Celebrating Christian Unity in north London

Prof Houlden in back row with Fr Martin, Fr Clive, Rev Tunde and Rev Claude with parishioners

Five Christian communities in north London marked the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity together with Evensong, and a talk by Rev Prof Emeritus Leslie Houlden, from Kings College, on the Early Church.

Rev Martin Hawkes, from St John’s CoE Church, Brownswood Park, Rev Claude Bailey, from Finsbury Park Methodist Church, Rev Tunde Roberts, from St Olave’s and St Andrews CoE churches in Finsbury Park, and parishioners, attended the event last Wednesday, hosted by St Thomas More’s Catholic parish in Manor House with parish priest Fr Clive Lee.

Rev Roberts gave the homily, during which he praised the good relations between the churches. During his talk, Professor said that there had never been a ‘golden age’ of Christianity and had always had difficulties with the interpretation of the Gospels and ideas on how the Church should be organise. The Emperor Constantine was an early example of a layperson's contribution to the development of the Church.

The churches in Manor House and Finsbury Park have a long tradition of collaborating together. This Christmas they sung together raising funds for the homeless. Every Palm Sunday they hold a service at the gates of Finsbury Park and a street procession. For many years now, in May, the parishes gather together for a pilgrimage to a different English shrines or spiritual centres. This year they are planning to visit a Russian Orthodox community in Cambridge. Fr Lee said the trip is so popular it gets booked up very quickly and they travel in a convoy of coaches.