Trinitarian
The Newsletter for the Congregation & Friends of
Holy Trinity and St Saviour, Upper Chelsea
July - September 2013
Sanctuary of Sorrow
I was given this prayer while preparing for the
funeral of my dear friend Christine. She was so
eager to comfort her family and friends. (I have no
idea where she found it.)
Almighty God our Heavenly Father, we come
into this sanctuary of sorrow, realising our
utter dependence on you. We know that you
love us, and are able to turn even the shadow
of death into the light of morning. Help us now
to wait before you with patient hearts. You are
our refuge and strength , O God, a very present
help in trouble. Grant your abundant mercy.
May those who mourn today find comfort and
healing in your sustaining grace. We humbly
offer this prayer in Jesus name. Amen.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” What comforting words.
They assure us that God is there for us -- whenever we are in need, whenever we are in
trouble. Throughout the centuries, people have turned to the psalms for comfort. When we
are troubled or worried, the psalms give us encouragement and reassurance to get on
with the task of living our lives. Yet occasionally we encounter a worry so deep or a grief
so heavy that the solace we seek cannot be found, not even in the words of Scripture.
Inside this issue:
“I believe in the sun, even when it is not shining. I
believe in love even when I am alone. I believe in
God, even when he is silent. “
When we experience such grief, we may read the Bible
and see only empty words. We may go to church and feel
alone in the midst of the congregation. We may cry out for
God and be met with silence.
Our prayer promises that God is our refuge and strength, a
very present help in trouble.
Yet what about those times in our lives when God does not
seem present, when our world is falling apart and it feels
as if we are all alone? What about those moments of deep
A memorable morning in
May
3
Event at St Paul’s
Cathedral
4
The Rev’d Preb Gary
and Norma Piper
6
Motcomb Street Party
7
Sunday Worship
8
Picture Gallery
9
Events 10
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despair when we call out in agony and God seemingly
ignores our cries? Why is it that we feel God’s presence
keenly when things are going well and we’re content with our
lives, but when a tragedy occurs and we desperately cry out,
God seems silent?
When the concentration camp in Auschwitz was liberated by
Allied troops at the end of World War II, the following words
were found written on one of the walls inside the compound:
“I believe in the sun, even when it is not shining. I believe in
love even when I am alone. I believe in God, even when he
is silent. “
In the midst of immense suffering, the woman or man who
wrote these words held onto faith in God, even when it
seemed that God had disappeared. Holding onto our faith in
the midst of grief or despair can help to lead us to the place
of quiet where we can once again hear God’s voice, or even
if we cannot hear him we can sense his presence. The
ultimate reality of that was echoed in the cry of Christ’s
desolation on the Cross. ‘Why have you forsaken me?’
“Be still and know that I am God!” As our grief subsides and
we become centred, we will once again be able to hear
God’s voice, in whatever form it takes. It is not that God is
silent. God is found in the stillness. God does not leave us
when the going gets tough. God does not abandon us when
we experience the darkness of despair. Once again it is the
hope that Christ offers in his later response to his suffering
on the Cross ‘ Into thy hands I commit my spirit’.
This prayer was chosen by Christine as we were choosing
hymns and prayers for her funeral whilst in the hospice
where I was visiting her. I don’t know where she found the
prayer but it was that phrase in the opening sentence
‘sanctuary of sorrow’ that we found so poignant; for out of
the depth of despair she discovered joy. She had always
found these words from Psalm 46 which are quoted in the
prayer both challenging and encouraging.
She gathered all her friends and family around her in the
hospice towards the end and threw a party. Spoke of the
joys, shared in laughter and tears and said her goodbyes.
When they had gone and we were left alone her last words
to me were ‘They have loved me into life!’ Now there’s a
prayer of hope and thanksgiving in the sanctuary of sorrow,
I will never forget .
The Rev’d Rob Gillion
Rector
Holy Trinity Sloane Square
Photos from the
Dedication
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Holy Trinity Sloane Square
A memorable morning in May
The blessing and dedication of the restored organ
The ingredients: Take a newly restored organ, add one earl, one bishop, two priests, two
choirs, two organists, one music director and a borrowed bar stool; mix with three hundred
parishioners; kipper lightly in the finest incense and sprinkle with prosecco.
The result: One of those Holy Trinity occasions where spirituality, good will and good
spirits soar like harmony into the high space of the church.
