Contacting the Abbey...The Abbey Offi ce12 Kingston BuildingsBath BA1 1LT

The offi ce number is (01225) 422462(Monday to Friday: 9.00 am - 4.00 pm).Answerphone service outside those hours.The offi ce is normally open to visitors in the morning.

Email offi ce@bathabbey.orgWebsite www.bathabbey.orgFacebook / Twitt er @bathabbeyFax (01225) 429990

Offi ce Staff Mrs Miranda Edwards, Mrs Lyndie Sugden,Miss Sarah Robinson, Miss Philippa Parfrey

ClergyRevd Prebendary Edward Mason, Rector(01225) 318267Revd Claire Robson, Abbey Vicar(01225) 484469Revd Stephen Girling, Abbey Missioner(01225) 287514Revd Evelyn Lee-Barber, Curate(01225) 422462Revd Jon Hoff mann, Abbey Chaplain(01225) 891998

Clergy AvailabilityThe clergy welcome communicati on on any matt ersby lett er, email or telephone. Please contact theAbbey Offi ce.

Services andPreachers...

Morning Prayer on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8.30 amHoly Communion on Thursdays at 11.00 am and Fridays at 8.30 am

Evening Prayer from Mondays to Fridays at 5.30pm

May 2016

Abbey News

1 The Fift h Sunday of Easter 8.00 am Holy Communion The Reverend Prebendary

Edward Mason 9.30 am Parish Communion The Reverend Evelyn Lee-Barber 11.15 am Choral Mati ns The Reverend Prebendary

Edward Mason Britt en in C Beati quorum via Stanford 3.30 pm Choral Evensong

Stanford in G Sing ye to the Lord Bairstow 6.30 pm Begin the Week Evening Service Stephen Girling

5 Ascension Day 7.30 pm Ascension Day Sung Eucharist

The Reverend Evelyn Lee-Barber Litt le Organ Mass Haydn Coelos ascendit hodie Stanford

8 The Seventh Sunday of Easter 8.00 am Holy Communion The Reverend Stephen Girling 9.30 am Parish Communion The Reverend Claire Robson 11.15 am Choral Mati ns The Reverend Claire Robson Ireland in F God is gone up Finzi 3.30 pm Choral Evensong Ascendit Deus Philips Blair in B minor O clap your hands Gibbons 6.30 pm Begin the Week Evening Service

15 Pentecost 8.00 am Holy Communion The Reverend Prebendary

Edward Mason 9.30 am Parish Communion The Reverend Evelyn Lee-Barber 11.15 am Sung Eucharist The Reverend Prebendary

Edward Mason Missa Brevis Kodaly Loquebantur variis linguis Tallis 3.30 pm Choral Evensong O Holy spirit Tye Howells in G The Spirit of the Lord Elgar 6.30 pm Begin the Week Evening Service

22 Trinity Sunday 8.00 am Holy Communion The Reverend Evelyn Lee-Barber 9.30 am Parish Communion The Reverend Prebendary

Edward Mason 11.15 am Choral Mati ns The Reverend

Evelyn Lee-Barber Sumsion in G Credo in F Darke 3.30 pm Charter & Festi val Service Duo Seraphim Guerrero Stanford in A I saw the Lord 6.30 pm Begin the Week Evening Service

29 First Sunday aft er Trinity – services with visiti ng choir In Ecclesia 8.00 am Holy Communion The Reverend Claire Robson 9.30 am Parish Communion The Reverend Prebendary

Edward Mason 11.15 am Choral Mati ns The Reverend Claire Robson 3.30 pm Choral Evensong 6.30 pm Begin the Week Evening Service

The winds of (staffi ng) changeLast month, we were delighted to introduce Philippa Parfrey as our new Worship Support and Music Administrator. Philippa is a familiar face to many at the Abbey, having worked with us as a Tower Tour Guide and as a helper for the Melody Makers, and is sett ling in well into her new role.

Since then, there have been further staffi ng changes. While we were sad to say goodbye to Cheri Bragg as our long-serving Offi ce Manager and PA to the Rector, she has agreed to conti nue on with her work managing and maintaining the Abbey’s Electoral Roll – a huge task which we are very thankful to her for carrying on, even in reti rement! This has enabled Miranda Edwards to

step up fully in the role of Offi ce Manager through a period of change and development of the Abbey’s work.

We are also pleased to announce that we have appointed Jon Hoff mann as the Operati ons Team Leader, taking over from Peter Garner who stepped into the breach just before Christmas.

To say that Peter has done a fantasti c job would be a phenomenal understatement; his professionalism, dedicati on, and indeed good humour, meant that our Operati ons Team were able to keep the Abbey going through our busiest period of the year and well into 2016. We will be forever grateful for his hard work and support over the past few months.

Many of you will know Jon as our Abbey Chaplain, a role he has performed for over a year. The transiti on to his new job will entail a move to a non-sti pendiary ministry for Jon, and a disti nct change in his role within the Abbey. However, Jon is excited about his new role, and is pleased that he will be able to remain with the Abbey and conti nue to work with us all in his new post.

Bath Abbey Shop 1991- 2016 Celebrating 25 years

May 2016 sees the 25th anniversary of Bath Abbey Shop; begun in 1991 as a bookstall set out on trestle tables at the back of the Abbey, it soon moved into its own space. A further expansion in 2006 saw it move to the current shop, where it continues to serve the Abbey’s many visitors as well as the local people, with a wide range of Christian books, gifts, CDs, cards and souvenirs.

