The start of the works at St Martin’s is very exciting. It means, all being well, that by Christmas we will have a kitchen and toilets at the church – which will improve our amenities and therefore our capacity to do more for and with our community. My thanks to those who have planned and organised for this extension, as well as to those who have raised great sums of money to make the extension possible.

The church will be closed for the duration of the works, and services will be held at St Paul’s Walden instead. Please do make every effort to join with the other half of our parish. The Sunday services at All Saints will be at the new time of 10am.

Work on the repointing and subsequent redecoration of All Saints is also starting, so both of the churches in our parish will be having important new work being done in them. Very exciting!

Meanwhile the compulsory wearing of masks at church has added a new air of unreality, although I am happy to say that the recent easing of restrictions means that our choir is once again able to lead the singing of hymns. Hallelujah! Sadly the congregation is not yet permitted to join in the singing.

I know that some of you have managed to get away on holiday, which hopefully has brought some welcome variety to the rigours of lockdown.

Finally I want to thank all those who been keeping the church services and other activities going so well during my treatment in August. I hope to be back in action by the middle of this month.

With every blessing

Stephen