TRINITY TIMES HOLY TRINITY KEW Anglican Church of Australia
EASTER 2020
TRINITY TIMES |EASTER 2020
From the Vicar decide. We can be bystanders or we can be followers. We can watch from the sidelines or we can step out and follow.
Dear Parishioners, In the Palm Sunday Gospel account of the events, one cannot avoid thinking of Saint Paul's description of Jesus in Philippians. Paul writes of Jesus, “.. who being in the very nature of God, did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness” (Philippians 2:6-11) Even though the people along the parade route hailed Jesus as king, he did not consider himself one. In Australia we tend to watch royalty from afar, fascinated by the pageantry which surround them. For even though some of us are skeptical of the role of the monarchy, we cannot help but be stirred by the majestic strains of "Pomp and Circumstance.” There is something overwhelming about grandeur. Remember the last two Royal weddings at Westminster Abbey and St George’s Windsor and the use of Anglican Liturgy and Music. There’s something attractive about the majestic aura that surrounds a king or queen in fact, whether we agree with their politics or not, there is something magnificent about being a president or prime minister or better yet, a king or a queen. Jesus came in humility. Remember, this king chose his vehicle of transportation, the Bible tells us this king came on the back of a donkey colt. Not a horse. A horse stands for war. Now, that may have been what the people wanted, a king to set them free, a leader to help them throw off the yoke of Rome. But this king came on a donkey colt, a symbol of meekness, peace, and humility. While most kings at the time of Jesus set themselves up to rule, Jesus came facing a cross.
For the king is coming, the parade approaches. That's one thing about this parade. No one can be neutral. We must decide. For the king has come and he brings us a choice: We can stand and wave, join the crowds that cheered him on that day, and watch him pass by. Or we can follow him wholly and stand with him at the cross. Palm Sunday reminds us that Jesus came with a choice. The parade marches past and we must choose to stand on the sideline and cheer as he passes by or join the small crowd of followers who marched with Jesus. For if we choose to follow, we decide to give him our devotion. That’s what it takes to be a Christian in today's world. It was that way in the beginning and it is the same today: twelve disciples with Jesus. And when he asked them to go into the village and find the donkey colt, they went not as a bunch of tag-a-longs, but as eager followers not as sometimes servers but as his constant companions. And even though they would sleep when they were told to stay awake, deny him when he needed their loyalty, flee when they were in danger, and even doubt his rising when they were told, they were still his faithful followers, those who had dedicated their lives to him. When Jesus marches past us, he doesn't look for bystanders. He looks for followers. That’s what Palm Sunday requires of us. If we choose to follow Jesus, we must give him our devotion. We must march to his destination. It's not easy to be a Christian in today’s world. It’s not easy to be a follower. Daily and for decades we have been bombarded with a different message.
Today is Palm Sunday, the king is coming and we must respond. The parade approaches and we must decide. For the choice is ours to make. If we want to be bystanders, parade watchers, we can do that. If we want to be flag-waving Christians who go home after the parade, we can do that. But today is Palm Sunday and that parade calls us to
Daily for most of our lives we have been urged, lured and enticed to march in a totally different direction. According to the world around us, life's goal has been to be happy, satisfied, rich, forever young, and beautiful. And the way to achieve that goal was all around us for a price. If we spent the money, heartache and heartburn need never be
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TRINITY TIMES |EASTER 2020 ours. If we bought the right product, popularity our self. Indeed, it is difficulties like this that bring and success were assured. Daily we have been told out the true colours of the Nation. Have we that our value and worth are easily determined forgotten the Christian principles this country just look at what we eat, drink, drive, wear or own. were based upon? The image of Jesus riding on a All now exposed to be deeply shallow as we sway humble donkey this Palm Sunday reminds us under the might of the coronavirus. This virus is where our true vocation lies. That’s what this reminding us that we are all equal, regardless of country was based upon. our occupation, finances or how famous we are. This disease treats us all equally. It is reminding us Thank God Jesus' parade has always marched in a that we are all connected and something that different direction to the world and its deceptions affects one person has an effect on another. This and illusions. This king offers a dangerous destiny. virus by oppressing us for a short time, reminds us If we choose to step off the curb and give him our of those in this world whose whole life has been devotion, we could well be headed for trouble. For spent in oppression. It is reminding us of how following Jesus will lead us to service a long way precious our health is and