Ascension : St. Mary’s Church
Submitted by The Islander (Islander Editors) 25.08.2011 (Article Archived on 08.09.2011)

Many thanks to all who gave me such a warm welcome to Ascension Island;

St. Mary’s Church

Ascension Island (Diocese of St.Helena)

Many thanks to all who gave me such a warm welcome to Ascension Island; I am particularly indebted to Alan Nicholls and Mervyn Isaac who have done so much throughout a very long inter-regnum.
 
Bishop Richard has asked me to pass on his very warm regards to everyone, and on Monday, Canon Clive Duncan telephoned to pass on his best wishes; he is keeping us in his prayers.
 
There is much for me to learn about St.Mary's and the way things are done on the island. It will take me a little while to adjust to not having the prayer book service for instance, but this will soon be rectified with the purchase of the Anglican Prayer Book which is the one used in every Anglican church
in the Province of Southern Africa. As you may be aware, we are under the Episcopal authority of the Bishop of St. Helena; the Diocese of St. Helena belongs within the Province of Southern Africa.

In 1989 the Province produced one of the finest prayer books in the Anglican Communion and it really is essential that we have that in use at St.Mary's. We hope to have them in use before Bishop Richard returns for my formal service of induction as the new incumbent. We will be buying fifty prayer books to begin with but, if anyone would like to order their own copy, then please let me know a.s.a.p..
 
There has been a specific request to me to ensure that we are singing the well known, and much loved, Anglican hymns; it was so helpful to receive those views and I have carefully selected some real old favourites for this Sunday's Eucharist. This will include the great Charles Wesley hymn, "And can it be".
I am grateful to Paul Cook, Johnny Green, and the choir for all their hard work; I know they will be delighted to welcome new singers young and old at their rehearsals which take place at 5-45pm every Thursday at St.Mary's.
 
The service for this Sunday will be a celebration of the Holy Eucharist with Fr.Chris Brown. The service starts at the usual time of 10-30a.m..