Choral matins are not usual in Holy Trinity on Sunday mornings but no other service would
provide a better opportunity for our Patron, The Earl Cadogan, to inspect at first hand the
fruits of his munificence and then present the organ for the formal blessing of The Bishop
of London, the Rt. Rev’d. Dr. Richard Chartres.
The organ at Holy Trinity has been famous since it was newly installed in 1891 by James
John Walker. It came as a surprise to the present writer that organs are deemed to each
have a personality. Their qualities and idiosyncrasies are respected and celebrated and
there is an etiquette to their restoration that requires these idiosyncrasies be preserved.
The years had not been especially kind and much damage was done in the Second World
War although important restorations occurred in 1947 and 1967. It has to be noted
regretfully that, for some years, the Holy Trinity organ has been behaving like a rather
raddled dowager and that any restoration project would be invasive to the life of the
church and extremely expensive.
This is not an article about the restoration. An excellent monograph on the subject by
Michael Brough is available in church. But once Lord Cadogan had made the decision to
restore the organ the task was entrusted to Harrison and Harrison of Durham, widely
considered to be world leaders in their field and, not only was the organ rebuilt, the church
was given a new heating system to minimise the risk of damage to such a sensitive
instrument. The raddled old dowager has had surgery that Mrs Harriman would be proud
of. It is now the largest organ in any London parish church and will be of enormous
significance not only to Holy Trinity’s ministry but to the musical life of London
In his sermon The Bishop of London paid tribute not only to Lord Cadogan’s generosity
but also to the team which have made music so important and so central to the ministry of
our church. Michael Brough has nurtured the organ through many years and the inimitable
Olly Lallemant, our organist, is a musician whose talents we cherish. But Andrew O’Brien,
our Director of Music, wins all prizes for sheer courage and stoicism. He directed the
combined choirs of Holy Trinity and conQordia
from a bar stool borrowed from a local wine bar
having recently seriously injured his back. A
rather sad irony given that the occasion was
also a celebration of the tenth anniversary of his
appointment.
And the prosecco? Naturally, there was a party.
This is, after all, Holy Trinity.
Robin Hellier - Church Warden
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Holy Trinity Sloane Square
Capital Vision 2020: Soaring vision in St Paul’s Cathedral
This acoustic is tricky even for an
experienced actor and it was with
trepidation that our Rector, Father Rob
planned a ’conversation’ under the
dome with Darren Raymond on the
subject of Intermission Youth Theatre.
The acoustic in St Paul’s Cathedral is
remarkable.
No
broadcast
or
recording ever does justice to it. As
we sing we cannot hear our own
voices but they are incorporated into
a wave of melody which pings off the
marble and stone and wraps us in
wonder. Perhaps it is a metaphor for
what will happen when our time
comes to join that great cloud of
witnesses. Our feeble stumblings in
faith will be transformed and
absorbed into the great tide of good
will and fellowship which laps that
other shore. The acoustic even
worked its magic on two of the
dreariest modern hymns I have ever
had to try to sing.
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Holy Trinity Sloane Square
was no coincidence that the service
was held on 6th June, the anniversary
of D Day. I cannot imagine what the
collective noun for Churchwardens
might be, they come in so many
shapes
and
sizes.
Your
Churchwardens favour rather formal
suits but there was one fine peacock
upholstered in what looked like sofa
chintz and several in garments that
could only be knitted by doting,
colour blind mothers. But, perhaps,
the dress code should have stated
‘battle dress’.
that initiative than in this great world
city? In twenty years, the electoral roll
membership in London has risen by
60% and in these challenging times, our
churches have sustained their mission
in every community they serve. Capital
Vision aims to equip and commission
100,000 ambassadors for Christ in
London.
This conversation was one of three
which formed the heart of the launch of
Capital Vision 2020 a celebration which
coincided with the ceremony of
admission of Churchwardens. These
conversations between the laity and the
clergy were designed to take us from
our comfort zones and explore issues of
poverty , injustice, mental illness and
social deprivation in our great
clamorous city.
Father Rob need not have worried –
naturally our boys were the best!
The service was designed as a rallying
call to a church militant and, perhaps, it
The Diocese of London is on the
offensive, intent on changing public
conversations about God and helping
all of us to realise our mission to
participate in God’s plan of
redemption. Where better to start
As individuals we may falter but in that
great building, good intention and
determination were palpable. May we
pray: ‘Come Lord Jesus, our hearts and
city renew’.
Robin Hellier - Church Warden
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Holy Trinity Sloane Square
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Holy Trinity Sloane Square
The Rev’d Preb Gary and Norma Piper
We are so delighted to welcome The Rev’d
Preb Gary Piper to join our team. Gary says:
“What are you going to do when you retire?”
