MONTHLY UPDATE FROM SIMON

May 2026

Dear Friends

Fire is very much the theme this month, as we approach Pentecost and continue with our Harting 450 celebrations.  Why fire?  Because it was fire that nearly destroyed our church in 1576 and led to its magnificent rebuilding.  And because fire is a powerful symbol of the Holy Spirit, which descended on the apostles of the Day of Pentecost.  The Book of Acts tells how ‘tongues of flame’ appeared among them, and how they immediately went out into the streets, proclaiming their faith.

During the weekend of 23rd – 25th May (the Festivities weekend) we are holding a flower festival in the church in which the image of fire will be part of the design, especially around the main altar.  We have no knowledge of how the fire of 1576 began (lightning? candles?) but the damage was so severe that some of the walls had to be rebuilt and the entire roof replaced.  One of the chancel roof beams is inscribed with the year 1577, which is testimony to the speed with which the reconstruction took place.

On Saturday 23rd May – the Eve of Pentecost - the Bishop of Chichester is coming to preside and preach at a special service to help mark this important anniversary year.  The service will begin at 6pm, and it will be an opportunity for us to say farewell to Bishop Martin, who is retiring at the end of the month after 14 years as our diocesan bishop.  We give thanks for his steadfast faith and principled leadership.

After the service drinks will be served, and we invite you to stay in church and watch the spectacle of a quarter peal of bells being rung by members of our devoted team of ringers and guests from nearby church towers. A quarter peal is a continuous change-ringing sequence lasting roughly 45–50 minutes and consisting of at least 1,250 changes.  How lucky we are to have both a full complement of ringers and a church that allows us to watch them at work.  Sadly, many church bell towers today stand silent.

Pentecost is commonly regarded as the birthday of the Church and a time of spiritual renewal.  As we continue to celebrate the rich history of our own beautiful church, we pray for the rekindling of our faith, and we ask God to bless us with the fruits of his Spirit, which St Paul lists in his Letter to the Galatians: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  How badly the world needs those qualities at the present time.

With my prayers and best wishes

Simon

A Prayer for Pentecost:

Holy Spirit, sent by the Father,

ignite in us your holy fire;

strengthen your children with the gift of faith,

revive your Church with the breath of love,

and renew the face of the earth,

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Annual Parochial Church Meeting

This year’s APCM will be on Monday 11th May at 7pm in the Law Room.  All are welcome.

St Mary and St Gabriel Quiet Garden

Our next Quiet Garden Afternoon will be on Wednesday 20th May.  We invite you to come and enjoy an hour’s peace, either in the churchyard and walled garden or, if it’s raining, in the church or Law Room.  You don’t have to be religious in any way; just come as you are. ‘What is this life if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare?’

The afternoon begins at 2pm, and tea and cake will be available at 3pm.  There will be a simple form of evening prayer after tea for those who wish to stay.

Faith Seeking Understanding

Come and join our small group for an hour’s free and open discussion about issues of faith and doubt.  We meet this month on Wednesday 20th May at 6pm in the Law Room.

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