Dear Friends

It’s great to go on holiday, it’s also great to return home, although driving back from Manchester along the M6 after a family funeral this afternoon wasn’t such a pleasant experience, the rain and spray!

Part of my holiday was spent on the Island of Angelsey, it’s a great place in itself, but also allows for easy assess to the Snowdonia National Park and the Lleyn Peninsular, an area of outstanding natural beauty. At the end of the Lleyn is the Village Aberdaron, where R.S Thomas was parish priest, so something of a must and pilgrimage, if you happen to be a fan. If you venture beyond Aberdaron you reach the end of the peninsula and arrive at the tiny hamlet of Uwchmynydd, overlooking Bardsey Sound and the the Island of Bardsey. This tiny island surrounded by boiling seas has for thousands of years been a place of pilgrimage, it is wild, remote, and frankly just a bit inhospitable, it’s also known as the Island of a Thousand Saints, so many have travelled to find God in this wild and rugged place. It’s amazing and I was going to include a picture and perhaps one day I will, but our pilgrimage to the Lleyn was but one day and I have to say this picture I share with you is a bit more representative! Senta is such a well trained dog!

That reminds me. Don’t forget our annual pet service on Sunday 22 October at 3pm. and don’t forget to bring along you pet. Also just a reminder that we have our auction on Friday and Saturday – a huge thank to Adrian and everyone that has worked behind the scenes to make this event happen. Please see here for the interview with Chiswickbuzz. Finally don’t forget there is a special Choral Evensong at 6pm on Sunday to celebrate the feast of St Michael’s and All Angels – do join us. 

The Archdeacon of Middlesex The Venerable Stephan Welch has announced he will be retiring at the end of this year. Archdeacon Stephan has been a good friend to St Nicholas and we wish him well. There will be a farewell service for Stephan at St Paul’s Hammersmith on Friday 22 November at 7.00 pm to which we are all invited. If you would like to make a donation towards Stephan’s retirement gift please see me. There will be a retiring collection this Sunday. 

Simon