Brexit! Who knows where we will end up? As of this writing Parliament appears to be deadlocked. What is the right way forward? In the past this country has faced numerous critical points in time. I was just recently reminded of some of these. 

One was during the retreat of the British Expeditionary Force from Europe at the beginning of the 2nd World War. On 27 May 1940, Churchill thought at best we might save 20,000 or 30,000 men. But on 26 May, King George VI had called for a National Day of Prayer, committing our cause to God. People flocked to the churches to pray. On 28 May three miracles happened: Hitler stopped his general advance, bad weather grounded the Luftwaffe, and the English Channel remained calm for several days. As a result, nearly 340,000 men were rescued. 

On 9 October 2015, BBC digital reporter Peter Crutchley wrote an article, "Did a Prayer Meeting Really Bring Down the Berlin Wall and End the Cold War?" In it he attributes 'Prayers for Peace', a weekly prayer meeting that had taken place in East Germany for years with being a significant influence on the peaceful fall of the Berlin Wall when it was expected to be a massacre along the lines of the Tiananmen Square massacre earlier that summer. He also acknowledged that similar attributions had been made to the role of prayer in the end of Apartheid with relatively little violence instead of the carnage that had been expected. 

But those may just be coincidences you may say. That may be true. But as Archbishop William Temple responded to that assertion, "When I pray, coincidences happen, when I don't, they don't". 

So whatever your position on Brexit, pray for our leaders that the right thing will be done. 

God bless 

Richard 

 

A new oak door has been installed in the outer entrance to the main porch, and new glass doors with an engraving have replaced the inner porch timber door. This creates a much needed draught lobby, as well as introducing a fine piece of 21st century art to our beautiful building. 

All Saints’ new heating system is installed, and the Church is now beautifully warm for our Services in the cooler months! Come and see for yourself and enjoy being warm at All Saints'. 

 

All Saints’ regularly supports the MK Food Bank, the Tearfund, and Crisis at Christmas. 

 

All Saints’ has an enthusiastic small choir, who lead the singing at Sunday Services. Choir members enjoy joining the Royal School of Church Music for some of their ‘Come and Sing’ events. The Choir is supported by the Village Embertones at Weddings and special Services. For further details please contact Hilary Proud via the Rector. 

 

There is an active band of bell ringers, who ring All Saints’ 6 bells before Services, and also practice on a Tuesday night 7.45 – 9.00pm. New recruits are very welcome. Please see the Bell Ringers’ page on this website, or contact Sheila Watts 07703 279165 for more information. 

 

The Children’s Church meets in the Institute on the 2nd Sunday each month at 11.00am under the leadership of Maddi Forrester and Judith Taylor. See the photographs for some of their activities, and please contact Maddi Forrester, 01234 714903, for more details. 

 

The Homegroup meets on alternate Monday evenings to discuss various aspects of the Christian message. The group includes people from other parishes, and new members are always welcome. Please contact Judith Taylor on 01234 240690 to find out more. 

 

All Saints’ is supported by the Friends’ group (FOAS), who are a registered charity. They work with the Parochial Church Council to preserve and protect the fabric of the Church and Churchyard and to raise funds to assist with improvements to make the building suitable for use by the community for a wide variety of activities. Please see the FOAS page on this website. 

 

It is believed that the building was constructed between 1340-1410. It is in the ‘Decorated Gothic’ style. Work began on the Chancel, with its magnificent east window and progressed through to the building of the tower. During this period, England was at war with France and the Black Death killed thousands of the population resulting in a shortage of skilled masons. This led to wages and prices soaring, which explains why the decoration becomes plainer on the west side of the Church. 

Unusually we have a portrait in brass of Reverend John Morden, who was the priest when the Church was completed. His brass records that he gave two bells, one of which had the inscription ‘In Multis Annis Resonet Campana Joannis’ (John’s bell shall sound for many a year). 

An interesting ‘rumour’, for which there is some corroborative evidence is that the remains of Sir Everard Digby, hung, drawn and quartered for his part in the Gunpowder Plot, lies buried in the Chancel. 

By the mid 19th Century, the Church was in danger of falling down. Very extensive restoration work was undertaken by the Reverend Campbell Hulton - many of his relations and descendants gave generously to the scheme and are commemorated in the mural tablets and windows which are such a dominant feature of the Church interior. Restoration and improvements continue to this day, with the recent addition of cloakroom and kitchen, as we strive to bring the building into the 21st Century. 

 

Sheila Watts, 28 Gravel Walk, Emberton, MK46 5JA. 07703 279165 

 

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