Monday 11 December 2017

A Festival of Lessons and Carols: Sunday 17th December, 5.30pm

Please do join us for this traditional service of Bible lessons, choral music and well-known congregational carols by candlelight. All are welcome, with free entry and a retiring collection. Mince pies and mulled wine will be served after the service, and this year again the singing is led by the combined choirs of St Clement's Cambridge and The Orlando Singers. We hope to see you there!


Friday 8 December 2017

Taizé service: Prayers and readings for Advent, Fri 8th Dec

Join us this evening for the final Taizé service of the year at St Clement's, with prayers, readings and chants by candlelight for Advent time. 7.30pm as usual, in the tranquil space of our church. All are welcome, and we hope to see you there!


Thursday 7 December 2017

Update: Saturday recital cancelled

It is with regret that we announce that this Saturday's lunchtime recital will no longer go ahead due to illness - we apologise for the short notice of this announcement. Hopefully there will be another opportunity to hear Laura play at St Clement's early in the New Year, and in the meantime we wish her a speedy recovery.

Keep an eye on our website or Facebook page for details of our next recital series starting in late January 2018. We'll release more information and a line-up of artists as soon as this is confirmed. Thank you all for your support of the recital series over the last few weeks, and we hope to see you at future recitals next year.


Wednesday 6 December 2017

Laura Rickard, Violin: Sat 9th Dec at 1pm

Join us for the final recital of the season at St Clement's, as we welcome back Laura Rickard (who was previously here with the Mila Trio) as she performs a programme of solo violin music and sonatas. Her programme includes Bach, Bartok, Biber and Ysaye.

Recital starts at 1pm, as always with free entry and a retiring collection to continue to support music at St Clement's and fundraising for restoration of the pipe organ in the church. All are welcome, and we hope to see you there!


Friday 1 December 2017

The Erasmus Choir - Music for Advent; Sat 2nd Dec, 1pm

Start the festive season with some charming choral music this Saturday, as we host the Erasmus Choir with a programme of Advent music as we approach the end of this term's recital series. With an exciting repertoire including Bruckner, Rachmaninov and Tavener, this will be a real treat for music-lovers looking forward to Advent and Christmas this month.

As ever, the recital starts at 1pm with free entry to all, and a retiring collection supporting continuing music at St Clement's and our growing fund for restoration of the pipe organ. We look forward to seeing you there!


Wednesday 22 November 2017

Cambridge University Recorder Ensemble: Sat 25th Nov

This Saturday, our lunchtime recital series continues with the Cambridge University Recorder Ensemble's termly concert. They last visited us in December 2016 (amidst ongoing building work and scaffolding) and now return with an exciting new programme spanning centuries of music from 16th-century Taverner, through to compositions and arrangements from the 21st century. Doors open at 1pm. As always, everyone is welcome, with free entry and a retiring collection in support of continuing music at St Clement's and the organ restoration fund. We hope to see you there!


Friday 17 November 2017

Saturday recital: Felicity Cliffe, oboe sonatas, Sat 18th Nov at 1pm

This Saturday sees the return of Felicity Cliffe, this time playing a virtuosic programme for solo oboe. Felicity is a recent graduate from Trinity Laban conervatoire, and is pursuing a freelance career in London playing oboe and cor anglais with a number of groups and ensembles.

Her programme this Saturday includes sonatas by Saint-Saens and Loeillet, as well as pieces by Silvestrini and Ravel. Doors open at 1pm as always, with free entry and a retiring collection to support continuing music at St Clement's. We hope to see you there!


Friday 10 November 2017

Taizé at St Clement's: Fri 10th November

Join us this evening for a Taizé-style Eucharist as we celebrate a Vigil Mass for St Martin of Tours. Prayer, chants and silence by candlelight in the peacefulness of St Clement's Church. 7.30pm, all are welcome.