how we have moved to from self. It will require our love and devotion. It neglect it through bad farming practices and will demand our life and our time. Following Jesus eating nutrient poor fast food and drinks full of in the parade may mean missing out on earthly preservatives. It is reminding us of the shortness of pleasures, marching past this world's fleeting life and of what is most important for us to do, illusory rewards. For Jesus was on his way to the which is to help each other, especially those who cross. Jesus was on his way to suffering and on his are old or sick. Our purpose as recently reminded way to his Father's throne. When we follow Jesus by Bill Gates is not to buy toilet roll, but to serve. and offer him our devotion, we march with Jesus to the Father’s leading. For when we follow Jesus, The sheer might of the coronavirus is reminding us we must give him our trust and our faith. of how materialistic our society has become and Remember: there is no such thing as 'spectator we remember that it’s the essentials in fact that we Christianity.' The grand marshal of today’s parade need (food, water, medicine). This scourge is invites us to be servants not sideline watchers. For reminding us of how important our family and it’s easy to shout but harder to serve. But only in home life is and how much we have neglected this. serving is our life of any use and will be much Those Sundays we used to have with our family blessed. and worshipping God are like a dream gone byhowever we are being forced back into our What the people who welcomed Jesus into houses so we can rebuild them into our home and Jerusalem that first Palm Sunday did not realise to strengthen our family unit- or sadly exposing was that God was offering them the opportunity to the frailty of our relationships distanced by do something more than cheer. God was inviting chasing the dollar and now exposed as deeply them to join him in doing a great thing. For Jesus flawed, shown with the rapid upsurge of domestic was on his way to the cross to bring us a real new violence. I pray that the difficulties that we now life and salvation. As Jesus rode to his death that face will eventually draw us back into our day, as he led that parade and procession, he came churches and when its finally all over, to give freeing us from our sins and giving us the thanks to God. It will be interesting to see if we opportunity to serve God and neighbour. return to our old ways and not have learnt anything. This affliction is reminding us that no For the ultimate destination of that first Palm matter how great we think we are or how great Sunday parade was not praise but the cross and others think we are, a mere microscopic virus can salvation. That was Jesus’ destination; that was his bring our world to a standstill - and we thought we goal. And he invites us to join him. He invites us were bigger and better than God. to march along. Today he comes before us as humble Saviour on a donkey at the head of the This scourge reminds us that we can choose to parade. Remember: it is easier to shout than it is to cooperate and help each other, to share, to give, to serve and we are being reminded by a microscopic help and to support each other or we can choose to virus in God’s creation- in the most terrible waybe selfish, to hoard toilet rolls, to look after only
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TRINITY TIMES |EASTER 2020 TO GIVE AND NOT TO COUNT THE COST that serving others is our only true vocation and will be a great blessing. Lord, teach me to be generous; Teach me to serve you as you deserve; Clearly God did not send this indiscriminate virus To give and not to count the cost; to punish us- God is not like that- in fact he is as To fight and not to heed the wounds; we speak, identifying with the suffering. He is the To toil, and not to seek for rest; complete opposite. But through this time of crisis I To labour, and not to ask for reward – hope we learn what is important again and realise except to know that I am doing your will. Amen. how far we have wandered from God’s path. Yours In Christ I shall leave you with a wonderful prayer of St Ignatius of Loyola written over five hundred years ago:
Fr Robert Newton Vicar Holy Trinity Kew
Holy Trinity Kew: “An Open and Welcoming Community.”
Parish
Vision
A welcoming community, open to all; witnessing and spreading God’s love through his word and in the breaking of the bread.
Mission
To proclaim the eternal truths of the Gospel in a way that resonates with our community and the wider community.
Values
We are an inclusive Anglican anglo-catholic community, who through Apostolic teaching bring God’s word and sacraments to the people of Kew and surrounds. We are a diverse community where everybody is welcome.
Strategy Plan 2015-2020
Goal
Outcome
Monitoring Process
Strategies
Resources
Resp’ble
Time-
person/people frame Improved communication
Our Mission to the Community
Vicar working with Churchwarden s
Review of web site and all public communicationsstyle and substance and communication processes
New logos and signage as part of the New Development Postcard and flyers for distribution
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Churchwardens, Vicar
ASAP
TRINITY TIMES |EASTER 2020
Outreach to groups within the community
Use of HTK site
Ministry to younger people
Pastoral Care
Choir
More pastoral officesparticularly weddings.
