THE ANCHOR NEWSLETTER
LOW SEASON 2016
ST BARTHOLOMEW’S ANGLICAN CHURCH ST BARTH, FWI
Welcome Readers This is the Low Season 2016 edition of The Anchor – our news bulletin that we hope will help you to remain anchored to the St Bartholomew’s Anglican Church community. This edition contains an update of the Church refurbishment works being carried out as part of the 1855 Appeal. We do hope that you find the report and photographs interesting. The Church will hold a re-dedication ceremony on Sunday 28 February, 2017 with our Diocese Bishop, the Very Revd Errol Brooks presiding. We hope you can join us. We also have an article about a tour La Chorale des Bons Choeurs made to Ontario, Canada in May arranged by Lloyd and Patricia Younger, during which they received a surprise welcome letter! And our Back Page Spirituality series continues with reflections on current events from some of our Summer Visiting Priests, as written by them for our Weekly Sunday Editor & Parish Administrator: Philip Trangmar Phone: 0690 54 17 99 Email: info.stbartholomews@gmail.com Website:
Parish Letter During the Summer the church building may be closed while it undergoes its restoration, but that doesn’t mean we are closed for business! We have transferred all of our services to the small Church Centre and now hold our Sunday Eucharist inside – converted to a small chapel for the purpose.
Weekly Groups & Services Sunday Eucharist 9 – 10am Sundays A contemporary service, filled with music and prayer
Taizé Service 7 – 7.30pm Tuesdays Contemplative music and candles in the Church
Spirituality Group 10 – 11am Wednesdays A topical discussion group – all welcome
Meditation Group 7 – 8pm Thursdays The smaller numbers, 15-20 people, who attend at this time of year make the more intimate setting ideal, with coffee as well as juice served on the lawn afterwards (just don’t expect this service during High Season!). We also have transferred our Tuesday Taizé services into the Centre and, as usual, our Meditation group continues to meet every Thursday over the Summer months.
A bilingual group, with a focus on tranquil reflection
Morning Prayer 9 – 9.30am Fridays An informal prayer service, held in the Church Centre
Do please contact us if you would like to receive The Anchor each month by email: info.stbartholomews@gmail.com
Inside this issue:
www.stbartholomewsanglicanchurch.com
Page 2 – The 1885 Appeal … an update on the refurbishment works
Facebook:
Page 3 – La Chorale in Canada … receive a Premier Welcome
www.facebook.com/stbartschurch.stbarts
Previous editions of the Anchor: www.issuu.com/stbarts-stbarts
Page 4 – Back Page Spirituality: recent Parish Weekly Letters Page 4 – SBH Prayer Chain: join us in prayer or have a prayer said for you
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The 1855 Appeal - the work has started … an update in words and pictures shingle roof fitted, as well as replacing the outside of the wooden bell tower. The Church now looks just like it would have done in 1855.
As one of our visiting priests commented over the Summer, when a church community decides to spend money on a building, it is a sign of spiritual health: ‘We only renovate the buildings that matter to us.’ The island community, as well as those who visit the island, have been blessed to have St Bartholomew’s Church for the past 160 years. It is therefore a testament to the love and esteem in which the Church is held by so many that we were able to start the 1855 Appeal and raise €430,000 to refurbish the church and vicarage in a little under 6 months. The works started in July and are forecast to take three months, finishing at the end of September. As mentioned in the Parish Letter, we have transferred our services during this time into the Church Centre in order to continue to offer our own special spirituality.
The work commenced with taking out the pews (for refurbishment) and flooring (to be replaced). This revealed areas under the church that were not protected from the elements – and, most importantly, unprotected from termites! Our carpenter was surprised no-one had fallen through the floor during a service! These areas have now been treated and sealed before the new wooden flooring and sanctuary is replaced.