Tuesday 7 November 2017

Oratorio, Lieder and Shakespeare Songs: Sat 11th Nov at 1pm

Our recitalist this Saturday hails from much closer to home - our very own Choir Director, Karol Jaworski. He will be singing a programme of solo songs by English and German composers, including extracts from Handel's "Messiah" and Haydn's "Creation", lieder by Brahms and Schumann, and finishing with settings of Shakespeare songs by Quilter and Finzi. Karol will be accompanied on the piano by Lucy Morrell, organ scholar at Girton College, Cambridge.

As ever, doors open for a 1pm start, with free entry and a retiring collection to support further development of music and restoration of the organ at St Clement's. All are welcome.

Thursday 2 November 2017

The Mila Piano Trio: Saturday 4th November

We are delighted to welcome the London-based Mila Piano Trio to this Saturday's lunchtime recital. Formed by recent graduates of the Royal Academy of Music, they have already achieved success and recognition, with appearances at well-known venues in the city centre and a recent invitation as a ChamberStudio at King's Place ensemble for the 2017/18 season.

Their recital at St Clement's will include Beethoven's Piano Trio in D major op. 70 no. 1 ("The Ghost") and the Ravel Piano Trio in A minor M. 67. As always, doors open at 1pm with free entry to all, and a retiring collection in support of the continuing development of music at St Clement's church.


Tuesday 31 October 2017

Requiem Mass for All Souls: Friday 3rd November at 7.30pm

Join us this Friday evening at 7.30pm for a choral Requiem Mass marking All Souls day. All are welcome to this reflective service.

Mass will be celebrated by Canon Nick Moir, our Priest in Charge. The choir will sing Cherubini's emotive setting of the Requiem Mass in C minor.


Wednesday 25 October 2017

Sat 28th Oct: Bach's Goldberg Variations played by Dan Tidhar

This Saturday we're excited to welcome Dr Dan Tidhar playing Bach's Goldberg Variations on harpsichord as part of our recital series at St Clement's. An accomplished player and researcher, Dan works as soloist and continuo player with ensembles across the UK and Europe. His repertoire spanning from the early Renaissance through to commissions by 21st-century composers, and is an active member of the Cambridge University Baroque Ensemble and the Collegium Musicum.

Dan will be bringing his own harpsichord on Saturday, the first time we've had a recital on this particular instrument within the generous acoustic of St Clement's - this is set to be a real treat. Doors open for a 1pm start, with free entry as always, and a retiring collection helping support the continuation of the recital series as well as our ongoing fundraising for restoration of our pipe organ. All are welcome.


Friday 20 October 2017

Sat 21st Oct: A recital of French and English song

This Saturday we're welcoming back Ian de Massini (who played some exquisite Bach for us back in July). This time he will be accompanying soprano Jennifer Bastable in a recital of French and English song written by female composers to feature: Lili Boulanger, Marie-Madeleine Duruflé, Elizabeth Poston, Madeleine Dring and many others.

As usual, doors open for a 1pm start, with free entry and a retiring collection taken to support the recital series and contribute to the organ restoration fund at St Clement's Church. We look forward to seeing you there!

Friday 13 October 2017

Fri 13th Oct - Taizé: Healing Service for St Luke-tide

Join us this evening for a Healing service as we approach the feast of St Luke. We begin at 7.30pm with prayers, reading, Taizé chants, and reflective silence as we ask for God's healing and compassion in our lives.

In the service there will be the option, for those who wish, to be anointed with oil as a sign of receiving God's forgiveness and healing touch on our lives. There will also be an opportunity for someone to pray with and for you or others. We hope to see you there.

St Luke the Evangelist, Russian orthodox icon, author unknown

Tuesday 10 October 2017

String Duets: Sat 14th Oct at 1pm

We're pleased to welcome London-based musicians Lucy Armstrong and Felicity Cliffe to open this term's recital series at St Clement's this Saturday. Playing on viola and 'cello respectively, their programme will include Beethoven's famed "Eyeglasses" Duet, and Rossini's Duet for Viola and 'Cello alongside some of their own arrangements of classical music.

