ALL SAINTS' PATRONAL FESTIVAL 

The celebration of the Solemnity of All Saints’ was an occasion tinged with grandeur and mystery.  The congregation of the church was joined by many visitors and friends, and the choir of the King's School, Peterborough, sang the Schubert Mass setting, under the direction of Mr. Nicholas Kerrison.   

The Service began with an Introit, sung by the choir, during which the party of servers and sacred ministers silently approached the Sanctuary.  After a word of explanation, incense was blessed and the servers, clergy and people processed in a 'figure of eight' around the church to remember the witness of the priests and people who had worshipped at All Saints' in the 1000 years of its history. 

In an excellent homily from Fr. James Mather, Rector of Downham Market, we were reminded that the substance of 'saintliness' is part of the nature of all people and, referring to 'the Beatitudes', Fr. James described the qualities of saintliness revealed in them, and as seen in Christ himself. 

At times, clouds of incense almost obscured the congregation from those in the sanctuary, with the choral singing and the liturgy, combining together to offer an 'other worldly experience - of heaven drawn down to earth. 

The Mass concluded with Benediction - the consecrated host, enthroned in a gilded, jewelled monstrance was brought from the Tabernacle on the High Altar and set on the candle-lit, free-standing altar, before the congregation.  After a silence, the congregation and choir, kneeling, sang the beautifully evocative hymn, In our day of Thanksgiving.  The words describe the witness of all those who have gone before us, making their 'pilgrimage', their way to God... 

These stones that have echoed their praises are holy,

and dear is the ground where their feet have once trod;

yet here they confessed they were strangers and pilgrims,

and still they were seeking the city of God. 

After the Sacrament was censed, the Rector of All Saints' raised the Monstrance and blessed the people. After the Host was reposed in the Tabernacle, the Service ended with the recessional hymn, Ye watchers and ye holy ones.