News & Photos
Highlights of parish life in Houghton Regis
The Parish Priest and PCC of Houghton Regis have released new photographs of All Saints’ Parish Church to celebrate the next Heritage Open Day.
The photographs show the 15th century ceiling of the Parish Church in unprecedented details. The ceiling features carved figures of saints and decorated bosses. Remnants of the original gilding applied to the figures and of the paint which probably covered the entire ceiling can be seen, giving visitors a glimpse of how striking and colourful the space must have looked in the Middle Ages. The identity of the figures was unknown for decades. Architects and historians visiting All Saints’ guessed these could have been angels (a typical, but rather different feature of medieval church rooves), monks (given the connection between All Saints’ and St Albans’ Abbey), or of saints. This last supposition now appears to be the correct one because, thanks to these new photographs, the figures can be clearly seen as men wearing crowns originally decorated with a cross – crowns represent heavenly reward from Jesus Christ. As Scripture says, “Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12) Thus, the figures represent the saints in heaven watching over and shielding those who gather in prayer in the Parish Church. The easternmost portion of the ceiling marks the position of the Rood Screen (or Chancel Screen) in the Middle Ages, and it formed a “Canopy of Honour” above an image of the crucified Christ placed on top of the screen. Traces of gilding and colourful pigments can now be seen. Photos: Father Diego Galanzino Copyright: All Saints' PCC Houghton Regis
1 Comment
On Sunday 21 August we celebrated Father Diego's 10th Anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood. Father Diego was ordained priest at Truro Cathedral on 30 June 2012, the Memoria of the First Martyrs of the See of Rome.
The Sung Mass was offered as a Votive Mass of Our Lady, Queen of Apostles. The Marian title of Queen of Apostles is the dedication of the parish church where Father Diego was baptised. The Preacher was Mother Imogen Black, Priest-in-Charge of St Thomas' Somercotes. Father Diego would like to thank Mother Imogen and the other priests, the Churchwardens and PCC of Houghton Regis, the faithful from the Church of the Holy Cross Marsh Farm, and everyone who came to the event. We celebrated the great feast of Corpus Christi on Saturday 18 June 2022 with a Solemn Mass, Procession of the Most Blessed Sacrament, and Benediction.
With Corpus Christi we give special thanks to the Lord Jesus for the inestimable gift of his Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist. The procession which traditionally takes place on this day is a token of our faith in the Lord who is always present with us in the Sacrament of the Altar. Photos: Dr Matthew Hurley Over the long weekend we hosted a few events and services as well, bringing the wider town community and our regular church family to come together in giving thanks to God for the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Our town was truly blessed with so many community events taking place of the big bank holiday week to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of the Queen. Many thanks to Cllr Yvonne Farrell, the Town Mayor, for joining us on the Thanksgiving Service on Pentecost Sunday. Also, a big thank you to our church volunteers and to all those who have made these celebrations possible. Jubilee Tea Party - Friday 3 June Messy Church - A Platinum Jubilee Celebration - Saturday 4 June Thanksgiving Service - Sunday 5 June (Pentecost Sunday)
Every year Good Friday is marked by Liturgy of the Passion. This solemn and moving service features the reading of the Passion according to St John, the veneration of the Cross, and the distribution of Holy Communion from the reserved Sacrament taken from the Altar of Repose.
In most churches the veneration of the Cross takes place with the unveiling of a wooden crucifix which is then exposed before the faithful. At All Saints’, however, we are very blessed to be custodians of a relic of the True Cross, and it is this relic that is unveiled before the congregation and held up for veneration. Photos courtesy of Mrs Rachael Plüss Today we have begun the celebrations of Holy Week in Houghton Regis with the Parish Mass for Palm Sunday. This is the day in which Christians remember the Lord’s entrance in Jerusalem accompanied by his disciples and a cheering crowd; however, this is also the day in which we read one of the Passion narratives from the gospels – the story of Jesus’ suffering and death of Calvary for our salvation. For these reasons, Palm Sunday is now mostly associated with the colour red in the Western Christian tradition – the colour of royalty and the of blood.
