Category Archives: Uncategorized

Know your constituency: just who are you evangelising?

Posted on 26/02/2015 by Scott Anderson

Some years ago a young man in my congregation used the term ‘Hot Muslims’ for some of his friends. Seeing my puzzlement he explained that they were young people who were dissatisfied with the formulaic Islam of their parents. They … Continue reading →

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The setting of the Liturgy

Posted on 20/02/2015 by Scott Anderson

In the 1930’s the Kelham Fathers built the Great Chapel for their monastery and theological college near Newark-on-Trent in Nottinghamshire. The architect was Charles Clayton Thompson, and to my knowledge he built no other churches. Yet it is one of … Continue reading →

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Alpha for Catholics – be just a bit cautious

Posted on 25/01/2015 by Scott Anderson

Just after Christmas a good friend and member of the Ordinariate wrote this to me: ” We have started Alpha training again, I am not convinced that this is the way to bring lapsed Catholics back to church. I have … Continue reading →

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Back to Church at Christmas: opportunities for evangelisation

Posted on 13/01/2015 by Scott Anderson

There is  a story told of an Anglican priest who surveyed the substantial congregation which had turned up for the Evening Service on Harvest Sunday (it was some years ago when they still did).  Marching up to the tabernacle and … Continue reading →

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Our Church Schools are worth fighting for

Posted on 16/12/2014 by Scott Anderson

Why does a section of our society – including some politicians and some teachers – get so angry about Church Schools? Last Saturday’s Question Time had one of the panel asserting that we are a secular society and there is … Continue reading →

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Remembering the English liturgy at Thaxted

Posted on 03/12/2014 by Scott Anderson

In my teenage years in the 1960’s I would go to stay from time to time with my aunt and uncle and cousins who lived on the London edge of Essex. On Sundays we would often visit  churches which I had heard … Continue reading →

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The music of Advent

Posted on 30/11/2014 by Scott Anderson

  Compared with the carols and hymns of Christmas, the music of Advent is less well known. Yet it is among the loveliest – and most singable – of the Church’s year.  As part of the restrained liturgy of this … Continue reading →

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It’s time to work out what love really means

Posted on 21/11/2014 by Scott Anderson

It is difficult to avoid the issue of child abuse, the reports, analyses, recriminations, apologies.  But then, why should we want to avoid them? Embarrassment, shame, yes – but above all, a sense of powerlessness in the face of something … Continue reading →

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Sadly no longer with us

Posted on 14/11/2014 by Scott Anderson

I was at St Joseph’s, Weymouth, for All Souls’ Day, and I am indebted to Fr Stephen Geddes, the parish priest of Weymouth, for this reminiscence. He recalled that in the ‘old days’ the one of the three masses was … Continue reading →

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Our Lady St Mary

Posted on 25/10/2014 by Scott Anderson

In the Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England (1662) the place of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the scheme of Redemption is commemorated in the Collect and Preface of Christmas. There are Propers for the feasts of … Continue reading →

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