Rob asked me. We were sitting having
coffee at the Sloane Club (I was feeling a
trifle uncomfortable as I felt I was looking too
scruffy to be in such a venue!).
“A parish in Fulham asked us to join them,
but we’re not sure if that’s right,” was my
reply.
“Well, would you think about joining us?” said Rob.
“Oh, Rob, I was so hoping you were going to ask me,” was my response.
Norma and I had spent most of our lives at St Matthew’s, Fulham. Norma grew up in
the parish, I first went to a service when I was 16, we married there, bought a house
in the parish, our children were baptised at St. Matthew’s. I became a lay reader in
1973, honorary curate in 1978 and vicar in 1985.
For a long time I dreaded the thought of retirement. But God is good! I used to be a
teacher. When I came to see Intermission Youth Theatre I saw the sort of young
people I used to teach, I could see God’s hand in this work I longed to be a part of
what was happening. All this plus the thought of working with our very dear friends
Rob and Janine. Now “retirement” seemed exciting!
As far as Holy Trinity is concerned, first I want to thank everyone for the welcome
Norma and I have received, it’s great to be with you. I have a lot to learn, St
Matthew’s is very much in the low church, evangelical tradition with quite a different
style of worship. I will do my best to learn Holy Trinity’s ways as quickly as possible.
Meanwhile, if you forgive me my trespasses.............................................
New PCC Members
We are also delighted to welcome three new PCC members
Hilary Scott
Michael Ashcroft
Gogo-Rose Ilo
Intermission Youth Theatre were one of the proud recipients of money
raised from the Motcombe Street Party and had great fun helping out
throughout the evening. They were thrilled to be recognised as a major
charity within our local community and keen to thank The Motcombe
Street Traders Association for supporting them so generously.
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Holy Trinity Sloane Square
Sunday Worship
8.45am Said Eucharist
11.00am Sung Eucharist
July
7th
The 6th Sunday after Trinity
Choir: Holy Trinity Choir
Setting: Missa Brevis Kodaly
Anthem: We pray thee, heavenly father
Sampson
(written for Holy Trinity Choir in 1930)
Intermission@6 The Happening
6pm at St Saviour’s
Theme: Peace
14th The 7th Sunday after Trinity
Choir: conQordia
Setting: Messe Basse Faure (arr MJA)
Anthem: Panis Angelicus Franck
21st
The 8th Sunday after Trinity
Choir: Holy Trinity Choir
Setting: Cantus Missae in E♭ for double
choir Rheinberger
Anthem: Os Justi Meditabitur Bruckner
28th The 9th Sunday after Trinity
Choir: Holy Trinity Choir
Setting: Collegium Regale Com Svc Howells
Anthem: And I saw a new heaven Bainton
September
1st
The 14th Sunday after Trinity
Choir:
Holy Trinity Choir
Setting: Missa Brevis Palestrina
Anthem: Abendlied Rheinberger
Intermission@6 The Happening
6pm at St Saviour’s
Theme:
Confidence in Christ
8th
The 15th Sunday after Trinity
Choir:
Holy Trinity Choir
Setting: Messe Solennelle Vierne
(Kyrie said)
Anthem: My beloved spake Hadley
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Holy Trinity Sloane Square
Picture Gallery
Inaugural Organ Recital 26th May 2013
August
4th
The 10th Sunday after Trinity
Choir:
conQordia
Setting: Canterbury Mass Piccolo
Anthem: Greater Love Ireland
11th The 11th Sunday after Trinity
Choir:
Holy Trinity Choir
Setting: Missa Brevis Walton
Anthem: Great is the Lord Elgar
18th The 12th Sunday after Trinity
Choir:
Holy Trinity Choir
Setting: Missa Euge Bone Tye
Anthem: O Sacrum Convivium
Messiaen
25th The 13th Sunday after Trinity
Choir:
Holy Trinity Choir
Setting: Mass for 5 Voices Byrd
Anthem: Sicut cervus Palestrina
15th The 16th Sunday after Trinity
Choir:
Holy Trinity Choir
Setting: Missa Brevis Leighton
Anthem: Seek him that maketh the
seven stars Dove
22nd The 17th Sunday after Trinity
Choir:
Holy Trinity Choir
Setting: Communion setting in C
Stanford
Anthem: Faire is the heaven Harris
29th St Michael and All Angels
Choir:
conQordia
Setting: Darke in A minor
Anthem: Factum est silentium Dering
David Goode
Organist and Head of Keyboard,
Eton College
Superb Organ Builders
Harrison and Harrison
Baptism and Confirmation 16th June 2013
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Holy Trinity Sloane Square
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Holy Trinity Sloane Square
6pm Sundays
The Happening
7th July 2013
Theme: Peace
1st September 2013
Theme: Confidence in Christ
6th October 2013
Theme: Creativity
3rd November 2013
Compassion
Saturday 14th September 2013
Holy Trinity Sloane Square is taking part in Ride+Stride 2013 a great day out
visiting churches and helping to raise money for their repair and upkeep.