Our beloved pews will be kept, but are undergoing a complete refurbishment and treatment as well as strengthening; particularly the feet, which suffered from termite damage and rotting. We are also making some adjustments to improve comfort! We are pleased that the 1960s electrical wring has been replaced and a new junction box and lighting controls fitted, as this was fast becoming a potential safety and fire hazard. We are also installing a new sound system with speakers and easy-to-use microphones for the clergy and readers, as well as enhanced sound for our tremendous church musicians. We found several of the side pillars had been attacked by termites and two had to be completely replaced. The others had the badly damaged areas cut away and the rest treated.
The door and shutters have all been repainted, in additional to the ceiling and walls. The marble floor has been cleaned and polished to bring it back to its original finish. One important feature of the works is to restore the roof to what it looked like when the Church was first built. The Church is an important part of the heritage of the island and we, as custodians of that heritage, have a duty to the island to ensure that we keep this historic building and notable Gustavia landmark as close to its original state as possible. The Church has therefore had a complete new
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La Chorale perform in Canada … and receive a Premier welcome In May of this year La Chorale de Bons Choeurs made a successful visit to Canada. They travelled to Brockville, Ontario, the heart of the beautiful ‘Thousand Islands’ tourist region, on the shores of the St Lawrence River, at the instigation of our own Patricia and Lloyd Younger. The main event was a Saturday evening performance, which consisted of La Chorale singing alone, as well as with the Brockville Concert Band, the Brockville Community Choir, and the combined choirs of the local St Paul's Anglican Church and St John's United Church. It was hard to say whether the highlight of the evening was the personalised letter of welcome which La Chorale received from Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau; their
rendition of " L'hymne à St Barth"; the massed choirs' and orchestra's debut performance of "A Celebration of Wisdom" by Canadian composer James McDonald Gayfer; or perhaps it was the spontaneous and ‘spirited’ jam session that broke out later that same evening at the Conductor's home! The following morning, La Chorale joined with the St Paul's Church choir (Lloyd and Patricia's church when they aren't on the island) for their Sunday service, and finished off with a mini-concert in the church hall that literally had people dancing in the aisles! Archdeacon Emeritus of the Ontario Diocese, Bob Hales, the
1855 Appeal update (cont’d) The stone paths at the front and side of the church have been a liability to high heels and ankles alike for some time. These have been re-laid to allow people to safely walk on them! We are also making a few improvements to our garden to allow it to be an area that can not only offer a place for conviviality (and shade) after our services, but also somewhere for reflection for those who visit during the week. Thanks to all of you, for many years to come, people who come to live or visit St Barth will be able to see and worship in a beautiful, historic Anglican Church on the harbour in Gustavia … and our church will help them to know God and to deepen their spirituality. We will hold a special ceremony to celebrate the refurbished Church on Sunday, 26 February 2017. If you will be on-island, do join us.
interim priest-in-charge at St Paul's, thanked Ombeline Collin (the music director of La Chorale), and the choir members for all they had given, “not only to us, but to the broader community. We are truly blessed” …
A sentiment which will shared by everyone who has ever been to one of their marvelous performances. And it wasn't just about the music either. The choir members shared some enjoyable social times (and late nights!) with the Brockville singers and band members, who all really bonded with each other as only musicians know how! La Chorale also managed to fit in a visit to Montreal to complete their incredible five day adventure. There were more than a few tears at the end of this fantastic trip, and already there is talk of a visit to the island by the Canadians!
The trip was made complete in the Summer when Premier Trudeau’s letter was present by members of La Chorale to President Bruno Magras during the island’s St Barthelemy Day celebrations.
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The Anchor
SUMMER 2016
Back Page Spirituality – A selection from our Summer Weekly Parish Letters From Dean Kate Moorhead: Dear Friends, It was a joy to be on this island on Bastille Day, but our celebrations were cut short by the tragedy in Nice. How can we wrap our minds around such senseless violence, when innocent lives are taken? I can see the effect of the tragedy on this beautiful island. People seem subdued. On the internet, there are pictures of children who died. One little girl’s doll lay neglected next to her body. It was almost surreal to see this horror while living on this beautiful island. We were just about to watch the fireworks over Gustavia when my husband told me to look online. In one moment, the joy of a celebration turned to tragedy. Like so many of you, I wish that I could understand why. There is one thing that I do know. I know that times like these demand serious prayer. We are called to pray for peace, for understanding among races and peoples, for justice and an end to terrorism. And I do believe that our prayers matter. Each Sunday, we have been gathering in our Church Center to worship and pray. The space has now become beautiful and sacred in its own right. Meanwhile, construction on the Church continues rapidly and efficiently. No matter where you are in the world at this
time, St. Bartholomew’s continues to pray for Nice. Please pray with us. May God bless you and all the people of France who mourn. In Christ’s love, Kate+
The Very Revd Kate Moorehead celebrating in the Church Centre.