Vicar working with Churchwarden s and Parish Council
Opening of the Church Building during the week.Enhanced focus on newcomers. Building on the services we offer on Weds and Sundays. Transport arranged for those who live further away
Churchwarden s, Treasurer, Vicar, Office staff
Improved Family and Young Peoples Ministry
Better resources for and improvement of the choir
New Vicar, Development. Churchwardens, New flyers and Office staff advertising plus welcome pack
20202023
Staging opening of the Church- first the Memorial Chapel weekdays. Promoting the services we do offer. Develop Parish welcome pack. Investigate viability of increasing the offering transport to new those who cannot come to HTK
Effective use of new facilities to strengthen the parish numerically and financially. specific use of kitchen for catering/hospitali ty ministry
Better communications within the parish
Strategy of marketing for weddings and the Church building/new Parish Centre synergies.
Marketing and Business Review/Strategy for Parish Centre and whole site, including halls, vicarage and church building
$$$ income from Parish Centre
Churchwardens, 2020Treasurer, Parish 2025 Council, Vicar
Vicar, Sunday school and Holy Trinity Childcare plus families prioritising strategies
Ongoing training/assistance for helpers for Sunday School.
$$$ for Family/Youth Ministry
Vicar, Sunday School, Churchwardens, Parish Council
20202025
Vicar working with Parish Chaplain and associate clergy, ALM’s and parishioners
Support group for the vulnerable.
Clergy/Chaplai n/ALM’s Parish Council, Churchwarden s
Vicar, Chaplain assoc. clergy, ALM’s Parish Council, Churchwardens
20202025
Music Director working with Vicar
Review of resources for the Choir/connection with Trinity Grammar School
$$$
Music Director/Vicar
20202025
Parish Council establishing an effective plan
Utilisation of facilities in Parish Centre for children in Appoint a the community. Informal worship and youth focussed Youth Minister music. Action on Youth Ministry for the Parish. Trinity Grammar Essay Prize
Prayer Group.
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World Day of Prayer Elizabeth Cook On 6th March, this year's service composed by Zimbabwe was held at St. Anne's Catholic Church in East Kew, where the majority of attendees were members of the host church, one or to from churches in the Kew area who support World Day of Prayer, and three (including the Vicar) from Holy Trinity. World Day of Prayer began when two friends, one from Canada and the other an American, collaborated on the idea of Christians dedicating one special day every year to pray for that country. From this small beginning World Day of Prayer has grown to a worldwide organization involving 150 countries speaking 88 different languages, with a Head Office in USA. Nationally and in each State of Australia there are committees organizing the printing and distribution of literature and service booklets to churches, youth groups, nursing homes, etc., and this year 960 services were held in Australia.
WDP is a global ecumenical movement led by Christian women who welcome everyone to join in prayer and action for peace and justice. In our area there are several churches who support WDP, and historically have agreed on a rotation system to host each year's service, and next year is HTK's turn. The service will be composed by Vanuatu on the theme 'Build on a Strong Foundation.' It is always interesting to learn firsthand about, and pray for, another country of the world, and towards the end of November a small committee will be formed to ensure that the WDP service at HTK will be vibrant and interesting with a capacity congregation. Elizabeth (Liz) Cook email : ecook1932@gmail.com
From the Director of Music Stephen Kerr At this quite strange and sometimes frightening time in human history, our innate need for community, shared experience and connectedness is brought into stark relief. For musicians , especially in the church, the sudden inability to share in moments of joy, pain and contemplation through music is particularly tormenting. Thankfully in these hard times we are able to turn to an endless library of recordings and live streams through the internet. Following is the text of Ursula Vaughan Williams’ “A Hymn for Saint Cecilia” – the Patron Saint of music. I encourage you to seek out a recording of the setting of this text by Herbert Howells as a personal reflection during uncertain times.
A Hymn for Saint Cecilia by Ursula Vaughan Williams Sing for the morning’s joy, Cecilia, sing, in words of youth and praises of the Spring, walk the bright colonnades by fountains’ spray, and sing as sunlight fills the waking day; till angels, voyaging in upper air, pause on a wing and gather the clear sound into celestial joy, wound and unwound, a silver chain, or golden as your hair.
