By: Lawrence N. DiCostanzo of Saint Alban’s Church, Albany, California
In the early summer of 2022, my wife and I took a walking trip on the Orkney Islands way up in the north of Scotland. On the way home we visited friends in Winchester way down in the south of England. Winchester and the Orkneys are full of sacred places. There’s the huge stone Ring of Brodgar on the Orkneys. It predates Stonehenge. And then there is Winchester cathedral, not quite as old, but still quite old and quite beautiful.
Looking back, I think our trip had an aura. It was an atmosphere of faith and hope, even from thousands of years ago. And it was an atmosphere of connection to people who preceded us but were probably like us when they looked up. It must be that this atmosphere led me to wander into a surprising and delightful experience that has led to a lasting connection for over a year now. Here is the story.
On the Sunday we were in Winchester, I wanted to go to Holy Communion. Surprisingly, it was hard to find a service! Eventually, web-surfing brought up Saint Matthew’s Church which had a service at just the right time for me. Saint Matthew is quite a small church that is united with a larger church called Saint Paul’s. Hence, the name Saint Matthew with Saint Paul.
I took off walking to Saint Matthew’s to get there in time for the service. My GPS, instead, brought me to Saint Paul’s where the service had just ended! Taking pity on my sweaty, bedraggled, disappointed state, a lovely woman broke off her post-church conversation and actually drove me to Saint Matthew’s which was not that far away, but far enough for a walker to arrive late to service.
Saint Matthew’s is a small and very old church that dates to the 12th century. It has old-fashioned pews and hymn books without the music. I think it’s assumed you’ll pick up the tune from the organ. The service was simple and the sermon on worrying about not doing enough for Jesus was striking. The pews held about as many people as in my home church, Saint Alban’s, in Albany.
At the end of the service, people came up and welcomed me heartily.They hoped I would stay for a bit of social time. I said I’d love a cup of coffee. They said, oh, we don’t have coffee. I thought, tea is on the menu. They said, how about a glass of sherry. I lit up. It was a great social hour, and I really wish I could have joined Saint Matthew with Saint Paul.
But actually, as it turned out, Saint Matthew and Saint Paul and Saint Alban in fact did join each other. In line with the Orkney-Winchester atmosphere, I could not get my experience out of my mind. Back in California, I wrote to the rector of the unified churches with the suggestion that our church and theirs might join in mutually praying for each other every first Sunday of the month. He wrote, let’s see where the Spirit takes us. Now, every month we send each other a list of prayer requests for our churches. At Saint Alban’s, we pray for our English kin on “first Sunday” at personal prayer time. We list each other’s requests, and we say this prayer:
Almighty and ever living God, ruler of all things in heaven and on earth, hear our prayers for the parish family of Saint Matthew with Saint Paul in Winchester, England. Strengthen the faithful and enliven them with Hope and Love. Grant them all thins necessary for our common life with them, and bring us all to be on one heart and mind within your Holy Church. We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
We never see each other, but we have learned about each other’s work, issues, and needs. Prayer has increased out fellowship within the Church across thousands of miles. At Saint Alban’s, our time of prayer for our English siblings makes everyone smile.
Any church in any diocese can do something like this, even with the church in the next town. And you wouldn’t have to go to the Orkneys and Winchester, England, to find it!
