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General Information |
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To get a bird's-eye-view of the many programmes, organisations, meetings, and activities that St. Bartholomew the Great offers, please scroll through our A to Z list below, or click on the letter of whatever matter you wish to read about. Please let us know how we can help you become involved, or just learn more about St. Bartholomew's.
At St. Bartholomew's we believe that there should be opportunities for adults to deepen their faith and their knowledge of the Church, its history and theology. We pride ourselves on being a community where questions can be asked and doubts expressed. We are willing to struggle with the major questions of life. As it is not a residential parish it can be difficult, however, to find regular opportunities to meet, so short courses are offered at various points in the year. Details are displayed on the Parish Notice Board and printed in the weekly notice sheet and monthly diary. If there is a particular subject that interests you, please contact the Parish Office. Private and group tours of the Church are available and by appointment. For more information, please contact the Parish Office. The Foundation Day Lecture arranged by the Heritage Trust in March or early April each year also offers an opportunity to broaden your knowledge of the history of St Bartholomew the Great. Baptism is considered the only requirement for membership in the Christian community. Infant and adult baptisms are offered at St. Bartholomew's. For more information on baptism for you or your child, contact the Parish Office. You can download a copy of the "Short Guide to the Baptism of Children" here. The Priory Church has a very rare set of five pre-Reformation bells that now hang in the tower added to the Church in 1628. There is a team of bell-ringers and training in ringing can be given. For more information, please contact the Parish Office. The Church Bookstall in the cloister carries guidebooks to the Church, a number of illustrated publications relating to London churches, medieval history and monasteries, postcards, a Church video, books by the Rector, and devotional cards. We also sell church candles and incense. Candles may be lit in the Lady Chapel, at the Chapel of the Holy Icon of the Mother of God and at the shrine-tomb of our Founder, Prior Rahere. We welcome children at all services and only ask that, if children are noisy, parents respect others' desire to pray during the liturgy. On the 2nd sunday of each month (usually but please check the diary in advance), there is a child-friendly Family Eucharist in the Lady Chapel at 10 o'clock which is specifically orientated towards families and children. Special provision is made for children in worship during Advent, on Christmas Day, Mothering Sunday, Easter Day, and Harvest Festival. Details in can be found in the monthly diary. The Choir of St. Bartholomew the Great is a fully professional ensemble under our Director of Music, David Trendell. The Choir sings for the Solemn Eucharist at 11 o'clock on Sundays, at Evensong at 6.30 p.m., and on all major festivals. The latest music list can be printed or downloaded from the diary page. There is a CD of the choir signging wedding music, which is available from the bookstall. We currently do not have a programme of concerts or recitals at the Church but, there are many musical events during the year. Details can be found in the monthly diary. Almost every Sunday of the year the Choir of St Bartholomew the Great sings Evensong from the Book of Common Prayer (1662). It is one of the great spiritual experiences offered in London, especially in winter when the darkness folds around the pillars. After the anthem, there is a sermon-normally preached by the Rector-and a concluding Latin anthem in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary. There is Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament once a month. For music lists and dates of Benediction, please see the diary page. For information on funerals and memorial services at St. Bartholomew's, please contact the Parish Office. A "Short Guide to Mermorial Services" is available for download here. The register of members at St. Bartholomew the Great is based on the Church Electoral Roll. If you are over 16, baptised, resident in the parish or habitually worshipping here and intend to make this your principal place of worship and to support the Church financially, you may be entered on the roll. Please ask the Director of Administration for an enrolment form. We offer several opportunities throughout the year when new members are welcomed at an informal lunch with the Rector and members of the PCC. We also offer opportunities for adult Confirmation, Reception from another Christian denomination and Reaffirmation of Christian faith. For more information on membership, please contact the Parish Office. There has been a strong commitment to good music at the Priory church since Rector Panckridge founded the choir in 1885. There have been a series of outstanding musical directors, including Paul Steinitz, Andrew Morris and Brian Brockless and currently David Trendell. The music list is published each month and special leaflets give the music for the liturgical seasons. Monthly music lists can be printed or downloaded from the diary page. Parking is not easy around Smithfield on weekdays and it is expensive. There are NCP car parks in West Smithfield and in nearby Aldersgate Street. The City security barrier divides Giltspur Street from West Smithfield and Bartholomew Close from Cloth Fair. On-street parking is normally available on Sundays. See the Find Us page for other ways to reach us. The Rector, or one of the assistant clergy is normally able to visit those in central London hospitals or confined to their own homes in or near the Church. Holy Communion can be brought to those unable to come to Church by the Rector and the eucharistic ministers. Please contact the Rector. Those who live further away from the Church or are in more distant hospitals or nursing homes can be ministered to from a nearby local congregation or by hospital chaplains and the Rector will be glad to arrange this. Intercessions are offered on request at weekday and Sunday celebrations of the Holy Eucharist. Requests may be left on the board near to the bookstall, posted to the Rector or be sent by email to us. Individual and group tours of the Church are available by appointment. Tours are also often given after the 11:00am service on Sundays. For more information, please contact the Parish Office. Those who live in the Parish or who worship here habitually for a period of six months are qualified to be married here. In certain cases those who do not qualify in either of these ways but are linked to the Church through one of the associated livery companies may receive a Special Licence from the Archbishop of Canterbury in order to be married here. For further information on weddings at St. Bartholomew's, please contact the Parish Office. There is a "Short Guide to Getting Married at St Bartholomew the Great" availabe to download here. |
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Copyright © St Bartholomew the Great 2008 |
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