Sing for your loves of heaven and of earth, in words of music, and each word a truth; marriage of heart and longings that aspire, a bond of roses, and a ring of fire. Your summertime grows short and fades away, terror must gather to a martyr’s death; but never tremble, the last indrawn breath remembers music as an echo may. Through the cold aftermath of centuries, Cecilia’s music dances in the skies; lend us a fragment of the immortal air, that with your choiring angels we may share, a word to light us thro’ time-fettered night, water of life, or rose of paradise, so from the earth another song shall rise to meet your own in heaven’s long delight.
Poetry One act play in seven scenes, Deirdre Baker Curled in the fleshly womb lay this drama's lead actor Folded in babyhood he drank the warm milk of love Through village street and hills the small child ran rejoicingly Nazareth and home could not contain the urgent boy Temple and court became the theatre for this scene Soon through all Palestine the Man taught truth and brought healing. But then the climax came with crosses stark against the sky and wounded hands outspread. Those who saw were divided Some jeered but others wept …
Love bade me welcome. Yet my soul drew back Guilty of dust and sin. But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack From my first entrance in, Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning, If I lacked any thing. A guest, I answered, worthy to be here: Love said, You shall be he. I the unkind, ungrateful? Ah my dear, I cannot look on thee. Love took my hand, and smiling did reply, Who made the eyes but I?
But when the last scene came the curtain was not drawn but opened wide So all who would could see God’s greatest act of love the one true Light pours forth from heaven to earth to save our darkened world and illumine our sad hearts. Alleluya! Indeed Alleluya!
George Herbert
TRINITY TIMES |EASTER 2020
Memories of the Church Halls at Holy Trinity Kew Elaine Hutchinson When attending the Opening of our new Parish Centre last year, many memories flooded back as I looked over the Parish Green to the Jubilee and Parish Halls. I was baptised at Holy Trinity in 1943 and attended Sunday School, Young Anglican Fellowship, played tennis on Saturdays and eventually mid-week Ladies as the years passed. Confirmed and Married here also.
This room was eventually refurbished and named The Tobias Room in memory of Thelma and Jack Tobias, very active members of the Parish, who tragically died in a car accident. The Mothers Union and Women's Guild met there regularly and on Mondays the Ladies played cards. The room on the right was used as the Church Office after it was moved from upstairs in the Vicarage. There are two rooms at the back of the Parish Hall and were used at one stage for the sale of damaged tins of fruit from SPC. The other room the Tennis Club used for Afternoon Tea on match days. Upstairs was used for Guides and Scouts. The Girls Friendly Society (G.F.S) and Church of England Boys Society (C.E.B.S.) and used the halls extensively. The Church of England Fellowship, later called Young Anglican Fellowship, ran regular Saturday Night Dances. Of course, many Parish functions were held in these halls, Fancy Dress parties, Parish Dinners. Kew Primary School held family functions and used the hall for classes when the school was refurbished during the 1970's.
The Jubilee Hall Upon entering the hall, I remember in the righthand corner large folding walls that made a room for the kindergarten children, we sat on red and green wooden chairs. A wooden sandbox was used to light candles for birthdays. The hall was full of children. During this time there was no stage in the hall. In the left-hand corner of the back wall there were two doors which accessed the Billiard Room. The two doors were used as a sound barrier and also because of the thickness of the walls. The walls of this room were painted dark green, large long shaded lights hung over the two billiard tables. Very spooky if you were naughty enough to open the doors. Many years later this room was reclaimed by the Parish and named The Freeman Room in memory of Vivienne and John Freeman. The rooms were ideal for smaller Parish functions and Morning Tea after Church.
The Kindergarten - Op Shop Building The growth of the Sunday School resulted in a new building - now the site of the new Parish Centre. As the numbers of children attending Sunday School became fewer the Building was used by a Private Kindergarten and called "Threes and Fours". It eventually closed when the Private schools began to offer Kindergarten classes as part of their wider school community.
The Parish Hall This hall was packed with Sunday School children. Girls on one side, boys on the other. The classes were arranged down the side walls, with two benches facing each other and the teacher sitting on a chair against the wood panelled walls. The Bible class for the older children - mixed, was held in the room on the left of the entrance hall. There was a mural on the wall between the windows.
My mother was the youngest of 7 children who attended Sunday School at Holy Trinity and my own children David, Stuart, Kelly and Scott also spent much time here in these wonderful old building. These are my memories I enjoyed writing and sharing them with you.