The recital begins at 1pm on Saturday 14th October at St Clement's Church. Entry to recitals is free, with a retiring collection taken to support the continuation of the recital series, and contribute to fundraising for the St Clement's organ. We hope to see you there.

Lucy Armstrong and Felicity Cliffe

Friday 6 October 2017

Saturday recitals restart: 14th Oct 2017

Our popular Saturday lunchtime recital series returns next weekend, beginning over two months of exquisite music performance in the beautiful setting of St Clement's Church. With repertoire spanning four centuries, our programme brings together some of the best musicians from Cambridge and London.

Recitals start at 1pm, and run from Sat 14th October through to Sat 9th December (inclusive). Entry to all recitals remains free, with retiring collections and donations supporting the continuation of the series, and contributing to the growing fund for the restoration of the church organ.

Full details of this term's programme can be found on our website, and keep an eye on our Facebook page and Twitter for more news about our performers, as well as other events happening at the church.

We look forward to seeing many of you there!

Tuesday 19 September 2017

This Sunday: Harvest Thanksgiving at St Clement's

Join us for a celebration of Harvest Thanksgiving at St Clement's this Sunday. We will be holding both a morning and evening service, and are welcoming harvest donations (tinned / dried food with long shelf life) in support of local food banks and charities at both services. We hope you can join us for one or both of these:

11AM: Sung Eucharist 
5PM: Choral Evensong 

Bp Rowan Williams returns to celebrate at our Eucharist us on Sunday morning, and the evening will be a Prayer Book choral evensong with sung canticles, responses, psalm and anthem.


Wednesday 13 September 2017

Taizé service: Fri 15th Sept at 7.30pm

We will be celebrating a Taizé-style Eucharist this Friday evening to mark Holy Cross Day. Our service begins at 7.30pm. All are welcome, and we hope you can join us for prayer, readings, singing and silence by candlelight.


Tuesday 29 August 2017

Sunday time change: 11AM from 3rd Sept 2017

It's been a quiet few weeks on our News Feed as activities wound down for the summer break. We have been beavering away behind the scenes though for events coming up over the next months, so stay tuned for more information in the next few days.

For now, just a reminder to all our digital followers that from this coming Sunday (3rd September) we will be shifting to a slightly later start-time for our principal Sunday morning service.

Sung Eucharist will now be celebrated at 11AM, though of course aside from this, our Sunday services and worship will remain unchanged. We look forward to seeing you there!

Wednesday 26 July 2017

Sat 29th July: Lieder and English Song

Join us this Saturday for the last of our July lunchtime recital series at St Clement's. This weekend we're welcoming baritone Felix Kemp with pianist Timothy End as they perform a programme of English Song and Lieder. The recital will include Vaughan-Williams's Songs of Travel and Schumann's Dichterliebe.

1pm at St Clement's Church on Bridge Street. Free entry with retiring collection.

***

Felix Kemp recently performed with English Touring Opera for their Spring Tour 2017 and will perform the role of Masetto in Don Giovanni for British Youth Opera this September. He has also sung for Grange Park Opera and Wexford Festival Opera. Felix and Timothy performed together in masterclasses and in recital as part of the Oxford Lieder Festival 2016.

A multiple first-prize winner, Timothy End was awarded both the Pianist and Duo Prize at the Wigmore Hall Song Competition. He is an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music, a Samling Scholar, and performing highlights include BBC Radio 3's In Tune and Wigmore Hall.



Monday 17 July 2017

Liszt, Scarlatti and Ravel: Lunchtime Recital this Saturday

Our Saturday Lunchtime Recital series continues this weekend as we welcome Georgios Vardakis from the Trinity Laban Conservatoire in London. Georgios is an accomplished pianist, with additional interests in composition and improvisation, currently pursuing further studies in the UK under pianist Martino Tirimo.

