Headlines

Mottingham Matters: Magpie Dance, an inclusive charity for people with learning disabilities is bringing events to Mottingham - information in Keep Connected! here

The Archbishop of York - Covid-19 has brought us to our knees - now I pray we rise up 23 March 2021 article

Coming Home - Church Commissioners welcome Archbishops' Housing Commission landmark study of UK housing crisis - here

Give Hope - Bishops and church leaders target Covid vaccination misinformation - here

Archbishop of Canterbury's Address to international Faith Leaders ahead of Glasgow November Climate Change Conference - read here

Daily Hope - Church of England Free Phone (call 0800 804 8044) worship for people without access here

The Pilgrim Way - A Guide to the Christan Faith

National Virtual Church of England Services - Listen to Sunday Service on BBC Radio 4 or a local radio station

Safeguarding - see our Safeguarding Page and the Church of England's Code of Safer Working Practice

HeartEdge -  Website 

Rector's Pastoral Message Holy Week & Easter 2021

This holy Season of Easter coincides with the anniversary of the first lockdown; it is a time to reflect on the trauma, the challenges and the lessons that the last year has brought. These have been unprecedented times for all of us. The Covid-19 death toll is now more than three times the number of those who lost their lives in the blitz of 1940-41 - the last great national trauma.

This is a sobering statistic. It calls, more than ever before, for the counter-balance of the hopeful Christian message of Jesus Christ's Resurrection: the message that out of bleak despair and death, God can create a hope and glorious gift of life beyond our imagining! This is the joyful message we share at Easter-tide.

Wishing you and your loved ones a holy, blessed and joyous Easter. Ian,  Revd Ian Welch

(The full pastoral letter can be viewed via the link below.)

Share your Easter reflections in the next issue (28 March) of Keep Connected! Contact bob@standrewandstalban.org.uk

Online Improvised Daily Taize Prayer is available here

Keep Connected!

Social distancing may mean physical isolation but we can renew connections of soul and spirit through the telephone, social media, email and even the humble letter post.

Keep connected with this website -

It is updated regularly with news of our local community, the parish and the Church of England in general.

Stay connected with a candle -

Our Archbishops have invited us to light a candle in the presence of Jesus in our homes. Take this opportunity to say:

• a prayer for thanks giving each day
• a prayer of blessing on our families
• a prayer for help wherever it is needed
• a prayer for healing and forgiveness

Come close to God and he will come close to you! (James 4:8)

Keep Connected with our Parish community News Sheet - 4 April 2021, Easter Issue

A Vision for the Church of England in the 2020s

At the end of 2019, the Archbishop of York was asked by the House of Bishops to lead a process to create a vision and strategy for the Church of England for the next ten years. Find out more here

The Archbishops' Address to the General Synod

'Renewal' for Church is coming despite 'trauma' of pandemic, say Archbishops. More here

Letter to clergy from Archbishops and Bishop of London

A letter sent following the announcement of the second lockdown - here

The Church is a Beacon of Hope

The Bishop of Southwark's pastoral letter to clergy - here

The Pilgrim Way

A guide to the Christian Faith

Christians believe that in Jesus, God has walked this earth before us, and that with Jesus as our companion we can travel through life differently.

We can live and travel as pilgrims. We can set our sights on God's Kingdom of justice and peace; and our journey home to God, becomes more meaninful and joyful, and the world a better place

Happy are those whose hearts are set on the pilgrim way.

Psalm 84.5

The Pilgrim Way is a new guide to the core beliefs of the Christian faith. Set out in a question and answer format, it follows one of the Church's very earliest ways of teaching and training disciples.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidance for Churches

See the Church of England's website for guidance on what churches should do. There is a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section at the bottom of this CofE website page which includes a section on 'What Churches should do at this stage'. It covers some of the issues that have been raised within our (Southwark) Diocese. Please continue to check this guidance as it is updated regularly. 

A joint letter issued on 17 March 2020 from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York called for the Church of England to become a "differenct sort of church" in the coming months to face the challenge of coronavirus. Archbishops Justin Welby and John Sentamu said it is now necessary to put public services on hold until further notice. Accordingly, no services will be held at St Andrew's and St Alban's until further notice. Please continue to check this page regularly for updates.
 A second joint letter issued by the Archbishops on 24 March 2020 updates this, clarifying the latest position.

How is the Church of England adapting plans for Holy Week and into Easter to meet the challenges of Coronavirus? Read how.

Supporting Good Mental Health - visit the CofE website and read the thirteen daily reflections or print them.

In a joint statement leaders of the Church across Britain and Ireland have come together to urge Christians to pray, serve and do all we can to slow the spread of Covid 19 - read here