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Funeral Homily - Joan Brooking Fr Robert Newton Funeral Homily February 14th 2020 Joan Brooking We gather here today to give thanks for the life of Joan Brooking. Joan was a faithful and loving parishioner of Holy Trinity Kew. We give thanks for her service to this Church and the many friendships in Christ she made here. Joan’s involvement in the Mother’s Union as member, Secretary and finally President was characterised by friendliness, love and generosity. There are always those special people in every church, whom I call the SaintsJoan was certainly one of those. Joan, much loved and devoted wife of Robert for 64 years and mother of Chris, Richard and Anne and mother-in law to Joanne, Catharine and Garry. Grandmother to Pia (and her husband Sam), Jonty, Charlotte and Elliot. And for all of Joan’s family and friends gathered here- we gather in sadness, but that sadness is shot through with relief and a quiet gratitude for her life. And we can say before God that we are thankful to have known Joan and we are thankful to God for revealing something of himself through her. In the Beatitudes, in Matthew Chapter 5, the Lord Jesus tells us “How happy are those who mourn”. That is a very strange thing to say. Nobody else ever said anything like that. But then ‘never did any man speak as this man speaks’. Our mourning is not futile. It is not meaningless. It is not a wild cry of despair. Our Saviour through his own suffering teaches us that pain is part of the redemptive process. Mary the Mother of God’s Son who stood by the cross of her beloved son, had brought this understanding. When the shadow of the cross falls on us we are in good company.
We mourn for those whom we love. So our mourning is a sign of our love. We have been privileged to have what is most precious in human life. Our mourning signifies our privilege. Those who have never loved will never mourn. Their hearts will never be broken. How blessed are they who mourn. But we do not mourn as those who are without hope. Love is stronger than death. Love abides forever. When our Lord was preparing his disciples for the time when he would be taken away from them, he said that he was going to prepare a place for them. And if I go, he said, “I will come again and take you to myself, that where I am you will be also.” The hope of resurrection changes the equation. It turns recession and depletion into perfect health, bankruptcy into infinite riches. In this vision of human life, then, death is not the failure of therapy but the final healing. It is not a closed door but a threshold to a world where all tears are wiped away and our hearts are filled with unlimited joy. As the poet Rabindranath Tagore has put it; “Death is blowing out the candle because the dawn has arrived”. As the caterpillar dies the butterfly flies off into the sun. And that is my fervent prayer today is that the Lord has taken our friend Joan who has been taken from us to be at home with him, where death will be no more, no mourning, nor crying, nor any sorrow. And we follow Christ, the first born of many, into that place of unending peace. His promise is that when we get there, everything that we have suffered or borne in this life will appear as nothing.
TRINITY TIMES |EASTER 2020
Funeral Eulogy and Homily – Joan West The Rt Revd the Hon Dr Peter Hollingworth AC OBE Requiem Eucharist, Holy Trinity Kew 17 December 2019
The Gospel reading from John 14.1-8 was of course chosen by Joan.
Our prayers and condolences go out to Joan’s sons, Russell, Edmund, Martin and their families. The watch over her in their different ways offered her great comfort especially after Russell’s arrival from Tubingen to say his family farewell to her. May I say to her sisters Ann, Wendy and Susan and their (our) families, to her former husband Rob who visit her regularly, those who she adopted or took under her wing over the years and to her partners in prayer, many of whom are here today, especially Fr Robert Newton the Vicar, Archdeacon Howard Langmead and Bishop Graeme Rutherford and to residents at ‘Karana’ and elsewhere. We have come here as one to uphold Joan and each other in worship.
This forms part of Jesus’ final discourse and prayer according to St John, taking the form of a meditation by the ‘beloved disciple’ of Jesus and then to those of his, John’s community forming the next generation and subsequent generations of seekers including our own. Indeed, all of us who lack the benefit of his physical earthly presence, much of John’s narrative is in the form of a meditation on the meaning of Christ’s ministry where he prays for his followers then and now with clear words direction to them. ‘Let not your hearts be troubled, believe in God believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many rooms, if it were not so would I have told you, that I go to prepare a place for you…..I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am now, you may be also and you know the way that I am going. For I am the way the truth and the life. No-one comes to the father but by me’ Perhaps reminding them (and us) about the false prophets in every age and generation.
I am reminded of the evocative title to a little book by the late Fr Henri Nouwen called ‘The wounded Healer”. Joan was one of those who received grace and spiritual healing by sharing the wounds of the crucified one, directing it to help and support others in prayer for healing. Her sister Wendy simply described Joan as a ‘good woman’ which I interpret as being a steadfast and determined woman of faith and good works throughout her life.
