Roger Scoones' Monthly Dialogue
Rev Roger Scoones
Rev Roger Scoones is Rector of St Mary's Parish Church, Stockport and is a well known figure in the local community.
New
Year
at St Mary's 2012
The New Year started quietly at St Mary’s in the Marketplace in
Stockport. A few voices singing hymns to the accompaniment of a
recording of the Salvation Army Band, soft light and the flickering of
candles at the centre of the choir stalls, to remind us that Advent had
completed its course, and that Christ had been born on Christmas Day.
The Advent ring was now complete. As midnight chimed on the great town
clock high up in the tower the church doors below remained open into
this New Year, and what light there was spilt out onto the rainy
pavements and glistening years-worn gravestones. Soon New Years Eve
revellers from the pub across the road , or maybe they were just passing
by, saw the great church open and came quietly in, to light a candle, or
to shed a tear in prayerful reminder of a lost-loved one with who they
could no longer share this so-often hollow midnight ‘celebration’.
It was an extraordinary beginning to the New Year, and one that should
be repeated, for there are obviously those Christians who would rather
welcome in the new year in a quieter more sober, songful, prayerful
celebration and there are definitely those for whom the passing of that
moment, that year, from old to new, most definitely brings to the
surface emotions, the need to remember. A ‘Watchnight’ service has been
born at St Mary’s!
The New Year brings with it new hopes and expectations of course. At St
Mary’s the plans for the restoration and conservation of the Tower roof
and the East side of the Tower, including the clock face, are well in
hand. This final phase of major restoration work will mean that this
fine tower, which has dominated the skyline of Stockport’s historic town
centre since 1817 will stand for many years to come in good and safe
order.
Our plans to re-order the interior of the Church are advancing steadily,
and it is hoped that if we are given official approval, work may also
begin early this year.
So the New Year may have started quietly at St Mary’s – the year itself
promises to be lively and sometimes noisy!