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On Saturday 14 December we held Houghton Regis Christmas Fayre at All Saints' Parish Church. The fayre was organised to run alongside the Christmas events planned by the Town Council at Houghton Regis Library. Hundreds of visitors came through our doors and the fayre was accompanied by handbell ringers, carolling from our choir, and music by our organist. We are very grateful to all our parish volunteers, members of PCC, and churchwardens for running such an engaging and fun event in the run up to Christmas.
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Nigel Steele took up the position as organist of All Saints in January 1998, and has been organist for twenty-five years. He has played for approximately 1500 Masses and other regular services, two inductions, four ordinations, several confirmation and civic services, together with countless weddings and funerals. Playing the organ for a service is a three-pronged juggling act – leading a congregation, accompanying the choir and playing music beforehand and afterwards. Prior to his appointment he has been involved with the music at Houghton Regis since 1987, and has been making a joyful noise unto the Lord from either choirstalls or organ bench for over sixty years. Over the years he has enriched the choir’s repertoire with occasional anthems and carol arrangements, and has either composed or adapted the responsorial psalms and gospel acclamations used regularly in our liturgy. Nigel has also given occasional recitals for the benefit of our congregation and other organisations in the parish and wider community. Nigel’s repertoire of music played before and after our services not only includes music written for the organ, but also includes that written for other instruments which he has arranged and adapted for the organ. He has a special interest in performing music by Handel and other eighteenth-century English composers, which is sometimes played from facsimile copies of eighteenth-century editions. His other great love and special interest is French organ music from the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries during the reign of Louis XIV, which is occasionally played from facsimile copies of the original editions. Nigel has also supervised the recent refurbishment and cleaning of the organ by Pipe Organ Services. Nigel is fully aware of the fact that the music at All Saints has been and continues to be a great feature of our parish life and mission both within the parish and for the wider community, and he will hopefully continue to maintain and develop this tradition for many years to come. 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. 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) 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)  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 We held our Christmas Fayre on Saturday 7 December – yes, the same date at the Mayor’s Carol Service. It was a fun and lovely day filled with festive cheer, homemade food, and caroling sung by our choir. Visit our What’s On page to find out more about our regular social events. The Parish Barn Dance was held at the Peter Newton Pavilion in Dunstable on Saturday 9 June. The evening featured a live band, lots of dancing, shared food, fun for the whole family, and a raffle. The yearly fundraising and social event was attended by many people, and it continues to grow in popularity thanks to a number of committed volunteers who organise this and various other activities through the year. Photos below by Father Diego and Dr Matthew Hurley. |
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