Worship podcast and other news from Seal Church: April 24

 

Dear friends Join us for worship online, on the phone or in the building today.  with best wishes Anne Le Bas Online Worship podcast     Order of service You can also access this podcast by phoning 01732 928061

In the church building today - April 24 Easter 2 10 am  Holy Communion  6.30pm Evensong (said) During the week Monday             9.30 -11.30 pm Seal Tiddlers in the church hall - parent and toddler group                            2-3.30pm Talking Village in Deniz Cafe in the High Street Wednesday      10.00 Zoom Church                            5 - 5.30 on Children's Choir                            7.15 - 8.15 pm Choir Friday                10.30-12.30 Friday Group in the church hall                             7.30pm Queen of Puddings Quiz in the church hall Sunday May 1: Easter 3 10 am   Holy Communion  6.30pm Evensong Easter 2 Acts 5.27-32, John 20.19-end Kevin Bright is our preacher today, and will be exploring the Bible readings as we continue to celebrate the good news of Easter. Easter is a season rather than just a day or a week in the Christian calendar, lasting right up until Pentecost. During this time the set passages from the the Bible which we read in our services explore something of what it meant for people to encounter the risen Christ. Today we meet Thomas, who somehow missed out on seeing Jesus when he first appeared. Unsurprisingly, he wants proof, but as soon as Jesus invites him to touch his wounds, Thomas is convinced, and gives his allegiance to Christ. Legends say that he then travelled eastwards, taking the Gospel to India, which is not an unlikely possibility, since there were well established trade routes by sea to India at the time. If he had for a short time doubted, he then went on to be filled with faith. Thomas needed to see in order to believe, but his story ends with Jesus blessing those - us -  who do not see, and yet believe.  It was important to the early disciples that Jesus' resurrection body still had the wounds of his crucifixion. As well as proving to them that it was him, it showed them that the resurrection didn't cancel out the pain of the crucifixion. Traumatic experiences leave lasting scars in our lives, but we can go on to find new joy and peace, not forgetting or denying the scars, but learning from them, letting them enrich our lives and give us new empathy for others who are suffering.  ALL AGE IDEAS Today's Gospel story is about Thomas, sometimes called "Doubting Thomas", who wasn't with the other disciples when Jesus first appeared to them after he rose from the dead. Jesus came back especially so that Thomas could see him. Have you ever missed out on a special occasion? What did it feel like?  Have you ever had something important to say which others haven't believed, or maybe you haven't believed others when they had something good to tell you?

Here is the story of Thomas meeting Jesus.

CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS Many thanks to all who have helped decorate the church for Easter, and to the organists and singers who have provided music this week.   ELECTORAL ROLL Are you on our church electoral roll? Joining this gives you a vote at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (on May 22nd), as well as entitling you to burial in Seal churchyard if you don’t live in the parish, should that sad need arise! It also signals your involvement with and commitment to this church community.  If you aren’t on the roll and would like to be, please pick up a form from the back of church or download it here and return it to me, or to Wivine Turner, when you have filled it in. The last day to add your name to the roll will be May 1, so the sooner you can fill in a form the better.   QUEEN OF PUDDINGS QUIZ Friday April 29th from 7.30pm in the Church Hall. £5 per head. Quiz with a 'loose' royal theme, and tasters of puddings between each round, In all, we hope to have around 20 different desserts for you to try, so eat before you come by all means, but do leave room for some sweet treats during the evening. TICKETS NOW FOR SALE FROM FRANCES 07749 240456  or MARION 07909905975. FIRST COMMUNION PREPARATION.  If you are interested in your child preparing to receive Holy Communion, there will be a chance to gather after the 10 am service either on May 1 or May 8 to discuss this with me. I will then try to find convenient dates for 3 or 4 preparation sessions. If your child is older, (at least secondary school age) and would prefer to prepare for confirmation, please contact me so that I can discuss this with you and with them . If there are any adults who would like to be confirmed (and baptised if they haven't been already) please let me know also, so that we can arrange appropriate preparation.  JUBILEE LUNCH AND PARTY ON THE REC – SUNDAY JUNE 5. We need more people to help set this up, run games etc. Can you help? Now is the moment to volunteer! YOUR HELP AND CONTRIBUTIONS NEEDED PLEASE!  As part of the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations local historian David Williams is arranging for an exhibition of ‘Seal during the reign of Elizabeth II’. He is collecting memories and objects from people to show what life was like in Seal in the early 1950s. If you have any memories of the early 1950s or any objects (ration books, bus or train tickets, school reports, orders of service from baptisms, marriages or burials, photographs of outings, celebrations…) he would be grateful to receive them. He can be contacted on williamsredcourt@gmail.com , 01732 764068 or 07427 844552. TALKING VILLAGE Monday afternoons between 2pm and 3.30 in Deniz's on the High Street. Buy a cup of tea or coffee and join us on the Talking Village table, for a chat and to make new friends, or catch up with old ones! Saturdays - On the first Saturday of each month in Seal Library from 10am-11am. Join us for a coffee whilst out browsing for your library books. At both these venues, there will always be two hosts to welcome you, and we look forward to meeting with you and getting to know each other better. SEAL HISTORY GUIDE BOOKS Deniz's coffee shop still has some copies of our Seal Historical Guided Walk books for just £5 a copy. All proceeds go to the Seal Village Fund. A perfect time to walk around our beautiful village and see it through new eyes!   SEAL LIBRARY NEWS   A reminder the Teaset Talk time returns on Tuesday 26 th April –a reminder the time is 2:30-3:45pm. The talk this month is Scrapbooking with Jenny Fairman. We were so pleased to see everyone last month and hope everyone will be returning- all welcome. There is a £2 donation requested. SEAL VILLAGE ALLOTMENTS PLANT SALE AND OPEN DAY Sunday May 15th from Midday to 3pm. All welcome - please come along and get your bargain plants and see the best allotments around!! OTHER COMMUNITY NEWS - For more community news from Marion Gilchrist, check out the Know Your Neighbours blog. https://knowyourneighbours.blogspot.com/ or email marionjgilchrist@gmail.com to ask to be put on her mailing list.

Easter Worship podcast and other news from Seal Church

 

Dear friends Happy Easter from all at Seal Church. Alleluia, Christ is risen! Join us for worship online, on the phone or in the building today.  with best wishes Anne Le Bas Online Worship podcast     Order of service You can also access this podcast by phoning 01732 928061

In the church building today - April 17 Easter Sunday 10 am  Holy Communion  6.30pm Evensong (said) During the week Monday - no Talking Village this week - the cafe is closed for Easter Monday Wednesday      10.30 Lavender Fields Holy Communion (sorry, residents only at the moment).   Friday                10.30-12.30 Friday Group in the church hall Sunday April 24: Easter 2 10 am   Holy Communion  6.30pm Evensong Easter Sunday Acts 10.34-43, Luke 24.1-12 Peter describes himself as a "witness" to the resurrection, but what does it mean today to bear witness to the resurrection? Today's sermon explores this.  ALL AGE IDEAS On Easter Sunday women went to the tomb, expecting to find the dead body of their dear friend, Jesus. But the tomb was empty. Jesus had risen from death and appeared to his friends many times in the six weeks or so before he went back to heaven to be with his Father. That doesn't mean that those we love who have died will come back to life again, but it does promise us that death isn't the end. Just as God didn't abandon Jesus, he won't abandon us or those we love. We are safe in his hands. The Easter story also reminds us that when things look hopeless, there can always be a new beginning, just like the way in which spring follows winter.    Go for a walk, or out into your garden and find some plants starting to grow or trees coming into leaf. Easter doesn't end on Easter Sunday - that's just the beginning. It goes on for the next six weeks, leading up to Ascension Day and then Pentecost. It's a time of year when the decorations in the church, like the Altar frontal are in shades of gold, yellow and white. Make a picture with those colours in it. You might like to include the Easter word "Alleluia!", which means praise the Lord.

CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS Many thanks to all who have helped decorate the church for Easter, and to the organists and singers who have provided music this week.   ELECTORAL ROLL Are you on our church electoral roll? Joining this gives you a vote at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (on May 22nd), as well as entitling you to burial in Seal churchyard if you don’t live in the parish, should that sad need arise! It also signals your involvement with and commitment to this church community.  If you aren’t on the roll and would like to be, please pick up a form from the back of church or download it here and return it to me, or to Wivine Turner, when you have filled it in. The last day to add your name to the roll will be May 1, so the sooner you can fill in a form the better. SATURDAY April 23 11-12 noon. Know Your Neighbours Get Together in the village hall, for local organisations to share what they are doing, and help people meet one another. Seed & plant swap – contributions welcome!  QUEEN OF PUDDINGS QUIZ Friday April 29th from 7.30pm in the Church Hall. £5 per head. Quiz with a 'loose' royal theme, and tasters of puddings between each round, In all, we hope to have around 20 different desserts for you to try, so eat before you come by all means, but do leave room for some sweet treats during the evening. AS ALWAYS, WE WILL BE ASKING FOR HELP FOR THIS EVENT - PEOPLE WILLING TO MAKE A DESSERT, WASHERS UP AND CLEARERS PLEASE! TICKETS NOW FOR SALE FROM FRANCES 07749 240456  or MARION 07909905975. JUBILEE LUNCH AND PARTY ON THE REC – SUNDAY JUNE 5. We need more people to help set this up, run games etc. Can you help? Now is the moment to volunteer! YOUR HELP AND CONTRIBUTIONS NEEDED PLEASE!  As part of the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations local historian David Williams is arranging for an exhibition of ‘Seal during the reign of Elizabeth II’. He is collecting memories and objects from people to show what life was like in Seal in the early 1950s. If you have any memories of the early 1950s or any objects (ration books, bus or train tickets, school reports, orders of service from baptisms, marriages or burials, photographs of outings, celebrations…) he would be grateful to receive them. He can be contacted on williamsredcourt@gmail.com , 01732 764068 or 07427 844552. TALKING VILLAGE Monday afternoons between 2pm and 3.30 in Deniz's on the High Street. Buy a cup of tea or coffee and join us on the Talking Village table, for a chat and to make new friends, or catch up with old ones! Saturdays - On the first Saturday of each month in Seal Library from 10am-11am. Join us for a coffee whilst out browsing for your library books. At both these venues, there will always be two hosts to welcome you, and we look forward to meeting with you and getting to know each other better. SEAL HISTORY GUIDE BOOKS Deniz's coffee shop still has some copies of our Seal Historical Guided Walk books for just £5 a copy. All proceeds go to the Seal Village Fund. A perfect time to walk around our beautiful village and see it through new eyes! OTHER COMMUNITY NEWS - For more community news from Marion Gilchrist, check out the Know Your Neighbours blog. https://knowyourneighbours.blogspot.com/ or email marionjgilchrist@gmail.com to ask to be put on her mailing list.

Sunday Worship podcast link and other news: April 10 : Palm Sunday

 

Dear friends Join us for worship online, on the phone or in the building today.  with best wishes Anne Le Bas Online Worship podcast     Order of service You can also access this podcast by phoning 01732 928061

In the church building today - April 10 Palm Sunday 10 am  Holy Communion & Palm Procession 6.30pm Breathing Space Holy Communion During the week HOLY WEEK SERVICES AND EVENTS AT SEAL CHURCH   Mon, Tues, Wed, Frid, Sat 8pm Compline – quiet, said service (20 mins) Monday               2-3.30pm Talking Village in Deniz cafe (Seal High Street)  Wednesday        7.15pm Adult Choir  Maundy Thursday 8pm Holy Communion & Tenebrae   Good Friday 10 -11.30am Messy Church in church 10.30-12.30 Friday Group in the church hall 12noon onwards. Self-guided, prayer stations in church 2.30 -3.15pm Good Friday service with hymns 8pm Compline   Holy Saturday 8pm Compline   Easter Sunday 10 am Holy Communion 6.30pm Evensong (said) Sunday April 17: Easter Sunday 10 am   Holy Communion  6.30pm Evensong Palm Sunday Isaiah 50.4-9a-21, Luke 19.28-40 Today we remember the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, riding, according to Luke, a colt. It is a deliberate re-enaction of the prophecy of Zechariah (9.9), and Jesus knows very well that it will bring to a head the issues which the Jewish and Roman authorities have had with his ministry.  ALL AGE IDEAS On Palm Sunday we remember the story of Jesus riding into Jerusalem. The crowd were pleased to see him. They pulled branches off the trees to wave in celebration. You could find some leaves (don't pull them off the trees!) and make a picture of the story with them. You could talk about what it feels like to be excited, and what would make you feel really happy right now. The crowd shouted "hosanna!", which means "God save us". What do you think they wanted to be saved from? What help would you like right now?

CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS EASTER FLOWERS If you would like to commemorate someone you love who has died, you can add their names on a sticker to the Easter Flower board, which is at the back of the church, which will be displayed at our Easter Day service. If you would like to make a donation to the flower fund as well, please give this to Maggie Fox or the vicar. MANY THANKS to Rosemary Pattullo and all those who helped with the Bring and Buy sale on Friday morning. It raised over £200, which will be shared between Sevenoaks Welcomes Refugees and the church.  SATURDAY April 23 11-12 noon. Know Your Neighbours Get Together in the village hall, for local organisations to share what they are doing, and help people meet one another. Seed & plant swap – contributions welcome!  QUEEN OF PUDDINGS QUIZ Friday April 29th from 7.30pm in the Church Hall. £5 per head. Quiz with a 'loose' royal theme, and tasters of puddings between each round, In all, we hope to have around 20 different desserts for you to try, so eat before you come by all means, but do leave room for some sweet treats during the evening. AS ALWAYS, WE WILL BE ASKING FOR HELP FOR THIS EVENT - PEOPLE WILLING TO MAKE A DESSERT, WASHERS UP AND CLEARERS PLEASE! TICKETS NOW FOR SALE FROM FRANCES 07749 240456  or MARION 07909905975. JUBILEE LUNCH AND PARTY ON THE REC – SUNDAY JUNE 5. We need more people to help set this up, run games etc. Can you help? Now is the moment to volunteer! YOUR HELP AND CONTRIBUTIONS NEEDED PLEASE!  As part of the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations local historian David Williams is arranging for an exhibition of ‘Seal during the reign of Elizabeth II’. He is collecting memories and objects from people to show what life was like in Seal in the early 1950s. If you have any memories of the early 1950s or any objects (ration books, bus or train tickets, school reports, orders of service from baptisms, marriages or burials, photographs of outings, celebrations…) he would be grateful to receive them. He can be contacted on williamsredcourt@gmail.com , 01732 764068 or 07427 844552. TALKING VILLAGE Monday afternoons between 2pm and 3.30 in Deniz's on the High Street. Buy a cup of tea or coffee and join us on the Talking Village table, for a chat and to make new friends, or catch up with old ones! Saturdays - On the first Saturday of each month in Seal Library from 10am-11am. Join us for a coffee whilst out browsing for your library books. At both these venues, there will always be two hosts to welcome you, and we look forward to meeting with you and getting to know each other better. SEAL HISTORY GUIDE BOOKS Deniz's coffee shop still has some copies of our Seal Historical Guided Walk books for just £5 a copy. All proceeds go to the Seal Village Fund. A perfect time to walk around our beautiful village and see it through new eyes! OTHER COMMUNITY NEWS - For more community news from Marion Gilchrist, check out the Know Your Neighbours blog. https://knowyourneighbours.blogspot.com/ or email marionjgilchrist@gmail.com to ask to be put on her mailing list.

Sunday Worship podcast link and other news from Seal Church: April 3

 

Dear friends Join us for worship online, on the phone or in the building today.  with best wishes Anne Le Bas Online Worship podcast     Order of service You can also access this podcast by phoning 01732 928061

In the church building today - April 3 10 am  Holy Communion  3pm     Baptism: Arlo White 6.30pm Evensong (said) During the week Monday               2-3.30pm Talking Village in Deniz cafe (Seal High Street)                             8- 9.30pm  Online Lent Course  Wednesday        7.15pm Adult Choir  Friday                10.30-12.30 Friday Group in the church hall Sunday April 10: Palm Sunday 10 am   Holy Communion and Palm Procession 6.30pm Breathing Space Holy Communion Lent 5 Isaiah 43.16-21, John 12.1-8 Today's Gospel story, of Mary of Bethany anointing Jesus with vast quantities of precious ointment is a puzzling one, especially this week, when so many people are counting the cost of the increase in fuel prices, alongside so many other rising costs. We may sympathise with Judas Iscariot, who asks why the ointment wasn't sold and the money given to the poor. Isn't this a huge waste, when so many are in need? But Jesus' response hints that there needs to be more to love than simply meeting material needs. What Mary has done is beyond price to him as he approaches his crucifixion.  ALL AGE IDEAS  Make a "thank you" jar and write on slips of paper good things that people have done for you this week. Find time to say thank you to them and tell them what a difference it made. What can you do for someone else this week that will help them?

