A guided visit, with a difference!
In the last edition of the newsletter, we went on a 'virtual hard hat tour' of our church building, led by our Community Engagement Officer, Francis. This time around we've gathered together footage shot back in February by a group of fab young people exploring the history of their local area! They were shown round St Peter's by our Project Manager, Peter, and our Site Manager, Andy, for an in-depth look at the process behind renovating a very precious, but very dilapidated, building.
They also recorded interviews with members of our congregation and people who have lived in our area for much of their lives. These stories shed further light on the changes at St Peter's over the years, how they were experienced at the time, and how they are felt and remembered to this day.
Back in February our church had some gruesome cracks that would make even Ray Davies blush. St Peter's has certainly had a few scrapes during its 180 year lifespan, not least a number of fires that the young people document in the church building. A fire in 1993 was the dramatic event that spurred Sally to write the poem shared above. She also wrote two more covering the incident itself, and the healing process afterwards:
“Holy Smoke” or “Church in Danger”
Read in St Peter’s Church Sunday after Ascension 23. May 1993, after a small fire, deliberately started in the Choir Vestry early on Thursday 13 May 1993.
The doors were locked, the bolts were fast,
The parish sleeping faster,
When through a vestry window passed
The Author of Disaster.
“Blaze, Spirit, blaze!” erstwhile we roared,
And, “Set our hearts on fire!”;
The AD’s agent petrol poured,
Whispering to each heart, “Liar!”
We viewed the damage with dismay;
Who’d set fire to St Peter’s?
“We can’t trust anyone,” we say,
“This is no way to treat us: -
“It’s coming to a pretty pass
When church must fear the stranger.
We’re good, we’re nice, we’re middle class –
Why should we be in danger?”
We’re not just these – here is the rub –
Though thus the AD sees us;
We’re not a private members’ club;
We are the church of Jesus.
So let’s at least this one thing learn
From all our latest trauma:
“Light up the fire, let the flame burn”
That makes our hearts the warmer.
O Thou who camest from above,
Come down again next Sunday.
Kindle this flame of sacred love,
That all may know Thee one day.
"Another Year On"
For the anniversary of the fire in the Choir Vestry that was refurbished as the Questry (Later “Rocks Room”) 13 May 1994
The paint was fresh, the woodwork gleamed,
The floor was smooth and shiny.
“I’m glad we had a fire, Mum,”
Declared each Questor tiny.
Unless the cracking walls were burnt,
Unless the glass were shattered,
Whoever would have made it good?
The breaking also mattered.
Disaster strikes, we’re numbed and shocked,
The situation’s dire.
But hark, the Future whispers soft:
“I’m glad we had a fire.”
