Dear friends,
This weekend we will celebrate our Harvest Festival, the origins of which lie in nineteenth-century Cornwall. There, the Rev’d Robert Hawker sought to centre the Harvest thanksgiving around receiving Holy Communion using bread made from the new season’s wheat crop. Indeed, for many centuries – since the beginnings of Christian worship – the elements of bread and wine at the heart of the Mass were brought to the altar by those who had baked and made them. Today, instead, we typically make a personal cash contribution towards the upkeep of the Church, and Her mission and ministry – but this too represents the gift of our own labour, coming as it does from our salary or pension. However, in celebrating our Harvest Festival, we return to these more primitive roots – and we are invited to bring to Mass the gift of food (as per the list attached to this mailing!), to share with those in the wider community who may be hungry, or struggle to feed their family. Please see the list attached, for those items most needed by the Harrow Food Bank: this collection will continue until the end of the month.
Likewise, we invite cash donations towards the running costs of the Food Bank – which can be placed into the basket at the back of church, over the coming four Sundays. Gift Aid Declarations – and further information about the work of the Harrow Food Bank – are available beside the basket.
Thank you very much for your contributions towards last month’s charitable appeal, in support of Macmillan Cancer Care: this raised the amazing sum of £1,764.50 (+Gift Aid) – a new record!
Thank you also for your support of last week’s Patronal Festival: the bring-and-share lunch was delicious, and everyone mucked in to help. We are very grateful for your commitment and generosity!
Thank you too for the way in which you care for one another, especially in times of crisis and bereavement: Pat Edwards has asked me to share with you the following message, written in light of the recent death of her dear husband Phil.
‘Dear Church Family, / I am writing this to express my deepest and most sincere thanks to all of you. The love, prayers and support you all showed during the passing of dear Phil have been a comfort to my heart and soul. Thank you for the kind words,;the genuine outpouring of love; the hugs; the comforting visits, and prayers that lifted me up when I felt less strong. Thank you also to Fr Richard and others for the planning and taking part in the service. Having such a caring church reminds me daily of God’s endless love and grace. I am truly grateful to belong to this family. Please continue to keep me and my family in your prayers in the weeks ahead. With love and God’s blessing, now and always / Pat, Philip, Michael, Kerian, Natasha and Amelia.’
There will be a PCC meeting after Mass on Sunday.
This year’s All Souls Mass of Requiem for our departed loved ones will be celebrated on Sunday, 1 November at 6pm: please add to the list in church the names of those whom you would like remembered and prayed for – noting the expectation that you yourself will also attend, to offer these important prayers. Light refreshments will be served after the service.
At the close of the third quarter of 2026, both Usual Sunday [Mass] Attendance (USA) and Average Sunday Attendance (ASA) had increased on the (previous month), to 54(53) and 59(58) respectively: this is encouraging – but more work still needs to be done, to recover at least to last year’s attendance figures (59 and 62). Usual Weekly Attendance (UWA) also remains below the 2025 figure of 71, at 66 so far this year.
Likewise included with this mailing are an invitation to the forthcoming (Reception intake) Open Mornings at St Jérôme Church of England Bilingual School; and a comprehensive guide to events taking place during Harrow InterFaith Week.
God, whose Spirit fills the whole of Creation, help you to bear His fruits of love, joy and peace,
Fr Richard