Late April and early May saw a number of special services in All Saints attracting large congregations. The first was a Confirmation Service on the 24th April 2005. Christopher Morgan-Jones writes:-
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On 24th April, the 4th
Sunday of Easter at 10 am for the Sunday morning for very many
years, a Bishop (on this occasion the Bishop Graham Cray) came
to All Saints to baptise, confirm and preside at the Eucharist.
There were 8 candidates from our parish: Joan Baker, Jade Brown
and Jake Brown from St Philip’s; Harriet Dean, William Lay, Ben
Rist, Aidan Hanrath and Niels Hanrath from All Saints. There
were two candidates from St Paul’s who came with their Vicar
Karen Gorham. I believe that All Saints makes a wonderful
setting for baptisms with confirmations. With space at the head
of the nave, the candidates can sit with their families, come
out to be presented to the people, make their affirmations
before the bishop, process to the font for the baptism and then
come, one by one with their sponsor to be
clearly seen as they kneel before the bishop for laying on of hands at the top of the chancel steps. Then re incorporated with the congregation they take their proper place in the community of God’s people receiving communion for the first time.
Eastertide is the best time for confirmation. Christian Initiation is |
the receiving for our selves the fruits of Christ’s resurrection. The Easter hymns, alleluias and spring time of the year all add to the joy of the occasion. In spring plants begin to grow; our prayer is that those confirmed will in the years ahead, grow in the faith they have newly professed for themselves.
Before I came to Maidstone, it was the practice in the parishes where I served, for the Bishop to come on a Sunday morning, every year in a bigger parish, every other year in a smaller parish both to confirm and to enjoy a visit to the parish when most were gathered. I look forward to the future time when this practice will be restored in Canterbury Diocese.
Christopher Morgan - Jones
Later the same day the annual St. George’s Day service attracted a congregation of 1,000. Pam Mead writes:-
St George’s Day Parade
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The 3 Maidstone Scout Districts annually Parade from Week Street, down the High Street where the Mayor takes the traditional salute, then on to All Saints’ Church via Mill Street for our service, where we celebrated St George who is the Scout Movements Patron.
This year it was the turn of Maidstone South to organise the service. A small committee was set up to arrange hymns which all the Beavers, Cubs Scouts and Explorers would know as well as the leaders. The next was to think off an item to portray the story of St George. This we achieved by inviting Ps’alms who are puppeteers from the Free Church in Staplehurst. They told the story of St George as a Beaver and Cub Scout which captivated all the Scouts. We invited the Reverend Cannon Morgan Jones to give the address. He also managed to keep everyone’s attention encouraging by participation with the story of David and Goliath. This was no mean feat with over 800 scouts.
Pam Mead
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On Tuesday the 10th May a Diocesan Mothers’ Union Eucharist was celebrated. Lionel Marchant writes:-
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For the first time in ten years All Saints had the pleasure of welcoming over two hundred members of the Mothers’ Union to a Eucharist in All Saints. The President at the service was our own vicar, Christopher Morgan-Jones, who was assisted by The Revd. Canon Gilbert Spencer, Diocesan Mothers’ Union Chaplain and The Revd. Karen Gorham, Area Dean of the Maidstone Deanery.
The sermon was preached by the Bishop of Dover, the Rt. Revd. Stephen Venner. The liturgy had tremendous input from Di Sabel, Diocesan Mothers’ Union Spirituality Leader. Music was provided by the sixty strong choir of Sandling Primary School who spent time |
The Bishop of Doverlearning the Thorne Setting of the Communion service as well as singing three of their own musical pieces. During the Administration Janet McDonald, a member of the Mothers’ Union, played a beautiful selection of harp music.
The collection at the service was donated, after expenses, to the Mothers’ Union ‘Away from it all’ holiday project. The amount from the service came to £267.86. The Lunchtime Concert in All Saints two days later raised a further £100.00 so we were able to donate a total of £367.86 to this worthwhile project. This is in addition to other fund raising initiatives for the same cause already undertaken by our own Mothers’ Union Branch.
The service was followed by lunch provided by All Saints which was greatly appreciated by all who were able to stay.
Hopefully it will not be another ten years before All Saints is able to welcome the Diocesan Mothers’ Union again.
Lionel Marchant
The Friends of All Saints Maidstone attended Choral Evensong on the 15th May and the Mayor Making Service took place on the 18th May. The Civic Service was held on Sunday the 22nd May. Lionel Marchant writes:-
An unexpectedly large congregation of over fifty people attended Choral Evensong on the15th May followed by the ‘Friends’ AGM and then afternoon tea.
The music sung at the service included the well known Purcell anthem ‘Rejoice in the Lord Alway’. This performance was different from the norm because we had the advantage of a string quartet playing the ‘symphony’ part of the score as well as organ accompaniment for the quartet and choir. This was well received by the congregation and our thanks are due to members of the Doe family for giving of their time and musical skill to add a new element to this annual service.
During tea the quartet played music to a background of hopefully restrained conversation.
The Mayor Making service took place after the Mayor’s Breakfast in the Archbishops’ Palace and before the AGM of Maidstone Borough Council where the Mayor for the forthcoming year is elected.
As in past years music was provided by one of the choirs of Maidstone Grammar School for Girls directed by Robert Chapman. As always they sang to an unfailingly high standard and treated the congregation to two choir items – an introit composed by Noel Rawsthorne and an anthem by John Rutter.
The Civic Service, once again held on a Sunday was well attended with the music being led by our won choir plus an anthem contributed by The Medway Singers. The Medway Singers attended the service at the special request of our new Mayor he having attended a concert that the choir gave in All Saints last year in aid of the Restoration Fund.
Lionel Marchant