Ever wondered why the date of Easter wanders around so much?  Vanessa Griffiths has written a piece (originally for a course she was taking) which tells the story of the arguments way back in the 7th century, which shaped the rules that tell us when we're allowed to break out the chocolate... Read more in her blog post here.

CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS We are sorry that the church has had to be locked for the last few days, following some vandalism (fortunately not doing any real damage) last week. It has been reported to the police, and we are reviewing our security arrangements. You can help us, if you are in and around the church, by reporting anything you see which is suspicious. FRIDAY GROUP BRING AND BUY ON FRIDAY APRIL 8TH 10.30-12.30 IN SEAL CHURCH HALL FOR SEVENOAKS WELCOMES REFUGEES AND SEAL CHURCH. The Friday Group are holding a small bring and buy sale next Friday, with all proceeds being split between SWR (Sevenoaks Welcomes Refugees and Seal Church). Please just come along, and bring any donations to sell on the morning. ALL WELCOME! WHAT CAN WE DO TO SUPPORT UKRAINIAN REFUGEES? Many people want to respond to the war in Ukraine, and the desperate situation of refugees from this and other places of conflict. Aid agencies are clear that cash donations are the best way of giving. People often feel the urge to donate physical items - blankets, clothes etc. - but this can cause many more problems than it solves at the destination, and can make the job of helping people more difficult. You can donate through the Disasters Emergency Committee.  Many people are also wondering what we might be able to do to support refugees who come to our area. Sevenoaks Welcomes Refugees has been organising local support for refugees from Syria and Afghanistan for some years now, and is exploring what they might be able to do for Ukraine.  The Sanctuary Foundation is a national organisation also seeking to help individuals and organisations help with providing housing and other support.  This is a fast-developing situation, and it is not clear  yet how refugees might be housed in this country, but our local MP Laura Trott is in contact with local clergy and others, so I hope I may have more news in coming weeks about what we can do.  CHILD AID Thank you to all who donated to our collection on Mothering Sunday for Child Aid. I am delighted to say I was able to send off £102 to the organisation, and I know that others donated directly online.  Their Director, Martin Wilcox, wrote this.  Some specific areas we are helping to finance with your donation include: - medical supplies in Ukraine into whatever regions we can get access to - a transit shelter for refugees in Lviv as they seek refuge outside of Ukraine - food and hygiene parcels to our families who have no chance to evacuate and nowhere to go - bedding, food and sanitary products to refugees in Moldova These are being provided by our partners but also with other contacts we have in the region whom we know and trust. The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, said at the beginning of March: "Life will win over death, and the light will win over darkness". With your gift you are bringing light as every gift is an opportunity for a child and a family whose life has been shattered.  TALKING VILLAGE Monday afternoons between 2pm and 3.30 in Deniz's on the High Street. Buy a cup of tea or coffee and join us on the Talking Village table, for a chat and to make new friends, or catch up with old ones! Saturdays - On the first Saturday of each month in Seal Library from 10am-11am. Join us for a coffee whilst out browsing for your library books. At both these venues, there will always be two hosts to welcome you, and we look forward to meeting with you and getting to know each other better. KYN get together There will be a Know Your Neighbours Get Together in the Village Hall on Saturday April 23, from 11-12noon, when we hope many local organisations will be present to show off what they do.  If you represent any local group or special interest, contact marionjgilchrist@gmail.com to arrange to come along.  As part of this we are organising a seed and plant swap, so hang onto your extra seeds and plants to share.  JUBILEE LUNCH AND PARTY ON THE REC – SUNDAY JUNE 5. WE NEED MORE PEOPLE TO HELP WITH THIS, RUNNING ACTIVITIES, GAMES ETC - NOW IS THE MOMENT TO VOLUNTEER! .   Kerry’s Pets Meadow Challenge Kerry has hidden some things in her window scene. Can you find them? Quiz sheets are available from Kerry and Deniz next door for 50p cash. All entries will be put into a prize draw for a £10 Kerry’s Pets Voucher. Proceeds to Folly Wildlife Trust.  CHECK OUT THE KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOURS WEBSITE for details of what is planned for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee weekend in June (among other things), and how to get involved. https://knowyourneighbours.blogspot.com/2022/02/kyn-update-feb-6.html Plans so far include an event on the allotments, history walks, Garden Safari and Big Lunch on the Rec. as well as an invitation to decorate your homes and gardens with "Royal" window scenes, "Royal" scarecrows. red, white and blue planting etc.    SEAL PARISH COUNCIL WILDFLOWER PROJECT - REMEMBER TO SIGN UP FOR NEXT WEEK'S SESSION! Following on from our wildflower talk from the Kent Wildlife Trust's WILD ABOUT GARDENS team, are running a series of zoom sessions this winter on WILDLIFE FRIENDLY GARDEN, This is a great way of encouraging wildflowers and pollinators to your garden, This, is combination with our wildflower verges project, will also help create joined up 'pathways' for bees, butterflies and other key pollinators in our parish. Details of the events can be seen on the Parish Council website, but the zoom sessions cost £5 a session, and are as follows:- Sat March 26th 11-12.30 - Using weeds and wildflowers in a garden to attract bees, butterflies and moths. SEAL HISTORY GUIDE BOOKS Deniz's coffee shop still has some copies of our Seal Historical Guided Walk books for just £5 a copy. All proceeds go to the Seal Village Fund. A perfect time to walk around our beautiful village and see it through new eyes! OTHER COMMUNITY NEWS - For more community news from Marion Gilchrist, check out the Know Your Neighbours blog. https://knowyourneighbours.blogspot.com/ or email marionjgilchrist@gmail.com to ask to be put on her mailing list.

