Category Archives: religion

Abingdon becomes a two parish town

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The Church of England Commissioners have approved the scheme to restructure the Parish of Abingdon, creating two parishes where there was one.
Abingdon is a two parish town
Christ Church is the Parish Centre for the newly created Parish of North Abingdon, to which Christ Church Long Furlong, and the Anglican part of The Peachcroft Christian Centre belong.Abingdon is a two parish town
The newly created Parish of Abingdon-on-Thames comprises St Helens, St Nicolas and St Michael. These churches, to my perception, are more traditional while those in the north are more evangelical.

Discussion, consultation, and negotiation began back in 2007 to divide the parish of Abingdon in two.
Abingdon is a two parish town
The red line on the map shows to which church parish you now belong in a parochial council electoral voting sense. But there is no problem going to any church you like. You can even go to Oxford Cathedral if you like.

Civic Service at the Baptist Church

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Civic Service
Thanks to Councillor Tony Brett from Oxford for this picture of the annual Civic Service of Abngdon-on-Thames.

Normally the civic service is held at St Helens Church, but as the new Mayor attends the Ock Street Baptist Church and Revd David Fleming, her chaplain, ministers there, the Civic service went to the Baptist Church in 2013.

Tony reports that the Mayor of Kensington and Chelsea, and MP Nichola Blackwood were also there. The sermon was about how Christians are led to serve. His full report is on Tony Brett’s Blog.
Civic Service
Revd David Fleming won’t be chaplain for very long as he has decided to minister to the people of Luton from August. Almost everybody will be sad to see hm leave because he has done so  much for Abingdon. But when he announced his departure at last week’s council meeting there was one cheer – intended to be humorous, I should add.
Civic Service
The Abingdon Traditonal Morris Dancers were also outside the church, Praising God with the violin, accordion, and wafted handkerchiefs.

Muslim Prayers in Abingdon

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Muslim Prayers in Abingdon
Yesterday it was a privilege to join with the Abingdon Muslims during Maghrib prayers (salah) at 19:50.

The Abingdon Muslims regularly meet for communal prayers at the Guildhall on a Friday, and have done for some time. But recently they have been meeting in a small room, kindly shared for free by a local business owner in East St Helen Street on Saturday and Sunday.

I gather Muslims pray 5 times a day, these prayers are compulsory for all adult men & women on a timetable that changes depending on the sunrise and sunset.

Today I followed their prayer timetable and took pictures at each prayer time:
Sunrise : 6:22, Zuhr : 13:15, Asr : 17:45, Maghrib : 19:51, Isha : 21:30.

Regular prayer keeps Muslims mindful of Allah (God) throughout the day and praying in congregation develops community spirit and strengthens relationships.

Thanksgiving for the life of Michael Hambleton

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Thanksgiving
On Friday there was a Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Michael Hambleton, minister of Abingdon Baptist Church from 1991 to 2000.
Thanksgiving
He enjoyed local history and wrote the story of Abingdon Baptist Church from 1649-2011 – a book called ‘A Sweet and Hopeful People’.
Thanksgiving
During his time as Minister, the 35 Ock Street project transformed the old manse, which had been in a sorry state, into the Church in Abingdon open house. It is now manned by teams from the different churches and open Mon-Fri 10.30 – 2.00 pm, and Saturday 10.30 – 12.30 pm.

Michael said in his book, “This was not so much the minister’s vision as the church’s vision”

But I dare say it took his prayers, leadership, and encouragement to see the project through.