NSB News
The Parish Magazine of North Stoneham and Bassett, Southampton
July 2008
A letter from the Ministry team
“And it was Mary, Mary, plain as any name could be“
George M Cohan - American entertainer, lyricist and impresario 1878-1942
I was at an exhibition recently of the work of Lucas Cranach, a 16th Cent. German painter, a friend and supporter of Martin Luther. One painting stood out as being completely different from the rest in every way. A small painting, of two heads, full face, one a bearded long haired lean young man with piercing pale eyes boring out of the canvas, the other, set at an almost coquettish angle, the pretty rounded face of a young woman with quizzical similarly pale eyes.
The picture was entitled - Jesus with the Virgin Mary or Mary Magdalene. How enigmatic. Of course we know there are a number of Marys in the Gospels, and they do tend to get mixed up, they always have and stories have developed throughout the tradition. We get Mary, Jesus' Mother straight, but the other Marys, one at Bethany, another the mother of Joses , and then there is Mary of Magdala who was cured of seven devils, not to mention the unnamed naughty one who got stirred into the pot, - what parts did they play?
It so happens that Mary Magdalene’s day falls in July, on the 22nd. Two Oxbridge colleges and hundreds of churches are named after her and she has been the subject of innumerable paintings over the years, but she still remains a mystery. So much so that her supposed notoriety is the major thing people latch on to. Libraries are full of academic work and pulp fiction devoted to her cause. Not least, unfortunately, the Dan Brown /Indiana Jones era of pseudo-historical stuff, romancing the Holy Grail and the Bloodlines of Christ yarn, dragging Templars and Cathars, hidden treasure and conspiracy theories into the mix for good measure.
None of this is actually supported by the evidence that we do have, which admittedly is entirely from the Gospels and mostly from St John. It appears there was a woman Mary, whom Jesus healed. However scholars are pretty sure she was not any or either of the Marys or unnamed women who variously anointed and/or wept over our Lord. Neither was she the woman of ill-repute saved by our Lord, nor was she Mary the sister of Martha and Lazarus, who lived in Bethany All these Marys were walk on parts, Mary Magdalene was the star player, the gritty one of whom it may be said in Hollywood speak “When the going got tough, she got going.”
Mary Magdelene was the archetype of the girl who out does the men, the Helen Mirren television cop, the Demi Moore film character. Apparently she was a devoted disciple of Jesus and accompanied Him on the road during His ministry. However it was she who stayed at the cross when the men had disappeared. It was she who went with Joseph of Arimathea to the men-only Sanhedrin to beg for Jesus' body. It was she who went alone to the tomb at dawn. It was she who first saw the Risen Lord. It was she who ran to tell the others the Good News and it was she who was initially ignored by the other disciples. For that alone she is remembered as The Apostle to the Apostles. Mary Magdalene is a true patron Saint of the 21st Century woman. I should know, in my family I am surrounded by four generations and half of them have Mary in their name. God bless all our Marys,whatever their names may be, May they learn to follow our Lord as closely and a selflessly as their predecessor in the faith, Mary Magdalene, the Apostle to the Apostles.
John Reynolds
A Scent of Flowers
When St Michael’s choir was invited to sing again at Chichester Cathedral on 1st June I had no idea (though perhaps I should have had) that our visit coincided with the Cathedral’s Flower Festival. Walking through its west door early that Sunday morning was an overpowering experience, entering an exhilarating celebration of God’s natural world, glorious structures lovingly created within the great fabric of the cathedral. I was bowled over by the scale, artistry and imagination of the displays, and the fragrances that so delightfully suffused the building.
The fringes of the west porch itself were a windswept beach of fine sand, scattered with driftwood and the plants and detritus of the seashore. Ahead, in the nave, every pillar had doubled in size, buttressed by mounting columns of flowers and leaf, ranging in colour from deep crimson to delicate pink, pale green, cream and white. At first one’s natural focus was at eye level, but looking up one entered another, aerial world. Under every arch was a floating platform of branches, greenery and blossom. Over the central aisle where candelabra are impressive were explosions of floral colour, pyrotechnics of bloom in suspended animation.
Every tomb, every aisle, every ledge and crevice was decorated – thoughtfully, appropriately, sometimes amusingly. The tragic wreck of Henry I’s White Ship off the Sussex coast in 1120 was commemorated. The chapel of the Sussex Regiment became a memorial, streams of flowers surrounding a battlefield altar of drums and its roll of honour. Unexpectedly, by the North Transept, you encountered Pooh and Piglet, quietly ensconced in their own woodland.
The large set pieces were stunning. The whole of the South Transept, where the choir gathered before the services, was a portrayal of rites of passage. A baby lay in its crib by a table with the christening feast, every cake and fruit cunningly contrived from flowers. At another table a veiled bride sat surrounded by her wedding breakfast, each dish a miniature triumph of floral trompe l’oeil. The memento mori was a classic funeral tribute, simple and understated alongside the joyful celebrations of birth and marriage.
For me the most dramatic moments came at the cathedral’s east end. The north aisle leads towards the Lady Chapel, only recently re-opened after years of disuse. At a distance it was hard to make out what one was seeing. There was an impression of misty greenness, with one flash of white catching the light. Approaching, you were arrested by something altogether different. The cathedral’s incandescent modern window by Marc Chagall is quite small and high on the wall, a turbulence of deep red and scarlet stained glass with slashes of dark blue. Pouring down from it was a waterfall of flowers echoing the colours of the window and seeming to drain into the floor.