For more information visit www.rideandstrideuk.org
First Sunday of every month St Saviour’s Church, Walton Place, London SW3 1SA
Speed Deathing
Part of the Open Court Festival
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, 6.30pm
Friday 12th July 2013
The Rev’d Rob Gillion, Rector of Holy Trinity along with religious leaders or scholars
who are Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Sikh, or Humanist, has been
asked to take part in a high speed series of five minute lectures about beliefs and
rituals around death.
Tickets £5 for more information call the Royal Court Box Office on 020 7565 5000
or visit www.royalcourttheatre.com
Pause for Thought
The Revd Rob Gillion, Rector of Holy Trinity, is
set for his next run of thoughts on Chris Evans’
Breakfast show, BBC Radio Two. The dates are
Mondays 15th, 22nd and 29th Jul and 5th Aug.
Please do tune in on 88-91FM or online.
Intermission Theatre presests
A Play in a week!
10am - 3pm Monday 19th - Friday 23rd August
Be thee aged 7-13? Are Ye Interested Interested In Acting?
go to www.intermissiontheatre.co.uk for more information
Open House London is the annual opportunity to enjoy
and celebrate the buildings and places where we live and
work.
Once again, Holy Trinity Church will be one of the
buildings featured within the listings of places to visit
during the weekend of 22 & 23 September.
In previous years, during Open House Weekend, we have
had many hundreds of visitors who have come to visit our
magnificent church building and to see in particular the
glorious stained glass windows.
We are very much aware that Holy Trinity Church is far
more than just another architectural gem on a tourist trail
through London. It is the ‘Gate of Heaven’ and a place of
encounter with the Living God. It is a place of daily prayer
and worship and quiet contemplation for many people
who live and work within this part of our city. It is the
vibrant heart of a worshipping and servant community that
bears witness to a living Faith and seeks to welcome and
serve all who enter the church building.
We are looking for volunteers who can assist in this important ministry of welcome during
Open House Weekend. If you think you can offer some time on either Saturday 21 st or
Sunday 22nd September then give your details to the Church Office.
Holy Trinity’s Christmas Cards
Please support Holy Trinity by purchasing your Christmas cards from the church.
Christmas cards and order forms can be collected from the church office.
We have three exciting new designs which can be seen in the next issue of the
Trinitarian
CARDS FOR GOOD CAUSES SHOP
Opens Saturday 28th September until Friday 20th December 2013
HOLY TRINITY CHURCH
Sloane Street
London
SW1X 9BZ
United Kingdom
Phone: +44 (0)20 7730 7270
Fax: +44 (0)20 7730 9287
[email protected]
www.holytrinitysloanesquare.co.uk
ST SAVIOUR’S CHURCH,
Walton Place London SW3 1SA
Phone: +44(0)20 7823 8979
© Ann Dent
Rector: The Revd Rob Gillion
Associate: The Revd Graham Rainford
Churchwardens: Martin Cleveland, Robin Hellier
Assistant Churchwarden: Gill Dunley
Director of Music: Andrew O’Brien
Organist and Assistant Director of Music: Oliver Lallemant
Sunday Services:
At Holy Trinity
8.45am Said Eucharist (Book of Common Prayer)
11am: Sung Eucharist
At St Saviour’s
6pm: The Happening
(first Sunday of the month)
Regular weekday services:
Monday
At Holy Trinity
7.30am
Contemplative Prayer
Wednesday At Holy Trinity
1.10pm
6.30pm
Eucharist (Book of Common Prayer)
Eucharist (Book of Common Prayer)
Thursday
At St Saviour’s
1.15pm-1.45pm Reflections on Scripture with
prayer and sandwich lunch
Saturday
At Holy Trinity
10.30am
Contemplative Prayer & Bible Study
Morning Prayer is said at 9:00am, Monday to Friday
and Evening Prayer at 5:00pm Monday to Friday at Holy Trinity