Jesus’ work on earth had been completed as has that of Joan. She had no doubts, even though she knew the physical end of her life was near. She believed, that she would be with Jesus in a new way, by being ‘at one’ with Him, and also looking forward to the coming season of Advent in eternal hope. Joan never believed she could sustain that faith on her own without prayer support. She would want me to say that the support she received through various faith communities nourished and sustained her over the years. First, at St John’s East Malvern where she and Robert met and married, St Paul’s Caulfield, St Matthew’s Prahran through their clergy and healing ministry groups, and here at Holy Trinity Kew
When at Korowa Girls Grammar she showed leadership potential and became House Captain of Akehurst and Vice-Captain of the school in her final year. Being respected by her peers she made and kept some as friends. She and I had many conversations on these matters at different times over the years, and I witnessed her growing commitment to and dependence on Jesus Christ as Saviour in a personal sense throughout her hard journey later in life, as she dealt with many emotional, mental and physical challenges.
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TRINITY TIMES |EASTER 2020 walk as a child of the light, I want to follow Jesus” and Karana which she saw as her final earthly T.I.S.643 home to which she wished to return in her final days. It concludes: So ‘in the Father’s house there have been many ‘I am looking for the coming of Christ (3) rooms’, just as Jesus promised, with faithful I want to be with Jesus, people and places of comfort and assurance in When we have run with patience the race her earthly travails through life, not forgetting We shall know the joy of Jesus. the caring expertise of the medical nursing, In Him there is no darkness at all, the night allied professions and pastoral care. These and the day are both alike. experiences ultimately revealed to her that the The lamb is the light of the City of God; shine mystery of our earthly life is often found in my heart Lord Jesus.’ through the experience of pain, adversity and suffering, for it is in this way that faith is As I looked at Joan she had that same gentle, frequently found there, the grace given to smile of trust and acceptance, as one who was persevere is given to us. This deep mystery is ready to pass on, hopeful of being eternally ‘in centred on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ’ her saviour. Christ and it is to be shared by those in a dying and rising in their own lives within the In this Eucharist we may truly say of Joan and community of faith. hopefully of ourselves ‘Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our lord and saviour During her final days in hospital, with all three Jesus Christ’. sons present, I read to Joan some words from Kathleen Thomerson’s simple hymn ‘I want to
From the Editor Rick Kelly Augustus Strong’s Systematic Theology (26th Printing, 1926) posed the following test for orthodox Christian belief: • • • •
Do we pray to Jesus? Do we call upon the name of Christ, as did Stephen and all the early church? Is he our living Lord, omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent? Is he divine in the sense in which we are divine, or is he the only-begotten Son, God manifest in the flesh, in whom is all the fullness of the Godhead bodily?
Strong concludes that “What think ye of Christ?” is still the critical question, and that “none are entitled to the name of Christian who do not answer aright .
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TRINITY TIMES |EASTER 2020
Edward Maufe: Architect and cathedral builder, by Juliet Dunmur William Whyte, 14 February, 2020 - Church Times UK Duke of Edinburgh took one look at the vestments that Maufe and his wife had designed for the Bishop and declared: “It is all very well, Bishop, you're prancing around like that: you have been dressed by the Maufe's. I have to go to Moss Bros.”
William Whyte reads a revealing biography of Edward Maufe TEN years ago, the archivist of St John’s College, Oxford, made an unusual discovery: a cobweb-covered object that had been consigned to the corner of a dusty cellar. It was the bust of a distinguished-looking man in a bow tie, the architect Sir Edward Maufe.
Maufe was an architect whose work trod a delicate line between tradition and innovation, offering a polite and decorous version of both. His buildings, as one reviewer once put it, embodied “Modernity with manners”: a style that appealed to the leaders of Church and State in the interwar era, and which quickly went out of fashion when more radical modernists reigned supreme.
As an alumnus, the mind behind Guildford Cathedral and a host of other high-profile projects, a Royal Academician and a Knight of the realm, Maufe had once been fêted by the college. He was commissioned to build for it, and was made an honorary fellow. But fashions changed, Maufe was sacked and was replaced by a more modern architect, and his bust was consigned to a storeroom.
On its own, however, this image is misleading, because Maufe was more — and much more interesting — than just the patrician that the statute at St John’s ostensibly depicts. He was not even born Edward Maufe, but Edward Muff, the scion of a Nonconformist dynasty of drapers. The family moved south, changed its name, and moved up in the world; and he moved on and up with it.