He is bringing an exciting programme spanning centuries, playing on our newly acquired Beckhardt Grand Piano. 1pm start with free entry. A retiring collection and donations will be taken to support furhter growth of music at St Clement's, including contributing to our Organ Restoration Fund. We hope you are able to join us there.


Friday 14 July 2017

Sat 15th July: Baroque songs and arias

Join us this Saturday for the next of our weekly recitals this month, as we welcome past Cambridge students Anna Lush (soprano) and Alex Davan-Wetton (piano) who will be performing a selection of baroque arias and keyboard music by Henry Purcell and John Blow. 1pm this Saturday with free entry. A retiring collection and donations will be gratefully received.
***
Anna Lush studied music at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge. She was a choral scholar in the choir of Trinity College for two years, before going on to conduct the Fitzwilliam College Chapel Choir in her final year. She has appeared as a soloist with the Orchestra on the Hill in works such as Handel's Messiah, and Bach's Magnificat. After graduating in 2016, Anna went on to do a secondary music PGCE course in London, and will begin teaching full time at a school in South West London in September.

Alex was a Music Scholar at Tonbridge School, and subsequently studied Natural Sciences at Queens’ College, Cambridge. There, he sang with Queens' College Chapel Choir as well as founding and conducting the Stanford Orchestra. Alex is now Musical Director of the Godwine Choir, conducting the concert première and recording of Roderick Williams’s Christmas Bells for the Financial Times in 2014. As a pianist, Alex studied with Vincent Barrella and Stephen Coombs and has accompanied recitals in Cambridge, London, Kent, and Ireland.
Henry Purcell: painting by John Closterman

Saturday 8 July 2017

Taizé Service: Sat 14th July @8.30pm

Join us for our final Taizé service at St Clement's before the summer holiday. A quiet and contemplative service of readings, prayer, chanting and silence. All are welcome, and we hope to see many of you there.


Monday 3 July 2017

Lunchtime recital: Madrigals and Flower Songs

The Orlando Singers are returning to St Clement's this Saturday with a sparkling programme of English madrigals, flower songs, and Dvorak's sublime Songs of Nature. This is the last chance to hear their summer programme before the choir returns in November with Haydn's Nelson Mass performed on 18th November in Queens' Chapel. The Orlandos are a chamber choir based locally in Chesterton, currently conducted by our own Director of Music, Karol Jaworski.

Saturday 8th July at 1pm. Free entry with retiring collection and donations in aid of the Organ Restoration Fund at St Clement's and also charities that the Orlandos are supporting in memory of a past choir member: the Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust, and the Multiple Sclerosis Society. We hope to see you there.



Monday 26 June 2017

Goldberg Variations at St Clement's

Join us this Saturday lunchtime as we welcome Ian de Massini who will be playing Bach's Goldberg Variations on our recently-donated Bechardt grand piano. 1pm on Saturday 1st July. Free entry with donations / retiring collection warmly received.
***
Ian de Massini read Music at the University of Cambridge, having gained a choral scholarship to the choir of King's College Chapel. Upon graduation, Ian was appointed Assistant-Organist for the Church of St Alban, Holborn, in London, followed by a similar position at Ely Cathedral, before then founding his own choir and orchestra, Cambridge Voices, and The Orchestra of the Age of Reason, both about to celebrate their 30th year of concert-making. Ian is now Director of Music for St Columba's Church, Cambridge, and is Senior Member at both Hughes Hall, and at King's College, at the University of Cambridge. For many years Ian was also the musical-arranger, accordionist, and Prima Donna for the iconoclastic classical-music comedy duo, The Classic Buskers, formerly known as The Cambridge Buskers. 

