Author: Leigh Hatts

Uncategorized

St George’s Day: Southwark celebrates

Southwark in London, with its ancient St George and Shakespeare associations, is always a focus on St George’s Day. The parish church is the oldest in London to be dedicated to England’s patron saint St George. The Roman Catholic Cathedral, built on St George’s Fields has a St George relic displayed on the feast day. […]

Leigh Hatts 
Uncategorized

Easter is only just starting

It’s Easter Tuesday today and we shall be in the Easter period until Ascension Day in early May. You can follow the season and all the special days over the next two months to Corpus Christi on Thursday 31 May in Keeping Lent & Easter. Available at Church House Bookshop and Southwark Cathedral Shop or […]

Leigh Hatts 
Uncategorized

Easter Monday: Hare pie scrambling & egg rolling

Heavy rain this morning will probably not dampen spirits at Hallaton in Leicestershire. There are hopes that it might only be drizzle this by this afternoon. The church is without an incumbent until the end of the month but Area Dean Alison Booker will be there this morning for the Bottle Kicking Service. She will receive […]

Leigh Hatts 
Uncategorized

Waiting for the Easter Vigil

  This is Holy Saturday, sometimes called Empty Saturday. ‘Easter Saturday’ is next week, in Easter week, after Easter Monday and Easter Tuesday. We are today in limbo awaiting the Easter Vigil tonight, or early tomorrow morning, when we can recognise Christ’s resurrection. Then we shall take the Light of Christ from the outdoor fire […]

Leigh Hatts 
Uncategorized

Maundy Thursday towels

This morning the Queen has invited 184 pensioners to join her in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. The 92 men and 92 women, representing the Queen’s age, will receive Maundy money. Accompanying Her Majesty will be clergy and children with towels wrapped around them. This is  reminder that the sovereign used to wash the […]

Leigh Hatts 
Uncategorized

Holy Week Tuesday

In Jerusalem for his third day, Jesus spends his time teaching in the Temple where the wary chief priests ask him, without direct success, by what authority he acts and speaks. The most famous incident is the trick question from the Pharisees asking whether they should pay taxes to Caesar. Holding up a coin , […]

Leigh Hatts 
Uncategorized

Fig Monday

Fig Monday is an old name for the Monday of Holy Week. Dried figs were once eaten today in some parts of England. Bethany, where Jesus is staying, means House of Figs. Today Jesus pauses on the Jerusalem road to point to a fig tree lacking fruit. This is possibly a hint of the Temple’s […]

Leigh Hatts 
Uncategorized

Palm Sunday processions

This weekend we start Holy Week. Sunday is Palm Sunday when the main church service begins with an outdoor procession. This is the liturgical re-enactment of Christ’s entry into Jerusalem on a donkey. The original route will be walked this afternoon by a large ecumenical procession faithfully going downhill and through the nearest gateway into […]

Leigh Hatts 
Uncategorized

St Joseph’s Day: Cream buns and sawdust

Today, Monday 19 March, is St Joseph’s Day when we pause to remember the Virgin Mary’s husband Joseph. St Joseph was the father figure in Holy Family home where he provided for Mary and Jesus by working as a carpenter. He is often a forgotten figure maybe because the Bible does not record what happened […]

Leigh Hatts 
Uncategorized

Passion Sunday

Today is Passion Sunday. In the north-west of England it is the custom to enjoy Carlin Peas at lunch or nibble them from a saucer in the pub. This reminds us where we are in the year, between Mothering Sunday and Palm Sunday. In church the statues have been veiled. All this tells us that […]

Leigh Hatts 
book cover mockup for SE15

Looking for a Great Book to Read? Look No Further!

This section is perfect for displaying your paid book or your free email optin offer. You can turn it off or make changes to it from your theme options panel.

Get Your Copy Today>>