The story of this sculpture is, in one respect, entirely representative of Maufe’s career. He became one of the pre-eminent architects of mid-20th century Britain. Especially fêted for his church buildings and famous for designing one of the few cathedrals built for 500 years, he also built for banks, Oxbridge colleges, the Inns of Court, and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
He was also a far more complicated and progressive figure than one might imagine at first sight. His wife was a pioneering career woman, a director of the fashionable furniture shop Heals, and a hugely influential designer in her own right. She also changed her name in the interests of social advancement, dropping Gladys because it was “a servant’s name” and choosing to be called Prudence instead.
He was, as this suggests and as the sculpture depicts him, an eminently Establishment figure. At the opening of Guildford Cathedral, the
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TRINITY TIMES |EASTER 2020 GUILDFORD CATHEDRAL ARCHIVES Alfred Rose, Alan Collins, and Edward Maufe (right) with the 15-foot Golden Angel weather vane of Guildford Cathedral, December 1961 Strikingly, the suggestion that she do this came from her lover’s mistress; it emerges that the Maufe's had an unconventional marriage, to say the least. Quite quickly it became a ménage à trois with Prudence’s employer, Ambrose Heal: a married man, who was apparently incapable of sexual fidelity even to his mistresses. It is an index of just how interwoven their lives and loves became that Heal holidayed with the Maufe's, while the Maufe's designed a house for Heal and his wife. Juliet Dunmur is Edward and Prudence Maufe’s granddaughter. She is also an excellent biographer, drawing on family papers and archival research to offer a fascinating insight into Maufe, his marriage, and much more besides.
Her book is tremendously revealing and a real pleasure to read. It is also nicely illustrated. It may not persuade all people to love Maufe’s work, but it should enable them to appreciate it better — and to understand the man and the world that produced it. As for the bust of Maufe: we rescued it from its dungeon and it now sits in my room — the room, I discovered from this book, that Maufe himself had lived in as an undergraduate. It seems an encouraging sign. Perhaps it signals something of a renaissance for this fascinating man. The Revd Dr William Whyte is Fellow and Tutor of St John s College, Oxford, and Professor of Social and Architectural History in the University of Oxford. Edward Maufe: Architect and cathedral builder, Juliet Dunmur Moyhill Publishing £20 (978-1-905597-92-5) www.moyhill.com
ESTATE OF EDWARD MAUFE Maufe s perspective drawing for the Clubland Methodist Church in Walworth, south London
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Book Review – Who Moved the Stone? By Frank Morison Ben Williamson The last two editions of Trinity Times included reviews of the works of contemporary Australian writer Roy Williams. His first book argued for the truth of God’s existence, while his second examined Christianity in Australia. In this edition it seems pertinent to step back into the past to discuss a true classic of Christian apologetics with Frank Morison’s book Who Moved the Stone?, first published in 1930. Frank Morison, whose real name was Albert Henry Ross, was born in Worcestershire in 1881, and after attending the King Edward VI Grammar School in Stratford-upon-Avon he became a printer’s compositor. Later, he joined an advertising company where apparently he was very successful. Yet his most famous text, Who Moved the Stone?, shows such a methodical and perceptive approach that many believed, prior to his identity being made public, that he must have had a background in law. It is this knack for the minute examination of evidence that makes this book so compelling, even 90 years on. Legend has it – and indeed his first chapter suggests it - that Morison originally set out to disprove the possibility of the resurrection yet at the same time to champion the humanity of Jesus Christ, whom he believed to be a great figure of history. However, as he examined the evidence and analysed the scriptures he instead became convinced that the only plausible explanation for what happened on that Sunday was that Jesus did in fact rise from the dead. While it is impossible to determine if Morison’s
own conversion story is true (he apparently wrote a biography of a churchman prior to this book, so he was obviously not averse to the topic), his book is nevertheless a wonderfully pleasant and engaging work of earnest belief. Morison provides a studied account of the timing (down to the very hour!) of Jesus’s arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane and execution on the cross, the complexities that characterised the political landscape of the Romans and Jews, as well as the role of the women who found the open tomb. This last point is particularly interesting, as Morison foregoes the warp and weft of big picture historical concepts and instead looks at the specific actions, feelings and fears of Mary Magdalene and her friends on that fateful morning. One could say that he leaves no stone unturned… Written in elegant yet unpretentious prose that very much reflects the values and sentiments of the era, Morison examines every conceivable angle to the empty tomb story. He takes the reader with him on a journey into Jerusalem, where one comes face to face with the individuals involved, seeing them as real people, as well as the atmosphere of the landscape and the setting. This is indeed a warm and fascinating book. Its Englishness and the idiomatic tone of the early twentieth century make for a very pleasant reading experience: perfect for a Sunday afternoon in the garden while contemplating miracles.