In relation to the keyboard, Ian recently made the very first recording of the complete piano works of the great 20th-century French composer, Maurice Duruflé, including his own piano transcriptions of Duruflé’s ravishing orchestral music, whilst his choir, Cambridge Voices, won the Prix d’Or (Gold Medal) from the French classical music magazine, Diapason, for their recordings of Duruflé’s complete works for unaccompanied choir, and Duruflé’s  celebrated Requiem, all recorded in Duruflé’s magnificent church of St Etienne-du-Mont, Paris. But it is the championing of Bach’s keyboard works that lies at the heart of Ian de Massini, all of which he plays from memory, alongside the keyboard music of Messiaen, Duruflé, Ravel, and Alain.

Ian de Massini

Tuesday 20 June 2017

July recital series

We're delighted to announce that St Clement's will be hosting a lunchtime recital series throughout Saturdays in July, showcasing talented local musicians and enjoying the fine acoustics of the church for chamber music.

Recitals will begin at 1pm, with free entry to all. Donations and a retiring collection will be taken, with proceeds helping to support both the development of music further in the church, and supporting the musicians performing at St Clement's. All are welcome!

1st July: Bach's Goldberg Variations; Ian de Massini (piano)
8th July: Flower Songs and Madrigals; The Orlando Singers
15th July: Baroque songs and arias; Anna Lush (soprano)
22nd July: Liszt, Scarlatti and Ravel; Georgios Vardakis (piano)
29th July: Lieder and English Song; Felix Kemp (baritone)


Saturday 3 June 2017

Pentecost: 10am Choral Mass

Join us for a Choral Mass tomorrow morning at 10am as we celebrate Pentecost, as well as the culmination of the Thy Kingdom Come week of prayer.

We will be we welcoming Bp David Thomson (Bishop of Huntigdon) to celebrate and preach for us. Choral music will include Darke's Collegium Regale Communion Setting, and Shepherd's The Secret of Christ. All are welcome.

Pentecost by Jean II Restout

Friday 2 June 2017

Taizé Eucharist in anticipation of Pentecost

Please join us this evening for a service of prayer, chanting and silence as we celebrate Eucharist in anticipation of Pentecost. All our welcome, and we hope to see many of you there. Our service begins at 8.30pm, though the church will be open all day and well into the night for those wishing to step in at any time.


Tuesday 30 May 2017

Choral Compline this evening

Our Compline service this evening will include music sung by St Clement's Choir. All our welcome this evening at 9.00pm to join us for this short, quiet and contemplative service at the close of day.

We are of course celebrating the Daily Offices each day, with Mattins at 9.00am, Vespers at 5.30pm and Compline at 9.00pm daily until Pentecost on Sunday 4th June. Our church is open throughout the day, and we invite you to join us at any time for private prayer, celebration of the Offices, or quiet contemplation.

Plainsong setting of Te Lucis Ante Terminum,
a hymn sung at Compline.

Monday 22 May 2017

"Thy Kingdome Come" Week of Prayer

St Clement's is pleased to be taking part in global week of prayer, Thy Kingdom Come, as the church prays together for unity and confidence to be witnesses for Jesus Christ, and to welcome newcomers to our church and faith.

Our church will be open daily in the week leading up to Pentecost, from 9.00am until 6.00pm for prayer, and we hope to have a number of people praying in the church throughout these times. If you would like to sign up to be a part of this, please visit: https://www.thykingdomcome.global.

We will be observing the daily offices Monday to Friday. There will be a Pentecost Trail set up for our younger visitors to explore, and we'll also be holding a number of special services throughout the week. More details are below, and we welcome you to join us for prayer, worship and celebration of faith at any time.

Daily prayer, Monday to Friday:
  • 9.00am: Morning Prayer (Mattins)
  • 12 noon: Praying with the Lord's Prayer
  • 12.30pm: "Restore" - prayer, stillness and contemplation
  • 5.30pm: Evening Prayer (Vespers)
  • 9.00pm: Night Prayer (Compline)
Additional services:
  • Tu 30th May, 9.00pm, Choral Compline with the Choir of St Clement's
  • Fr 2nd June, 8.30pm, Taizé Eucharist in anticipation of Pentecost
  • Su 4th June, 10.00am, Choral Eucharist (Bp David Thomson)

Tuesday 16 May 2017

Choir visit to Churchill College

The choir was pleased to be invited to sing evensong with the Churchill Chapel Choir at Churchill College in Cambridge. This was an excellent opportunity for the choir to sing repertoire not usually possible at regular Sunday morning services at St Clement's, and an exciting experience for singers from both choirs to sing in a much larger ensemble than they are usually able to in individual choirs.

