St Augustine’s Church in Rock Avenue Gillingham made the most of the warm weather this weekend as singing, balancing and feasting marked the 2nd St Augustine’s Festival for churchgoers and local residents. The Festival, which celebrates the life of St Augustine, the first Archbishop of Canterbury, was also supported by a number of local businesses who took part and donated prizes for a raffle.
On Friday evening the Chamber Choir of the Chatham Grammar School for girls gave a concert performance of Faure Requiem and other choral works. Parents and other guests enjoyed songs of the Edwardian composer Joseph Quilter and a duet rendering of You Raise Me Up along with the Requiem, which had been arranged for girls’ and ladies’ voices.
On Saturday nearly thirty children took part in a Circus skills workshop in the church hall. Skills teacher Doody, other wise known as Stuart Barber, taught the basics of juggling, Chinese ribbons, plate spinning and other skills. Parents arriving to pick up their children at the conclusion of the workshop were treated to an impromptu performance.
As the marvellous weather held for the evening, the hog roast took place in mildly tropical conditions in the vicarage garden; eighty parishioners and guests enjoyed a Hog Roast provided by Duke’s Roasters. A quiz and a raffle added to the enjoyment.
On Sunday, the Feast of Pentecost, the parish celebrated with a Festival Service, during which circus skills were on display. In his sermon, parish priest Fr Jonathan Jennings spoke of Archbishop George Carey’s enthronement in Canterbury Cathedral in the 1990s. Dr Carey said that the ancient Chair of St Augustine, in which Archbishops are traditionally placed during their enthronement, had felt far too big and that this had taught him that ministry undertaken alone was a dangerous endeavour. St Augustine, who established Christianity to England, had turned back half way. “Just as Augustine found out that on his own he wasn’t up to the work and he needed to trust the Holy Spirit at work in him, so every Christian today needs to learn that same lesson.” The festival concluded with a reception.
“It’s been hard work, but worth it,” said Fr Jonathan “people have really enjoyed the chance to do something different and we’ve certainly made the most of the weather.”
Page last updated: 13/07/2010