Now, as from the beginning, we are grateful to our team of volunteers for their loyal support.

We’re marking the anniversary with a week of special offers, including 25% off mounted diptych prints and a range of Abbey gifts, as well as offers on selected books and other items.

Everyone is invited to join us for the launch on Saturday 7th May at 10am when Margaret Askew will be cutting the cake, or visit us any time during the week from 7th-14th May 10am-5.30pm

Can I also encourage all shop volunteers and staff, past and present, to bring a photo of themselves in 1991 to add to our display.

Please do come along to help us celebrate and to support the continued success of Bath Abbey Shop. Everyone is welcome - bring your friends and neighbours. I look forward to seeing you there.

Liz Berrisford (shop@bathabbey.org)

Message from the CurateThe ‘Streets of Bath Exhibition’ brought into the Abbey images of those working and living on our streets and I was reminded how easy it is to stop truly seeing those around us. So many people, often very

colourful but how do I really see them? Do I really see my neighbour as one made in the image of God?

I’ve just finished reading a book by Pascal Garnier where the end was such that you had to read the first chapter again to link the story back together; a continuous loop that makes better sense once you re-visit. It strikes me that if you read about the ascension and then re-read the creation story it helps focus the lens on seeing our neighbour as being made in the image of God; their intrinsic beauty, value and dignity.

The ascension is totally amazing as it is one of the ways in which humanity is fully affirmed by God. Not only does God send his son as one of us, but he raises him from the dead and in his full humanity Jesus ascends to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father; and humanity through Jesus Christ is given the unrivalled place of honour and dignity too.

As God honours us can we then turn and honour our neighbour? May we continue to seek to see them in their full dignity as one made in the image of God however they may look, wherever they may come from, whatever they may believe and lending a helping hand where needed.

Revd Evelyn Lee-Barber, Abbey Curate

Streets of BathThe Streets of Bath exhibition last month was a resounding success. With over thirty pieces being exhibited from a range of artists across a wide variety of media, we helped spark thousands of thoughts, ideas and conversations throughout the exhibition’s run, which was extended by a week to ensure that as many people as possible could experience the wonder of the art on display.

The broad range of artists being exhibited demonstrates the diversity and vitality of our city and the life on and around its streets. Whether it be the model city created by children from local schools to the pieces submitted by the Genesis Lifeline community; from the intricate sculpture made of cola cans, to the magnificence of David Cobley’s “Here We All Are”, it was a smorgasbord of colour, light and ideas.

Alongside these pieces, we were thrilled to welcome in just some of the buskers who perform in Abbey Courtyard and Kingston Parade every day. Performing in the Abbey at lunchtime recitals, we had guitarists, singers, and a soprano. It’s a sign of the new relationship we have with our busker neighbours and one we hope to develop on in the future.

Live talks also helped visitors understand the ideas and the perspectives behind some of the pieces on display. One of the highlights of this was to see Ian Cryer, President of the Royal Society of Oil Painters, bring his audience with him on a journey of creativity as he painted a portrait of street pastor Derek Smith.

Space was also given for visitors to give their own feedback on what they had felt during the exhibition, as Ollie Taylor’s interviews with those who live and work on the streets had pen and paper on hand for visitors to share their thoughts.

It was a huge undertaking to put on this exhibition, and we’d like to thank everyone who took part – whether as an artist, a volunteer, or as a visitor.

Abbey ReviewThe Abbey's review of the past year will be available during May, in the Abbey and online at our website. It's our chance to reflect and report on everything we have achieved over the year, and recognise the amazing level of commitment from staff, volunteers, the congregation and everyone who has worked hard to make last year a great success for us. Be sure to pick up a copy!

Bath Abbey Belles of St Paul’sDuring Easter, Bath Abbey were honoured to be invited to perform at St Paul’s Cathedral in London. Peter Garner reports on the visit.

Nineteen Bath Abbey ladies filled St Pauls’ Cathedral with their singing on the Second Sunday of Easter. Aquae Sulis Chorale, an invitation choir brought together for the occasion and named after the original Roman settlement in what today is Bath, was made up of congregation members, former girl choristers, parents of Abbey choristers and teachers from schools involved in the Abbey’s Schools’ Singing Programme.

The group, with supporters, travelled up to London on Saturday to enjoy some sightseeing and a convivial team meal in a restaurant near the Cathedral. On Sunday the Chorale sang for three services - Matins, Sung Eucharist and Evensong, singing all responses, anthems, psalms and canticles as well as performing Britten’s Missa Brevis and leading the hymns in each service.

The ladies did Bath Abbey proud. Clearly inspired by the magnificence of the setting they sang clearly and expressively, making light of the Cathedral’s challenging acoustics. Many compliments were received from the three large congregations and St Paul’s have invited the Chorale to return at a future date.

Philippa Parfrey summed up the experience: “What an experience! The weekend was immensely enjoyable; wonderful music, setting, food and friends old and new to share it with. Thank you to Shean for arranging a fabulous trip.”

Many thanks to Charles and Liz Berrisford who drove the party to and from London and to Assistant Director of Music Shean Bowers for arranging the day and conducting the choir.