Returning attention to the Lady Chapel brought a shock of realisation. The indistinctness at a distance was deliberate: the chapel was a ruined garden which I found extraordinarily moving. The ground was moss-covered and small trees, shrubs and plants overgrew a jumble of rocks and stones on which lay a broken cross, enmeshed with cobwebs. Seen close at hand, the flash of white took shape: a dove of peace, wings outstretched, about to take flight from the head of the cross. The hushed, sad image entered one’s mind, offering layers of meaning, inviting associations and memories.
I have written several times about the choir’s visits to great churches, so much a feature of their summer programme and at other points during the year. I have heard them sing in nine cathedrals or abbeys, and the effect if anything becomes more powerful with the passage of time. There is something acutely affecting about watching and listening to people you know well, rising to occasions which tax their abilities, stamina and concentration to the utmost. Chichester Cathedral on June 1st attracted some of the largest congregations the choir has experienced. The Flower Festival had drawn many visitors and Evensong was supported by a large attendance for the annual service for the Sussex Freemasons. As always, Colin and his choir performed admirably with their particular warmth and feeling, particularly in the Leighton responses which are something of a benchmark, and Rheinberger’s Abendlied which is featured on the choir’s website. Katherine Harper memorably sang one of her last solos before she goes to university, and her younger sister Louise showed that she is following in her footsteps. As a loyal choir groupie I have to be open to suggestions of bias, but I treasure a moment at the close of the Mattins service. I had discovered that the lady sitting next to me was one of the organisers of the Flower Festival. As the service ended and I breathed the scent of flowers she leaned towards me and whispered “Super choir!”
John Smith
OPTIK
Dr Jenny Hughes spoke at Café church recently, updating us on progress in the Medical School at Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania.
We are privileged to belong to a Parish that has this special opportunity to support the Lord's work in Africa.
Pledges, donations, standing orders or cheques made out to "The Parish of North Stoneham and Bassett" would be most welcome. Please contact John Oldfield on 023 8032 5717 for "Gift Aid'ing" your giving.
John Reynolds
All Saints' Wives' Group News
Our Charity Evening on 6th May, in aid of the Southampton Society for the Blind, was well attended, with support from All Saints' Ladies' Guild and other womens' groups locally. Our speaker Kathryn Arnold explained that it is a local charity to help the visually impaired in Southampton. She brought with her, to demonstrate, various aids to help people with failing sight. Coffee and home made cakes were served and various stalls and a raffle realised a total of £150.87 by the end of the evening.
On 3rd June, after a day of continuous rain we were blessed with a fine evening for our walk around the Jane Austen heritage trail in the city. Arthur Jeffery was our knowledgeable guide for this tour and we visited all the venues associated with Jane's stay in Southampton from 1807 - 1809.
Cathy Thorne
Ladies Guild News
Members of the Ladies Guild have enjoyed a varied programme of events since our last News. A quiz organised by Diana Holden on April 21st, which tested our general knowledge and word power. In small groups we tackled the quiz with cheerfulness, even when the questions left us puzzled. After much effort and concentration, we were ready for the answers. We were delighted when we were proved right, but were also surprised by some of the answers. We all learnt something new, and enjoyed a pleasant and sociable afternoon.
On 12th May, Mrs Appleton gave us a lively and interesting account of her journeys in India. This included amusing incidents on her journeys as well as graphic descriptions of shanty towns, temples and picturesque river banks. She gave us insights into the Indian way of life and described a free school in Goa which she supports, and the struggles of one young student she has befriended. We realised that Mrs Appleton gave us a glimpse of the real India, the one which large tour firms often shield tourists from.
Members who attended the meeting on 17th May enjoyed an informative and entertaining account of the ‘secret life’ of hedgehogs, given by Graham Bowring. Graham has run the Linden Hedgehog Rescue for ten years and at any one time looks after over sixty orphaned, sick or injured hedgehogs, until they are ready to be released into the world. He also gives accommodation to six permanent residents which would not survive in the wild. He introduced us to Harvey, an adult hedgehog who was on his best behaviour and patiently allowed us all to stroke him. There were many new hedgehog fans by the end of the afternoon.
May 24th was the day of the Guild Spring Outing. The sun shone and spirits were high as we set off from All Saints Centre. After a drive through the New Forest we arrived at the Toby Carvery in Hinton, where they were waiting for us with a warm welcome. Replete and satisfied after a good lunch, we went on to Highcliffe, where some sat in the sunshine and others walked along the cliffs or ventured down to the shore. We returned to Southampton by a different route, and arrived back at All Saints Centre happy and content, but a few pounds heavier!
Dorothy Berwick
St Michael the Archangel - Patronal Day walk to Winchester Cathedral
St Michaels’ Sunday Club invites you to join them on a walk along the river Itchen toWinchester cathedral to celebrate St Michael’s day.
Sunday 28th September 2008
Start: after Eucharist from the west door of St Michael and All Angels
Arrive: 5.30pm at the West Door of the Cathedral after which there will be some prayers to celebrate our safe arrival led by the Rector. The walk is just under 10 miles in distance along the Itchen river/canal public path. You will need good shoes and a packed lunch which we plan to eat about half way. Alternatively you can join us for the last 2 miles at the carpark next to the bridge on Garnier Road (1st exit from Junction 10 on the M3, past park and ride). We estimate we will arrive here at about 4pm
Return: back by train as the station is 5 mins walk from the cathedral
Details: Colin McDougall 023 8034 5148
Colin McDougall
From the Registers
Baptisms
8th June - Lexi Lee VINCENT-MARSHALL (St Nicolas’)
8th June - Oliver Andrew John ROUGHTON (St Nicolas’)
Funerals
9th June - Leonard George BAILEY (St Nicolas’)
Back Issues
Copies of articles from previous issues of NSB News are available here.
Contact
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