After the long, hot, dry summer, Autumn has revived us with welcome rain and a return of the normal clubs and activities in the Narthex. It has also brought a less welcome leak in the Churchwarden’s Vestry roof!

At our services we focused on Creationtide, or the Season of Creation, a period in the Church which includes Harvest, where we give thanks for the natural world and reflect upon our responsibility to care for it. Our thoughts seemed more appropriate than ever following the high temperatures, drought and wild fires. We also held a service focusing on the work of Christian Aid and contemplating how we should respond to its aims of ensuring everyone can live full and dignified lives that are free from poverty.

On Sunday 13th September we were treated once again to the astonishing skill of Keith Hearnshaw, Fellow of the Royal College of Organists. By virtue of a camera and large screen projector we were able to follow Keith’s hands and feet as they propelled the organ through ever more demanding arrangements. Well known pieces such as Elgar’s Nimrod and Handel’s Zadok the Priest were complemented by the mesmerising complexity of Bach’s Passacaglia BWV 582 and L. Vierne’s Final Symphonie 1. For an encore, Keith played the Hornpipe Humoresque by N. Rawsthorne, appropriately chosen as it was the day after the Last Night of the Proms. Our thanks to Keith, and the St Andrew’s Association for another very successful event.

Looking Forward to the beginning of December we will be having a Crib Festival and would like as many as possible on display in St Andrews- would you be willing to bring yours down? The church will always be monitored while its open and more precious ones can be displayed ‘ at a distance’.

Finally, we were delighted to toast Fr. Tim and Mary as they celebrated their 40th Wedding Anniversary at the end of August. We wish them many more happy years together.