A warm thanks to Dr Mark Gotham for the invitation, and we hope we are able to return the favour next term and invite Churchill's Chapel Choir to sing with us at one of our Sunday morning services at St Clement's.
Combined choirs of Churchill College and
St Clement's rehearsing with Dr Mark Gotham

Tuesday 9 May 2017

Taizé services: spring / summer 2017

We have now confirmed dates for Taizé services throughout spring / summer 2017, and hope you are able to join us for these.

Services at St Clement's will be held on:

  • Friday 2nd June, 8.30pm (with Eucharist)
  • Friday 14th July, 8.30pm
  • Friday 15th September, 7.30pm [tbc]
Please note the trial of a later start-time in June and July. 

There will unfortunately be no Taizé service in May due to the proximity of the April and June services and the relatively few Fridays in May. 

All are welcome, and we hope to see many of you there.


Tuesday 18 April 2017

Taizé prayer in Easter

Friday 21st April, 7.30pm
Join us for an evening Taizé service, with prayers, chanting and silence as we reflect on and celebrate Christ's resurrection at Easter.
Bockhorst: The Triumphant Christ

Sunday 16 April 2017

He is risen! - Easter message from Canon Nick Moir

I think I could cope with an Australian Christmas - t-shirt, shorts, barbecue on the beach...  But I'm not sure about an autumnal Easter.  For me the celebration of the Resurrection is tied up with the coming of spring, the warming of the earth, new-born lambs and lengthening hours of daylight.

Spring is in the air and that brings a feeling of Hope.  The natural rhythm of the seasons chimes with those time-bound but eternal moments of death and resurrection that shape the way Christians view life, the world and everything.  The last days of Jesus on earth are for us the most meaningful moments of history, where we are touched by eternity.  Easter Day is the most joyous day of all - the loveliness of spring and the wonder of Resurrection combine to lift our hearts and fill our lips with Alleluias!

May the joy of Easter be yours too.

Canon Nick Moir
Priest-in-charge


Tuesday 4 April 2017

Passiontide and Easter at St Clement's

We will be celebrating a number of festivals throughout this important time in the Church year. All are welcome, we hope you are able to join us. Full details of services below, please share with friends and family:

Friday 7th April, 6.00pm: Stations of the Cross
Sunday 9th April, 10.00am: Palm Sunday: Sung Eucharist, Canon John Morgan
Thursday 13th April, 6.00pm: Maundy Thursday: Low Mass and Vigil, Fr Robert van de Weyer
Friday 14th April, 10.00am: Good Friday Liturgy, Canon Nick Moir
Sunday 16th April, 10.00am: Easter Day: Sung Eucharist and Procession, Fr Andrew Mackintosh
Friday 21st April, 7.30pm: Taizé service: prayers, chanting and silence

Tuesday 28 February 2017

Ash Wednesday at St Clement's

Wednesday 1st March, 7.30pm
Sung Eucharist with the Imposition of Ashes
Canon John Morgan

Join us tomorrow evening to mark Ash Wednesday, as we begin our journey through Lent. We will be celebrating a Sung Eucharist, together with the imposition of ashes. The service will led by Canon John Morgan, with the choir contributing anthems by Purcell and Wesley. We hope you are able to be there.



Tuesday 17 January 2017

Taizé in 2017

Our monthly series of Taizé services at St Clement's continues, with our first Eucharist this Friday evening. We hope you are able to join us at 7.30pm for a quiet service of prayer, meditation and singing.