TRINITY TIMES |EASTER 2020
From the Theologians In the fifth Century, Church Father John Chrysostum wrote: “Should we look to Kings and Princes to put right the inequalities between rich and poor? Should we require soldiers to come and seize the rich person’s gold and distribute it amongst his distressed neighbours? Should we beg the Emperor to impose a tax on the rich so great that it reduces them to the level of the poor and then share the proceeds of that tax among everyone? Equality imposed by force would achieve nothing, and do much harm.
he pressed the rich to give generously to the poor. Criticised for being anti-semitic, many scholars now believe his writings were not so. Rather, they dealt with the hostility which history records did in fact exist in those early years AD. - beginning of course with the Crucifixion. That was then: Judaism and Christianity today enjoy much better relationships. For example, Malcolm Hoenlein, head of the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organisations has declared “…overall the West is muted in their response to the killings of Christians by the thousands, from Indonesia to Nigeria, to Tehran to Damascus. Where is the outcry? Christians and Copts (are being killed) in Egypt, other countries – and hardly any response to it.”
“Those who combined both cruel hearts and sharp minds would soon find ways of making themselves rich again. Worse still, the rich whose gold was taken away would feel bitter and resentful; while the poor who received the gold from the hands of soldiers would feel no gratitude, because no generosity would have prompted the “gift”…The only way to achieve true justice is to change people’s hearts first – and then they will joyfully share their wealth.” Jesus, of course said it first: “ Seek first the Kingdom of God…” (Matthew 6:33), and “Go and sell all that you have….(Luke 18:22)
Chrysostum was prepared to defy the State rather than deny his Christian principles. Thus, by protesting against the pursuit of power and great wealth, he incurred the wrath of the Empress Eudoxia, who influenced John’s exile by the Bishop of Alexandria.
Chrysostum’s name means golden mouth, for he was a renowned orator, but he was prepared to put his money where his mouth was; he had a substantial income, but gave generously to the needy. Insisting on a frugal personal lifestyle,
There have always been issues where the Church – leaders and laity – have the same choice which faced Chrysostum: if something is inherently wrong, who is better equipped to speak if we remain silent.
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TRINITY TIMES |EASTER 2020
TRINITY TIMES Editor: Rick Kelly Sub-Editor: Stephen Kerr
Holy Trinity Anglican Church
POSTAGE PAID IN AUSTRALIA Holy Trinity Anglican Church P.O. Box 37
Cnr High & Pakington Streets, Kew P.O. Box 37, Kew, Vic 3101 www.holytrinitykew.org.au email: office@holytrinitykew.org.au Vicar The Reverend Robert Newton Ph: 9855 0630 email: vicar@holytrinitykew.org.au
SERVICES AT HOLY TRINITY KEW
On 2nd Sunday of the month, incense will be used at the 10am service
Wednesday: 11am – Holy Eucharist
SUNDAY: 8am – Holy Eucharist 10am – Choral Eucharist
Family ministry: Sunday 10am in chapel (in church on 1st Sun)
Healing Service: 4th Wednesday of the month following the 11am service in the Memorial Chapel- unless advised.
Holy Trinity Kew Multicultural Chinese Congregation: Saturday 10.30am in the Parish Centre Sunday 11.30am in the Parish Centre
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Honorary Parish Deacon The Reverend Lesley Dixon Associate & Hon Associate Priests The Reverend Rick Cheung The Reverend Robert Holland Parish Chaplain Pam Hughes, Ph: 9855 8279 Church Office Telephone: 9853 7158 P.O. Box 37, Kew, 3101 Tuesday to Friday, 9:30am—12:30pm Churchwardens Napier Thomson Ph: 0408 576 737 Robert Buckmaster. Ph: 0437 014 090 Jeremy Bland, 0499 842 088 Child Safe Officer Jack Bland 0427 458 258 Director of Music: Stephen Kerr, 0422 524 574
If undeliverable, return to:
Kew, 3101