Contacting the Abbey...The Abbey Offi ce12 Kingston BuildingsBath BA1 1LT

The offi ce number is (01225) 422462(Monday to Friday: 9.00 am - 1.00 pm).Answerphone service outside those hours.The offi ce is normally open to visitors in the morning.

Email offi ce@bathabbey.orgWebsite www.bathabbey.orgFacebook / Twitt er @bathabbeyFax (01225) 429990

Offi ce Staff Miss Philippa Parfrey, Mrs Sue Clark,Ms Lynn Cornish

ClergyRevd Prebendary Edward Mason, Rector(01225) 318267Revd Claire Robson, Abbey Vicar(01225) 484469Revd Stephen Girling, Abbey Missioner(01225) 287514Revd Evelyn Lee-Barber/Revd Jane Mitchell, Curates(01225) 422462

Clergy AvailabilityThe clergy welcome communicati on on any matt ersby lett er, email or telephone. Please contact theAbbey Offi ce.

Services andPreachers...

Morning Prayer on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8.30 amHoly Communion on Thursdays at 11.00 am and Fridays at 8.30 am

Evening Prayer on Mondays to Fridays at 5.30 pm

July 2017

Abbey News

2 Patronal Festi val 7.30 am Morning Prayer 8.00 am Holy Communion The Revd Prebendary

Edward Mason 9.30 am Parish Communion The Revd Stephen Girling 11.15 am Sung Eucharist The Revd Prebendary

O quam gloriosum – Victoria Edward Mason Messe Solennelle – Vierne Hymns: 305, 317, 324, 298

How lovely are the messengers – Mendelssohn 3.30 pm Choral Evensong Justorum animae – Stanford Psalm: 50 Magnifi cat quinti toni – J. Praetorius Nunc dimitti s – Tallis Responses: Byrd Tu es Petrus – Palestrina Hymn: 317 6.30 pm Informal Evening Service The Revd Stephen Girling

9 The Fift h Sunday aft er Trinity 7.30 am Morning Prayer 8.00 am Holy Communion The Revd Stephen Girling 9.30 am Parish Communion The Revd Evelyn Lee-Barber 11.15 am Sung Eucharist The Revd Stephen Girling Let all mortal fl esh keep silence – Bairstow Missa Brevis in F K192 – Mozart Hymns: 199, 496, 170, 339 Canti que de Jean Racine – Fauré 3.30 pm Choral Evensong Sung by the Abbey Men’s Choir Jesu dulcis memoria – Att r. Victoria Psalm: 56 Sumsion in G Responses: Plainsong Sicut cervus - Palestrina Hymn: 194 6.30 pm Informal Evening Service The Revd Jane Mitchell

15 5.30 pm Choral Evensong Sung by RSCM Voices West

16 The Sixth Sunday aft er Trinity 7.30 am Morning Prayer 8.00 am Holy Communion The Revd Claire Robson 9.30 am Parish Communion The Revd Jane Mitchell 11.15 am Sung Eucharist The Revd Claire Robson Sung by the choir of St James the Greater, Leicester Gloria: Darke in F Mass for four voices – Byrd Beati quorum via – Stanford Hymns: 149, 166, 104, 239 3.30 pm Choral Evensong Sung by the choir of St James the Greater, Leicester If ye love me - Tallis Psalm: 60 Collegium Regale – Howells Responses: Rose Greater love - Ireland Hymn: 394 6.30 pm Informal Evening Service Laura Douglas-Bate

22 5.30 pm Choral Evensong Sung by the choir of All Saints’, Barry Arglwydd mae yn nosi – Roberts Walmisley in D Minor Responses: Neary O for a closer walk with God – Stanford

23 The Seventh Sunday aft er Trinity 7.30 am Morning Prayer 8.00 am Holy Communion The Revd Claire Robson 9.30 am Parish Communion The Revd Stephen Girling 11.15 am Sung Eucharist The Revd Stephen Girling Sung by the choir of All Saints’, Barry Sumsion in F Teach us good Lord - Ogden Hymns: 356, 342, 262,

346 (tune: 205) 3.30 pm Choral Evensong Sung by the choir of All Saints’, Barry O come ye servants of the Lord – Tye Psalm: 67 Harris in A Responses: Neary The heavens are telling - Haydn Hymn: 15 6.30 pm Informal Evening Service The Revd Jane Mitchell