The full list of upcoming services:

  • Friday 20th January, 7.30pm*
  • Friday 24th February, 7.30pm
  • Friday 17th March, 7.30pm*
  • Friday 21st April, 7.30pm
______
* indicates a service with Eucharist


Tuesday 3 January 2017

Happy 2017 from St Clement's

As 2016 draws to a close, we can look back on what has been a year of change and growth at St Clement's, and look forward to continuing this into 2017.

We were excited to finally start work on restoring our damaged South Aisle roof. Supported by the Listed Places of Worship Roof Repair Fund; completion is scheduled for early 2017, and we hope to take this opportunity to also restore some of the interior of the church, brightening up our side chapel and repairing some of the water damage to the interior walls whilst we have scaffolding in the church. Despite the repairs, regular church life has been largely uninterrupted, with weekly Sunday morning sung Communion Services continuing, as well as our increasingly popular monthly Taizé services on a Friday evening.
Scaffolding is erected over the South Aisle roof in preparation of roof repair. November 2016

A number of new initiatives were also started in the church, most notably our Wednesdays at St Clement's lunchtime group. This has been organised largely through the efforts of Rev'd Helen Orr, Curate at St Andrew's Chesterton, who we are growing ties with. These have ranged from quieter, meditative prayer meetings, or children's activity days, through to solo song recitals, shared lunches or festive community sings. We will continue these into the new year and look forward to perhaps seeing some new faces there too.
Children's activities as part of our ongoing "Wednesdays at St Clement's" project. December 2016

The choir, led by Director of Music Karol Jaworski, continues to grow and contributes to weekly worship with regular sung anthems and voluntaries. Summer 2016 saw the first ever choir tour of the new choir, visiting St Illtyd's church in Llantwit Major in South Wales where the choir sung for two services, including a Choral BCP Evensong service with sung canticles, responses and an anthem.

Other notable events have included a splendid concert performance by the Cambridge University Recorder Ensemble (whose players often support music for Taizé worship on Friday evenings) and St Clement's Choir taking part in workshops and events in Cambridge and Ely. Some exciting collaborations have seen the choir join with the choir of The Chapel at Churchill for an evensong service, and The Orlando Singers coming to St Clement's to sing with our choir for our annual Festival of Lessons and Carols.
Festival of Lessons and Carols at St Clement's. 18th December 2016

It was with sadness that we heard this year of the death of Fr Bill Pickering. Fr Bill had played an important part in the life of St Clement's, and had often celebrated Communion and preached at the church. In his last years, though increasingly unwell and frail, he still maintained a close connection to the church, coming to services when he could, and often being visited by some of our current active clergy. He will be missed by many in the church, who remember him fondly.

As we look ahead to 2017, there is much to be excited by. We are hoping to secure additional funding to complete interior restoration and preservation work to the church funding, improving appearance and facilities for our community and visitors alike. Supported by generous donations, we are hoping to acquire a baby grand piano for use in the church and hope to use this in the regular worship at St Clement's, as well as develop the role of the volunteer choir further.

We look forward to welcoming back Bp Rowan Williams to celebrate and preach with us again in the coming few months, as well as Bp David Thomson who will be visiting us after Easter. Our weekly worship continues to be supported by our rota of clergy, led by our Priest-in-Charge, Canon Nick Moir. 2017 also offers us the opportunity to grow and strengthen established links to other communities and groups, as well as perhaps establish and nurture connections with new partners and people who may be able to contribute to and grow the spiritual life of St Clement's further. We're very excited to see what happens.
Bp Rowan Williams with members of the St Clement's PCC after celebrating Mass. November 2016

St Clement's is on an exciting and challenging journey in response to what we believe is God's call to us. We are already discovering that partners - including some unlikely ones - have been drawn in to exploring how we can work and pray together to discover what the Spirit is leading us into. Perhaps you could join with us in some way?  But whatever the new year holds for you, thank you for reading this far and may you have a rewarding, even exhilarating, 2017!