The angels keep their ancient places

Introduction

In late September 2021, I organised a celebratory event at St. Michael-on-Greenhill in Lichfield around Michaelmas – the church’s patronal festival – entitled “The angels keep their ancient places” – a title taken from the poem “In no strange land” by Francis Thompson, The main aim was to celebrate the restarting of face to face activities after lockdown, but also to let all who might listen know that the church was open for business once more. The programme for the week is given below, and that is followed by links to videos of a variety of events that took place during the week – the sermon at the opening service by Bishop Michael, the blessing of the John Louis Petit information board, and the five “angel themed” evening talks. Most events were held in a “hybrid” form – with a face-to-face congregation or audience, and others joining by Zoom – it was still at the time when many were nervous about being with a crowd of others. The whole Thompson’s poem “In no strange land” is given in full at the bottom of the page.

Further details can be found on the St Michael’s web site.

Programme for the week

Sunday September 26th
8.00 Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
10.00 Patronal service; the Bishop of Lichfield, Michael Ipgrave, preaching
1.30 Blessing of Petit display board by Bishop Michael
14.30 Guided tour of the church building

Monday September 27th         
20.00 Talk by Dr. Joanne Allen – Angels in art – five things you didn’t know about angels

Tuesday September 28th1
10.00 School service for years 5 and 6
20.00 Talk by Dr. Trevor James – St. Michael. History and Theology

​Wednesday September 29th  
11.00 Holy Communion service for Michaelmas
20.00 Talk by Rev. Prof. Chris Baker – St Michael’s Angels – the 19th century clergy

Thursday September 30th       
20.00 Talk by Major Ted Green – The Angel of Mons (Spirituality and the Great War)

Friday October 1st                     
10.00 Guided Tour of the trees in the churchyard by Ray Allen
20.00 Talk by Rev. Dr Stephen Barton – Angels in Scripture

Saturday October 2nd              
10.00 The Angel Trail – an angel themed walk around the church and churchyard for families and children;
14.30 Guided tour of the churchyard by Trevor James,

Sunday October 3rd                    
8.00 Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer);
10.00 Harvest Family Praise
18.00 Choral Evensong for Harvest

Recordings

Opening sermon at the Patronal service by the Bishop of Lichfield
Blessing the John Louis Petit display board
Dr Joanne Allan
Dr Trevor James
Rev Prof Chris Baker
Major Ted Green
Dr Stephen Barton

“In no strange land” by Francis Thompson

world invisible, we view thee,
O world intangible, we touch thee,
O world unknowable, we know thee,
Inapprehensible, we clutch thee!

Does the fish soar to find the ocean,
The eagle plunge to find the air—
That we ask of the stars in motion
If they have rumour of thee there?

Not where the wheeling systems darken,
And our benumbed conceiving soars!—
The drift of pinions, would we hearken,
Beats at our own clay-shuttered doors.

The angels keep their ancient places;—
Turn but a stone and start a wing!
’Tis ye, ’tis your estrangèd faces,
That miss the many-splendoured thing.

But (when so sad thou canst not sadder)
Cry;—and upon thy so sore loss
Shall shine the traffic of Jacob’s ladder
Pitched betwixt Heaven and Charing Cross.

Yea, in the night, my Soul, my daughter,
Cry,—clinging to Heaven by the hems;
And lo, Christ walking on the water,
Not of Genesareth, but Thames!