MONTHLY UPDATE FROM SIMON

October 2026

Dear Friends

Ten years ago, a Deputy Director General of the BBC called Mark Byford found himself in Trafalgar Square with an hour to spare before a lunch engagement. He went to the National Gallery, where one painting particularly caught his eye.  It was a picture of the Annunciation – the encounter between the Angel Gabriel and the Virgin Mary - painted in the early 1700s by a French artist, Francois Lemoyne.

As a cradle Roman Catholic, Mark understood the significance of the Annunciation in Christian spirituality, and as a long-time resident of Winchester he was intrigued to discover that the painting in question was on loan from Winchester College, where in 1729 it had been placed behind the altar of the chapel.  It puzzled him that at that time, such an exotic Marian image should have been chosen for such a sober place of learning.

Well, that chance encounter, and the curiosity that it prompted, led Mark to embark on a lengthy journey to understand more about the spiritual resonance and impact of the Annunciation story.  He had many questions in his mind.  Why had it inspired so many great works of art?  Why was it so important to the Christian Church?  Was it best understood literally or metaphorically? Did it have any contemporary relevance?

His journey took him to places in Europe and beyond and included conversations with distinguished art historians such as Sir Nicholas Penny, the Director of the National Gallery, and Church leaders including Rowan Williams, Cardinal Nichols, Martin Warner and Sarah Mullaly.  And it led eventually to the publication of a book describing all that he had learned from his enquiry, and how it had impacted his own faith.  The preface of the book says this:

‘Throughout his journey, the author, a practising Christian, does not impose his own views about the Annunciation.  Instead, he lets the subjects describe and explain their thoughts and feelings, leaving the reader to come to his/her own conclusion.  However, at the end of the book, the author assesses all that he has heard and seen over his three-year pilgrimage and reveals what he believes about the story and its meaning, and what has changed in his own faith over the course of his quest.’

Here in Harting we are proud to have one of only three churches in England dedicated to St Mary and St Gabriel – to the Annunciation - and we are honoured that Mark has accepted our invitation to come and give an illustrated talk about his fascinating pilgrimage on Wednesday 7th October.  Drinks will be available in the Law Room from 7pm and the talk itself will begin in church at 7.30pm.  You are all warmly invited.

With my prayers and best wishes

Simon

Harvest Festival and Bulb Planting

Do join us for our All-Age Harvest Festival Service on Sunday 4th October, and help us plant 450 bulbs in the churchyard afterwards.  Children very welcome!

Elsted Church will celebrate its Harvest Festival on Sunday 11th October at 10am.

‘The Annunciation – a Pilgrim’s Quest’: Thursday 7th October at 7.30pm in the Parish Church

Please read more about this in the Rector’s letter this month

‘The Unfortunate History of the Churches of Elsted, Treyford and Didling’ – a talk by Andrew Shaxson: Wednesday 21st October at 7.30pm at Elsted Village Hall

 We are delighted that Andrew has agreed to give this fascinating talk to help us raise money for a new noticeboard for Treyford churchyard.  By way of introduction, he has written:

“At one point during the 19th century there were five places of worship in the parish of Elsted Treyford cum Didling, an unsustainable number which lead to all of them either being abandoned at some point or demolished.   We benefit today from two small churches that are in good condition, but as you will hear even their survival was far from assured.”

Do come and enjoy a wonderful evening of local history.  The bar will be open from 7pm.

The Blessing of Animals

This year’s Pet Service will be held at Harting Church on Sunday 11th October at 3pm. Do join us, with or without a beloved animal.

Faith Seeking Understanding

There will be no meeting this month, as the date clashes with Andrew Shaxson’s talk at Elsted.

Our monthly Quiet Garden afternoons will resume in the spring.

Commemoration of the Departed (All Souls’ Day)

Our annual service of remembrance of our loved ones who have died will be at Harting on Sunday 1st November at 3pm.  A list will be available in church nearer the time for the names of those you would like remembered.