Setting the date for Easter in 7th century Britain - what was all the fuss about?

by Vanessa Griffiths

Easter is approaching and all of you have probably noticed Easter Sunday is going to be the 17th of April. You may be thinking also that it’s a late Easter this year and accept that the timing changes each year. You may even have a vague idea that Easter is linked to the lunar cycle. Well, at least we all celebrate Easter at the same time; but actually it wasn’t always the case!  In England in 663, Oswy, the King of Northumbria, was celebrating Easter while his Queen, Enfleda, was still fasting for Lent! Imagine the tensions in that household! 

How did this happen? Well, this was actually a problem way before this, in fact it was ‘rooted in the very origins of Christianity’ and was troubling the minds and hearts of many outside the Royal household.

Some history first: Anglo Saxon England was divided into many kingdoms each with its own king. A king’s position was precarious then; the ecclesiastical historian Bede records many battles with kings dying over power struggles to grab new lands. Christianity was present but there were different types and different practices with a mix of paganism worship thrown in for good measure! This gave rather a patchwork effect to Christianity - just like the landscape! Broadly speaking, there was Celtic Christianity, mainly in the Northern parts, due to missionaries such as Aidan who came from the Irish Monastery on Iona in the Hebrides. Roman Christianity set the pattern for the South of England, particularly Kent, due to the mission of Augustine, sent to England by Pope Gregory I.

Easter was seen as ‘the highest feast of the Christian year’  for all Christians; it’s just that they each had their own way of deciding when to celebrate it! In simple terms the date is based on the first full moon after the spring equinox. The problem was that it wasn’t clear when the Spring Equinox happened - the  21st or the 25th of March - or what time in the lunar month Easter would be celebrated. The Roman Christians used 15th - 21st  of the lunar month, based on a 19 year cycle of dates, whilst the Celtic Christians used 14th - 20th, based on an 84 year cycle.

So, in the Royal household, Owsy, raised in Northumbria, followed the Celtic tradition and his wife Enfleda, brought up in Kent, followed the Roman way. We can now see why they didn’t always celebrate Easter day together in 663 ! 