From Father Bertrand Olivier: Dear Friends, This coming week the island is celebrating its patron saint; and our own patron too. Although the connection between these shores and the apostle is only circumstantial – Christopher Columbus named the island after his brother – it's good to have an opportunity to reflect on the legacy of those who were with Jesus in his time, and give thanks.
Of course, for most French people, even if they are as bad at history as I am, Saint Barthélemy is also remembered for the massacre of the Huguenots in 1572 in what was a bloody battle in Paris and some important cities around France. I can still remember the gruesome pictures from my school history books. As ever, politics and religion were very closely intertwined, and beware anyone who would criticise the King at a time when Roman Catholicism was being challenged. The estimates vary, but it is thought that between 5,000 and 30,000 people were killed that night, many in cruel ways reminiscent of the atrocities perpetrated by followers of ISIS today. Thankfully, there is much to rejoice in and emulate in the life of St Bartholomew. His commitment to the gathered community of the Galilean, his healing ministry for which he is often recognised in the names of hospitals, and of course his deep faith which was tested to the end through martyrdom. So we celebrate and give thanks for this community of St Bartholomew’s and for the whole island community; and we pledge our continued corporate commitment to witnessing to the one who came that we might have life in all its fullness, even when this occasionally feels so against the tide. May I wish you all a very happy Saint Barthélemy Day! With blessings Bertrand+
Donations:
SBH Prayer Chain
We are an entirely self-funded church and dependent on your generosity and regular giving. Do please talk to one of the Church’s leadership about how to most effectively support the Church. Donations to our US Non-profit are tax deductible for US tax payers.
St Bartholomew’s has a prayer chain to offer the support of prayer for those who are in need. If you think this may be helpful for you or someone you know; or if you wish to join our prayer chain and include other people in your own prayers, please send an email (in confidence) to this address:
prayer.stbartholomews@gmail.com
Images and thanks:
AA Group Meetings
Thanks to La Chorale, Jean-Louis Beltrand/SaintBarth Ingenieurie and Philip Trangmar for the use of their photographs. Bonus points to anyone who spotted JCdC’s graffiti! All images are copyrighted.
Published by: La Société d’Eglise Anglicane de St Barthelemy, St Bartholomew’s Anglican Church Gustavia, St Barth 97133, FWI
US Non-profit 501(c)(3): The Friends of St Bartholomew’s Anglican Church Chairman: Bill Barrett, Secretary: Ann Green Address: P.O. Box 6199, Fair Haven, New Jersey 07704, United States Tel: (from the US) 1-732-741-1500 Email: anncwgreen@aol.com
Open Meetings in English are held every Tuesday and Friday at 6pm in the Church Centre. During the Low Season, please telephone ahead to make sure a meeting will be taking place. Meetings at other times can also be arranged. For more information call: 0690 65 61 22 or 0690 54 17 99.
Bishop: The Rt Revd Errol Brooks, Bishop of the N.E. Caribbean & Aruba Vicar: The Revd Charlie Vere Nicoll Parish Administrator: Philip Trangmar Tel: 0690 54 17 99 Email: info.stbartholomews@gmail.com Parish Office: Mondays, Wednesday & Fridays: 9am to 12noon Church Wardens: Marjorie Romney, Trinette Wellesley-Wesley and Rachel Barrett-Trangmar Vestry: The Wardens, Clarion Romney, Dawn Drouant, Lloyd Younger, Nancy Swann, Dr Richard Lester and Philip Trangmar Treasurer: Alex Harbord Music Director: Ombeline Collin