and the service much more formal that Thursdays.

Advent Carol Services have become popular recently.  They are similar to the traditional Carol Services at the end of Advent but are held on the first Sunday of the four-week cycle.  At St Martin’s the theme for the service was ‘Light’ with readings and anthems speaking of God’s light piercing our darkness.

Order of service

I’m beginning to realise, as a visitor to churches, just how important church websites are.  For both services we attended on Sunday we gleaned all we needed to know about preparing for our visits from their websites.  St Martin’s told us the Advent Carol Service would be popular so come early, the doors would open at 4.15pm for a 5.00pm start.  We got there early and had a good seat and sure enough by 5.00pm the church was comfortable full downstairs.  And that’s great isn’t it?  That in our day and age a church like St Martin’s, in the middle of a busy and sometimes ‘aggressive’ cosmopolitan city can still attract a couple of hundred people to an afternoon service on a cold December day to hear God’s promise that darkness will not overcome the light!

The liturgy

The music of the afternoon was of the highest possible quality.  The sermon was theologically challenging! One thing we noticed was that often people don’t join in with the hymns these days.  Even though we were surrounded by others we heard our own voices – which may not have been a good thing!

So ended a fascinating day in London – a really good day.

I was struck just how odd it seemed having a whole weekend!  Normally when that happens it’s because I’m on holiday and there’s a week to come.  But last week it was a real treat to have both Saturday and Sunday clear before returning to work on Monday – that’s just not normal for ministers, but I think I could get used to it!!

1. Pont Street Church of Scotland: December 2019

The 1950 building

On Sunday 1^st December 2019 (appropriately the first Sunday of the new Church Year: Advent 1) I started a rather unusual Sabbatical.  Instead of taking the traditional three-month period away from church life, I’ve opted, instead, to have about twelve Sundays ‘off’ over the coming months.  My task, after thirty-two years of standing in a pulpit most weeks, is to attend various churches as a worshipper. To learn again what it feels like to encounter a service not as its planner but as a participant – to get a view from the pew!

So, on Sunday we took the Tube from Amersham to Knightsbridge and walked behind Harrods to the imposing white building that is St Columba’s, Church of Scotland.

Interior before worship

We were given a warm greeting by a friendly steward at the door and she indicated the sanctuary was upstairs.  The building felt familiar almost straight away.  It had that simplicity, yet dignity, I’ve always associated with Presbyterian and Free Churches – an atmosphere not dissimilar to that of Amersham Free Church.

Notices Sheet

The service was to include the baptism of three children, so some family groups were coming together in the front pews.  Members and friends were greeting each other – one gentleman resplendent in a kilt!

We were handed a printed order of service with notices.  Some church officials wore badges and I found this quite reassuring as it felt to me as if they were taking the act of welcome seriously and thoughtfully.

After five minutes of splendid  organ music the service began with the Beedle proceeding the minister, The Revd Angus MacLeod, up the aisle carrying a bible.

Order of Service

The service was easy to follow because the instructions were so clear.  The Revd MacLeod led the worship with much good humour, grace and dignity.  His sermon was engaging and intelligent and something of his deep and sincere faith was warmly communicated. The professional choir of just six voices sang beautifully.

Hymn Book

After the service we made our way downstairs, firstly for coffee and then for lunch.  St Columba’s provide lunch every Sunday!  We enjoyed a roastbeef meal for just £3.50!  Apparently, there are nine teams serving in rotation week by week.  By chance we sat next to a lovely lady who serves as an elder of the church who knows the Reid family back in Amersham – so we had much to talk about!  She told us that basically everyone, apart from the Minister, travels in to Pont Street from the outskirts of London.

Christmas Services Leaflet

We left after lunch with a glad heart.  We had encountered such lovely and sincere people and such a warm-hearted minister and both of us were in no doubt that if we lived nearer this is the sort of church we would be privileged to belong to.

I guess the Burns Supper is a big event for a Church of Scotland congregation! We were invited!