Vol 4/7
September
1999

Select from Index above or read all The Bridge by selecting the

symbol at the bottom of each page

Wedding of the Year!

Eat your heart out Beckham and Posh. Your marriage may have cost millions, but it wasn't THE "Wedding of the Year"!

A few months ago a group of Czech refugees came to live in Merton and joined the congregation of St. John the Divine. They spoke little English and the people at St. John's didn't speak Czech but somehow they managed to communicate and get to know one another.

When Maria Kicova and Pavel Frater asked to be married at St. John's, the Great Wedding Campaign began. A Special Licence was needed because the young couple had arrived in this country without papers. Once that hurdle was cleared, the wedding was fixed for the 10 July and the congregation sprang into action.

Pavel and Maria had brought nothing with them from the Czech Republic and their refugee status does not allow them to work.

Offers came flooding in - a wedding dress for Maria and dresses for the bridesmaids: a car and a chauffeur to take her to the church; flowers for her bouquet and the church; a disco and cabaret; instruments for friends of the couple to play at the reception; helium balloons to decorate the hall and enough food and drink to feed 65 guests with plenty to spare. The whole congregation was involved in caring and giving to the couple who had arrived in Britain with nothing.

Sadly, the immigration authorities refused to let Maria's family visit the UK for the wedding but she went up the aisle with the love and support of her new 'family', all of whom are praying for the future happiness of the new Mr and Mrs Frater - Bride and Groom in the real Wedding of the Year!

Southwark Churches Open Day
18 September 1999

Churches in the Diocese will be open to visitors on Saturday 18 September.

"People may have passed the church many times without ever going inside, or may have been in only for a baptism, wedding or funeral," said the Ven. Douglas Bartles-Smith, Archdeacon of Southwark, who is co-ordinating the event.

"The Open Day gives them a chance to see something of the activities and members of the church, and in many places a fascinating insight into local history."

Among plans listed on reply slips sent in by churches are peals of bells, bookstalls, a quiz for local schools, arts & crafts displays, suppers, parish profiles by school children, Sunday school displays, an Oberammegau slide show, a Scout camp, 5-a-side soccer, a Eucharist for peace, treasure hunts, prayer boards, bouncy castles, displays by church organisations, handbells, a commemorative church magazine and a Village Fair on the green. There will be acts of worship, photographic displays, churchyard events, concerts, a new hall opening and much-needed refreshments.

Holy Trinity, Wandsworth is inviting people to re-confirm their wedding vows. All Saints, Kenley plan to bus in residents of nursing homes to visit the church. St Michael & All Angels, Camberwell will reflect their international community with national costumes and ethnic foods. Seven Horley churches of different denominations are joining together for a 'church trail' and a barn dance. St Laurence, Catford Scouts are producing a newsletter during the day. St Peter's, Clapham, will celebrate 120 years with displays and music. St Matthew's at the Elephant will start the day with an informal Eucharist and end with a concert and buffet supper. Christ Church, Surbiton Hill's displays include parish records going back over 130 years and in the evening, there will a performance of great moments and songs of the century. Many parishes are also using the day to unveil their plans for the Millennium.

All participating churches have received a complimentary copy of a 'timelines' chart of the history of Christianity, set against social, cultural and political developments. It unfolds to make a frieze 2.6 metres long, which can be put on a wall or used freestanding. There will be copies available after Open Day at £5.75 inc. postage from Communications & Resources at Trinity House, 020-7939 9400.

Next

The full printed edition of the 'Bridge' newspaper is available at all Southwark Parish Churches
Further copies can be obtained from wendy.s.robins@southwark.anglican.org
Page design by BrainStorm