Site Map

Contact Fr. Gregory

© Copyright - material in this site may not be reproduced in any media without the express permission of the Web Master.

Care has been taken by this site to ensure that all necessary copyright permissions have been obtained. If this is not the case in any instance, this is an inadvertent error. Please contact the Web Master and this will be rectified.

Disclaimer & Credits

Parish Reports Archive 2005

Baptism of Brooklyn Hayle Eyesus (20 November 2005)

Parish Review (5 November 2005)

ARTICLE AND DOWNLOADABLE REPORTS

Visit of Student Teachers (Religious Education) from St. Martin's College, Lancaster (14 October)

St. Theodore of Canterbury Mission launches in Macclesfield, Cheshire (17 September)

link to article on Macclesfield Mission Web Site

Baptism of Daniel Nicholas Strong (28 August)

Wedding of Tekle Micheal and Welete Saba (27 August)

Fr. Gregory's Pilgrimage to Russia

ARTICLE AND PICTURE GALLERY

Baptism of Efimia Carrasco (26th June)

Mission to Go Ahead in Macclesfield (31st May)

Icon of St. Theodore of Canterbury written by Michael Wilson (see below)

St. Aidan's is to establish a mission in Macclesfield, Cheshire, some 18 miles from Levenshulme from September 2005.  For more information on the Mission go the newly created web site ...

http://www.macclesfield.antiochian.org.uk/

Funeral of Michael Anthony Wilson (24th May)

SI MOMUMENTUM REQUIRIS, CIRCUMSPICE
(If you seek his memorial, look around you)

In appreciation of Michael Anthony Wilson, "Memory Eternal!"

by Peter G Bateman

It is my experience that the more skilful and dexterous a person is, the longer he can keep learning. These folk continue to learn and develop new skills throughout all their lives. Such a man was Michael Anthony Wilson, without whom St. Aidan's Church would not only be without her gem of an Iconostasis, but also without the entire dais on which the Altar stands.

The screen took several years to complete. Icons, of course, are written. In writing the large Icons of the Saviour, His Mother and S John the Baptist, Michael followed in the traditional manner. But St. Aidan? We actually had an Icon of St. Aidan professionally written for our little group, but Michael - the amateur, the learner - wrote a better one. Michael's constant endeavour to improve the Screen continued; little crosses were added both mounted on corbels and also screwed to the front. He spent a considerable time thinking how St. Michael and St. Gabriel should be portrayed before they appeared on the doors. At length, we saw them in Anglo-Saxon garb because we are an English speaking Orthodox Church. On the Royal Doors can be seen the Annunciation together with Icons of the four Gospel writers. With each Icon, Michael's style and skill improved.

Ten years' ago, Michael wrote an Icon of St. Peter for me. Now an Icon is an aid to devotion. Michael's were also works of art. Earlier this year, Michael wrote one of St. Swithun for my wife. This second icon illustrates how, over ten years, his skill and loving brushwork, which was good, had become excellent. The skin tone and the 3D effect reflected a master's touch plus the benefit of years of studying books on iconography.

In another aspect, there was never any question amongst the servers of the Altar that, at all times, Michael was master of ceremonies. Every server carried out Michael's instructions and we all learned from him. On many occasions whilst for some reason we were waiting, I learnt from Michael's erudition far more about Australia, the War between the States, the Waffen SS; etc. Michael was a natural teacher.

Naturally, there were other things which Michael did. He was husband, father, provider, scout leader, 'a soldier in the Union Army', but others, not me, knew him in these capacities. Michael was responsible for the essential (the foundation on which stands the Altar), the picturesque (the embellishments on the Iconostasis' corners), the quietly efficient (magnetic catches on the north and south doors). All this he did for the greater glory of God.

"Go forth, Christian soul from this world, 'shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed'" (Part of the inscription to Sir Christopher Wren}

2 Timothy 2:15
 

Clean Up Project - Church / Council Partnership in the 100 Day Manchester Project (20th / 21st May)

The Clean Up Team	The Clean Up Team	Before (1)	Before (2)
Before (3)	After (1)	After (2)	After (3)

Lecture on Sacraments in Orthodoxy to Nazarene Theological College Students (11th May 2005)

The Students	The Lecture

Baptism of Mary Yohannes (8th May)

Pascha 2005

Pascha Party Time	Reader Benedict with his new red sticharion!
	Chrismation of Christina Williams at the Vesperal Liturgy on Great and Holy Saturday

Magdalene (Edith) Simpson (1921-2005)

In Memoriam

Trisagion Prayers at the Grave on Bright Monday

Magdalene in church	Magdalene's chrismation into the Orthodox Church
Magdalene on her 80th birthday	Magdalene and her friend, David Melling, also recently reposed

The funeral took place on Thursday 24th March of Magdalene (Edith) Simpson, a faithful Christian throughout her life and Orthodox since the inception of the new parish of St. Aidan’s in 1995. Fr. Gregory writes:-

“We all have our special memories of Magdalene. Mine go back 18 years and over that long time this wonderful Christian lady did nothing but encourage me, make me laugh and wonder at her quite appropriate but blunt speaking. She was transparently honest and had a real soft spot for children. There are many young people in our parish who will be sad at her passing but have many happy memories of her smile and her generosity.

Her commitment to Christ was absolute, life long and unwavering. She served her Lord fearlessly, so confident was she that he was and is truly the “Lover of Mankind.” Her faith had practical implications for how she thought about and worked for the poor and those scorned by the world. She feared no person’s opinion, only the judgement of her own love for God and neighbour.

I have been enormously privileged to know this dear sister in Christ and with all of our community pray for her soul. Memory Eternal!”

Pilgrimage to Chadkirk (St. Chad) 12 March

Report with Picture Gallery

Baptism of Lydia Yesak (6 March)

Wedding of Zeresenay Goitom and Tirhas Teklu (5 March)

Baptism of Saron Asmerom and Maria Voronova (13 February)

Trip to Melbourne (February)

Ron and Pam Mary Riley recently visited a sister Antiochian parish in Melbourne, St. Nicholas.  A few other parishioners have visited here over the years and the welcome this time was no less warm!  Here are Ron and Pam with the priest, Fr. Dimitri.  St. Nicholas' web site can be found here ...