27 5.30 pm Choral Evensong Sung by the St Mildred’s Choir, Addiscombe God be in my head – Rutt er Psalm: 130 Brewer in E fl at Responses: Spicer Canti que de Jean Racine – Fauré Hymn: 173

28 5.30 pm Choral Evensong Sung by the St Mildred’s Choir, Addiscombe Cantate Domino – Pitoni Psalm: 137 Purcell in G minor Responses: Spicer Evening hymn – Balfour Gardiner Hymn: 394

29 5.30 pm Choral Evensong Sung by the St Mildred’s Choir, Addiscombe Te lucis ante terminum – Mander Psalm: 143 Collegium Regale – Howells Responses: Spicer Blessed be the God and Father – Wesley Hymn: 16

30 The Eighth Sunday aft er Trinity 7.30 am Morning Prayer 8.00 am Holy Communion The Revd Claire Robson 9.30 am Parish Communion The Revd Stephen Girling 11.15 am Sung Eucharist The Revd Stephen Girling Sung by the St Mildred’s Choir, Addiscombe Stanford in B fl at & F The secret of Christ – Shephard Hymns: 207, 157, 260, 336 3.30 pm Choral Evensong Sung by the St Mildred’s Choir, Addiscombe Adoremus in aeternum – Allegri Psalm: 150 Stanford in C Responses: Spicer Expectans expectavi – Wood Hymn: 163 6.30 pm Informal Evening Service The Revd Jane Mitchell

will be a whole host of free and paid-for events throughout the city including an exhibiti on here at the Abbey of rare books and manuscripts on loan from Downside Abbey. The collecti on will be on display from 8th - 30th July and will celebrate over 1,000 years of Benedicti ne history and heritage.

On Saturday 29 July, our young visitors will get to take part in a variety of hands-on acti viti es including: writi ng with a

Celebrating Bath’s Benedictine heritageWe’re looking forward to working once again with St John’s Hospital and Downside Abbey to mark the city’s annual Benedicti ne Bath Festi val. Throughout July, local residents and visitors will be able to explore a litt le-known chapter of Bath’s heritage, the city’s links with the Benedicti nes. There

quill, illuminati ng your own manuscript, tasti ng herbs used for healing, trying your hand at weaving and practi cing a monk’s sign language. Suitable for ages 7+

For more informati on, please email Ollie Taylorotaylor@bathabbey.org or call 01225 422462

Theologygram ThursdaysThursday 3, 10, 17 and 24 August, 1.00-1.25pm This August, we’ll be hosting a book launch for ‘The World According to Theologygrams’ by author and Anglican priest, Rich Wyld. Wyld’s first book ‘Theologygrams’, is described by those who have read and love it as a series of clever, cheeky and genuinely insightful theological diagrams. We’re the perfect place to hold the launch as our Abbey Shop sells more copies of this book than any other bookshop in the country!

If you’re not familiar with the concept of a ‘Theologygram’ fear not, all will be revealed. Join us at Thursday lunchtimes this August for a series of talks based on the ‘The World According to Theologygrams’ by the author, Rich Wyld, and Revd Stephen Girling, Abbey Missioner.

Whether you’re already a Theologygram convert or are new to Wyld’s fun and witty theological diagrams, do come along. ‘Theologygrams’ present a new and original way of looking at theology, depicting and encouraging conversation on aspects of Christian faith ranging from ‘Who would Jesus be today?’ to the Book of Revelation in a fun and quirky way.

Volunteer Week and LocalGivingThere was a buzz of conversation and appreciation of coffee, cake and British strawberries in the South Transept on the first Monday and Wednesday in June, as a number of the Abbey’s volunteers enjoyed a National Volunteer Week celebration. Thank you to all who attended.

A new Volunteer Officer post was created as part of the transformative Footprint Project. I’m delighted to say that I’ve taken on this role, one of my key objectives is to recruit and train over 100 new volunteers by 2020 – quite a task! While the newly transformed Abbey will not be complete until then, there are already plenty of opportunities for anyone wanting to help now.

In particular, we’re keen to enlist the help of someone who is passionate about the Footprint project. The Abbey is looking for a Footprint Fundraising Volunteer who can chat with visitors about the Abbey, share with them how Footprint will transform and improve how we worship, welcome visitors and serve the city, and to invite them to donate via the Localgiving Match-Fund Campaign which could double donations between July and September.