Oswy had another family issue - his son Ahlfrith (he ruled the kingdom of Deira in Northumbria under his father). He supported the Roman way because he had been taught by those following the Roman traditions notably Wilfred, He was a young Abbot at Ripon, who studied church doctrine in Rome and was a most learned man. He was to be the future Bishop of York! Apparently he radiated knowledge of the Roman forms of Christianity, had a good memory and cut an impressive figure. Alhfrith was ‘anxious to test his mettle against his father’  and was therefore open to Wilfred’s ideas. The bishop in Oswy‘s kingdom of Mercia was Colman, who was from Ireland and supported Celtic Christianity.  He was described as holy but out of touch and on the correct date of Easter had a rustic lack of sophistication. Tensions were building outside the royal households as these clergy whip up support for their arguments in their Sees. 

So there were both religious and political power plays going on here and for Oswy the dating of Easter became a power tool as he saw both political and financial gains if he could forge links to Rome. Hang on you’re thinking – isn’t Oswy following the Celtic traditions? Well read on to see what happened next as Oswy called what has become known as the Synod of Whitby to discuss this thorny issue of the date of Easter.

Entering the drama now is Hilda of Whitby in Northumbria, an abbess of royal birth (she was grandniece to Kind Edwin) who ran a successful monastery for men and women – perhaps the first real woman leader within the English church. Having royal blood meant kings and bishops listened to her. She had converted to the Celtic Christianity and is described as a holy woman devoted to God. Who better to host this auspicious meeting in 664 AD, the Synod of Whitby, to resolve the ‘great and active controversy about the keeping of Easter’. 

Imagine the scene: the protagonists assembling in the monastery at Whitby usually dedicated to prayer and learning. There were the kings, Oswy and Alhfrith, with their spiritual advisors by their side; Wilfrid speaking for Oswy and Colman for Alhfrith. Perhaps Hilda led them into the debating chamber with a mix of royal, clerical and lay people gathered round, all keen to see who wins! 

Oswy started the debate stressing the importance of being united before God in this matter. There followed speeches on the key arguments from all sides including the rather complex calculations of dating Easter.  Let’s look (simply!) at the crux of their arguments.

First up was Bishop Colman (for the Celtic Christians) arguing they had the backing of the apostle John, who followed Jewish customs and laws and the 84 year cycle, celebrating Easter day on the evening of the 14th  day of the first month. I expect things heated up when Wilfred suggested Colman wasn’t actually following John anyway! Wilfrid stated that Roman Christians follow St. Peter , the most blessed chief of the apostles and the 19 year cycle where Easter Sunday was the 14th  day of the lunar month. We can imagine all eyes on Wilfred as he gave his crowning speech by quoting Jesus’ words to Peter ‘..you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven..’ (Matt 16:18-19). He stressed that Peter was the ultimate authority on this question and Colman couldn’t top that. King Oswy, in a powerful speech of his own, declared that he was bound to follow St Peter to ensure the gates of heaven were not barred to him and everyone there agreed … just like that apparently!

A victory for the “Roman church” over the “Celtic Church”,  and the Easter date question settled with Wilfred’s inspired use of St Peter. Or was it?  Oswy’s had enforced his authority throughout Northumbria as he called the Synod and championed the outcome. However, Alhfrith was the prime mover in making Wilfred bishop over the entire area of Northumbria’, sending him to Rome to be consecrated as his bishop.  Remember Hilda? She favoured the Celtic way and had considerable influence being both royal and holy. 15 years after the Synod she may have been involved in trying to depose Wilfred as Bishop! Wilfred, after a delayed return to England, introduced Catholic customs to the English church which quickly spread. The Celtic tradition followers either returned to their native land or capitulated. 

Whilst the importance of the Synod of Whitby went beyond the date for Easter and helped shape Christianity in our isles, it also means we eat our chocolate eggs and celebrate the hope of the Risen Jesus on the same day.

 

Bibliography

Brown P.,  The Rise of Western Christendom (Oxford: Blackwell Publishers Ltd, 1996)

Bauer, N, Abbess of Whitby: All Britain was Lit by Her Splendor in Medieval Women Monastics (Minnesota: The Liturgical Press, 1996)

Bede, The Ecclesiastical History of the English People (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008)

Emerson Curtis Jr, R, An Examination of the Debate at the Synod of Whitby, 664 A.D., Thesis (1969)

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