Tent of Meeting It was a memorable moment, this week, to see the Shrine Church in Walsingham able to open its doors for private prayer, and the smiles of the Priest Administrator as he turned the key says it all. I know that many people have loved to take part in the live streaming ofContinue reading “Who would live in a house like this?”
Author Archives: Dean Atkins
Within the walls and windows
St Mary’s has a rich past and present. Home to a vibrant community of faith, we also have stories to tell and share, and we want to offer more and more of our resources to local schools and others. So, here’s the first of many resources to come which we hope may be of benefitContinue reading “Within the walls and windows”
Rejoicing as a Pilgrim People
Whilst we may feel a little like we’re standing still at the moment, it may be difficult to get to grips with being a Pilgrim People! Pilgrimage, though, is as much about stopping as it is about moving on – after all, most long journeys require at least a refreshment stop! So, whilst some thingsContinue reading “Rejoicing as a Pilgrim People”
Articles of Faith 10: Memorial Plaque
Our tenth article of faith is a small stone plaque in the north-west corner of St Mary’s Church in memory of ‘Henry James Thatcher’, a plaque which unfolds the story of a man of enthusiastic faith, committed friendship and an eye for precision! A fallen grave stone We found it quite by accident, the graveContinue reading “Articles of Faith 10: Memorial Plaque”
Room for Prayer
Stay at Home! At his Ascension into Heaven, Jesus gives a simple instruction to his apostles: to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the Power from on High which he had promised. And so they return to that Upper Room in which they have already experienced so much. It was the room in which theyContinue reading “Room for Prayer”
The Boxers of Tiger Bay
Like many industrialised towns of South Wales, boxing was a popular sport and pastime, and the 19th and 20th century allowed renowned figures such as ‘Peerless’ Jim Driscoll and Joe Erskine to emerge from the docks area of Cardiff just as they did from other parts of Cardiff and the South Wales valleys. One ofContinue reading “The Boxers of Tiger Bay”
When they sneeze, we cough
Sifting through various pieces of writing, I found this article which was intended to follow a previous blog post: Standing around at the Station. It was written last year as one of a series of articles exploring the place that religion has played in the growth and life of Cardiff, both yesterday and today. ThisContinue reading “When they sneeze, we cough”
Articles of Faith 9: a Pulpit pulled down
‘The Lesson thou has taught’ The ninth article of faith is a plain wooden pulpit, although only a third of the original remains. So, let’s climb into it and look down over two very different people from the past: the successive nineteenth century vicars of St Mary’s Church for whom this pulpit proved so importantContinue reading “Articles of Faith 9: a Pulpit pulled down”
Articles of Faith 8: A ‘Poor’ Reredos
Certain poor shepherds “The first Nowell the angels did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields where they lay” so the well-known Christmas Carol goes. It’s these ‘poor shepherds’ who feature in our eighth article of faith: a reredos above the High Altar. Within its brush strokes we explore the friendships and fortunesContinue reading “Articles of Faith 8: A ‘Poor’ Reredos”
Articles of Faith 7: A Rood Screen
Straying saints and fast cities This screen seems solid, unmoveable, part of the fabric of the building. Yet it came from another church building now long gone, the former church of St Dyfrig. The church stood on Wood Street in an area of Cardiff once known as Temperance Town near Central Railway Station before theContinue reading “Articles of Faith 7: A Rood Screen”
St Mary the Virgin, Cardiff 