This is a really great role for people who love the Abbey and want to help us achieve our match funding target set by LocalGiving; who enjoy talking with people or who maybe would like to gain career experience that could look great on a C.V. Training and an insight into development work will be given.

For more information, please contact rholtom@bathabbey.org (01225 422462) or see www.bathabbey.org/volunteering

Rachael Holtom, Volunteers Officer

Welcome Frank!We are delighted to announce the appointment of Frank Mowat as Executive Director of the Abbey.

Executive Director is a new role so, before introducing Frank, let me tell you about it.

The Abbey’s aspiration to fulfil its vision statement to be a ‘People and Place Fully Alive’ has resulted in a wide range of activities. We

believe we are called to express the life of Jesus Christ in the heart of Bath. This means developing missional congregations, making links with the diverse life of the city, being a focus for civic events, engaging with nearly half a million visitors per year and connecting with mission links across the world. (And I haven’t even mentioned Footprint!)

Sustaining this involves literally hundreds of people – through congregations, volunteers, and paid staff. The Abbey needs the best leadership and the best management. So, the Church Council decided some months ago to appoint someone with particular experience and expertise to deliver management of the highest quality. In essence, this means ensuring HOW we do things and enabling us all to minister more effectively and efficiently.

The Executive Director will work closely with the Rector and his clergy colleagues. I hope very much that it will release them for ministry closer to their calling and the needs of the church. The Church Council is enthusiastic about the new post and we are thrilled to be in a position to set aside the necessary finance to make it possible. The Abbey’s Finance Committee under the leadership of David Grendon is due special praise for this achievement.

Frank Mowat comes to us with an MBA and a lifetime of banking. He asks us not to hold that against him! Seriously, Frank’s commercial knowledge and experience is extensive having spent the last 36 years advising and supporting businesses and charities achieve their goals. He has run teams both very large and small with particular emphasis on learning how companies are run and then helping them to fulfil their

An account of visiting Sri Lanka during its worst monsoon in yearsIn May Tim and I made our twice yearly visit to Sri Lanka to work closely again with our project begun in 2009 with women headed households.

While the UK was reeling in the aftermath of the Manchester terrorist attack Sri Lanka was suffering its own tragedy. The start of the south western monsoon was the worst for a number of years bringing flooding and landslides to at least four areas of the middle and south western areas of the island. One of these was not far from where we were staying.

Mud and rock destroyed countless homes - seemingly well built houses as well as poor and simply built homes. The death toll was well over 200 with about 600,000 affected.

I emailed the Abbey’s clergy team on the morning of Sunday 28 May to ask for prayers for the victims. The reply was both caring and practical - offering a generous donation from the Abbey family to be used to help in any way that we felt appropriate.

On Tuesday 30 May we were able to visit a temple, one of many centres, that was giving shelter to 500 people, and to discuss priority needs with the volunteers who were organising the relief effort.

Local communities from neighbouring towns had donated food and water. We were asked to help with clothing the children - 142 of them. Tim was able to negotiate a discount with a local store and we bought vouchers worth 2,000 Sri Lankan Rupees, each for the children. This would convert into approx. £10.20 but was enough to provide a dress and underwear for the girls and shorts and a tee shirt for the boys.

Liz Westbrook, Churchwarden

Choir BoysOn Sunday 18 June, seven of our newest choir boys received their first surplice in recognition of their commitment to the Abbey choir. We were delighted to share this significant occasion with them and their friends and families in church as our Rector, Edward, prayed for them.

Thy Kingdom ComeIt is wonderful that during the 2-3 weeks in June that we celebrated ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ so many of our visitors engaged with the vision - visiting our pop-up prayer station and filling our nets with several thousand prayers for friends and family to come to know Jesus Christ.

‘Thy Kingdom Come’ is a global prayer movement, led by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, inviting Christians around the world to pray between Ascension and Pentecost for more people to come to know Jesus.

Revd Jane Mitchell, Abbey Curate

aspirations. Previous clients have ranged from The Eden Project to Sir Alan Sugar (he was hired rather than fired!).

Frank starts officially in the middle of July and will spend some weeks learning and listening. I am sure you will make him welcome.

Please do pray for Frank and also for the Abbey staff as we learn to work together.

Edward

The Abbey's new Executive Director, Frank Mowat, joins us on 17 July