The service started in Bedford Square with the Blessing of Palm Crosses and a procession of All Saints’ Church via the Memorial Path. The preacher, who delivered a cracking and genuinely inspiring sermon, was the Rev’d Tim Haines, Pioneer Minister in the Bidwell West. Photos courtesy of Dr Matthew Hurley On Sunday 6 February we marked the 70th anniversary of HM The Queen’s accession to the throne, and the beginning of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. The Parish Mass on Accession Day at All Saints’ Houghton Regis was attended by the Town Mayor, Cllr Clare Copleston, by members of 1st/3rd Houghton Regis Scout Group, members of the Girlguiding Houghton Regis, and pupils from Thomas Whitehead Church of England Academy. After Mass 6 Jubilee trees were planted in the churchyard as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative.
As part of our celebrations music with royal connections was played and sung before, during and after Mass. 'Nimrod' from Elgar's 'Enigma Variations' and Ronald Binge's 'Elizabethan Serenade' was played before the Service. The Introit Hymn 'Praise my soul, the King of heaven' is known to be a favourite of Her Majesty the Queen. During the distribution of Holy Communion movements from Handel's 'Water Music' was played, and the concluding Organ Music was John Stanley's Prelude and 'Bell' Allegro, an excerpt from his Concerto Op2 No3 arranged for organ, and played from a facsimile copy of a contemporary keyboard transcription. In 1924 Elgar succeeded Walter Parratt as Master of the King's Musick, a post which he held until his death ten years later in 1934. Ronald Binge's 'Elizabethan Serenade' was written in 1951, but was renamed in the early years of the Queen's reign. John Stanley, like Elgar, was appointed as Master of the King's Musick in 1779 until his death in 1786. Handel was never appointed master of the King's Musick, but his music was held in considerable regard by bothe King George I and King George II in the first half of the 18th Century. Jubilee Trees: Two Crataegus prunifolia (Hawthorn) Two Liriodendron tulipifera Snow bird (Tulip Tree), Two Sequoiadendron giganteum 'Glaucum' (Blue Giant Sequoia) Here are a few photos to capture a year in the Parish of Houghton Regis.
2021 was a difficult year for many, including for our Parish; a lockdown, restrictions on gatherings and singing, and a couple of sad losses. But there were also many blessings and graces, and two day-pilgrimages (All Saints’ Margaret Street for the Feast of the Assumption and Walsingham). For another year journeying together with the Lord Jesus; for growth in Faith; for all that God kindly provided; let us praise and thank the Lord! Legal restrictions brought in during the pandemic have come to an end across England on Monday 19th July 2021; however, both the Church of England and HM Government have issued advice to churches on how to manage future months.
After considering the guidance received, the Parish of All Saints’ Houghton Regis has implemented (or retained) the following measures. Face coverings and social distancing People are required to wear them indoors (unless medically exempt). This policy is in line with both the Government’s and the Church of England’s advice. Seating arrangements implemented during the lockdowns at both All Saints’ and St Thomas’ to facilitate social distancing remain unchanged. Hand Sanitising Hand gel stations are available in both churches. Please, sanitise your hands on entering and exiting the buildings. Test and Trace and Checking-In The QR codes used at All Saints’ and St Thomas’ to check-in using the NHS app remain in place. Please make use of these during your visits. Ventilation With fewer restrictions in place ventilation of our buildings during worship becomes all the more important. Main doors and certain windows will be open during services, save in extreme circumstances. Singing Evidence shows that aerosol particles are emitted by singers in greater quantities than if they were speaking. Therefore, masks should be worn by anyone in the congregation intending to sing (with an exception we can make for choir members), while social distancing will enable us to minimise the risk of transmitting the virus. Mass and Distribution of Holy Communion Holy Communion will continue to be distributed in one kind only. The Sacrament will continue be distributed to the faithful in the nave, and to choir members and servers from their places. Sign of Peace The liturgical exchange of peace which takes place at Mass will remain in the form of a hand wave to safeguard those who need to (or prefer to) keep at a safe distance from others. Refreshments after Mass Refreshments after services can be served again. Bellringing Ringing with a full number of ringers can resume, as can ringing practice. Ringers are expected to wear face masks whilst indoors. Updated 1 January 2022 Created 18 March 2020 |
Archives
May 2024
Categories
All
|