Vicar's Letter

90 Glorious Years!

‘Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven.”

From Matthew 16:17-19

Beloved, 

September for many of us still has a feel of a new season with the end of the summer holidays, children going back to school and the new academic year beginning. Please don’t forget to bring either your school back-packs or work items (or retirement items) on Sunday 6th September for them ‘and us’ to be blessed at the start of this new season. 

Of course, this year, in the year of Our Lord Jesus 2026, we give thanks for 90 years of history, 90 years of worship, 90 years of fellowship and 90 years of God’s Love in this place – our special church of Saint Paul’s Ruislip Manor. 

We shall enjoy a week of all sorts of different celebrations from September 27th into October 4th – with various guests and activities. Please see the middle pages for the dates and details (and we need help stewarding the church so if you can, please do sign-up). 

Huge thanks to our wonderful archive group who have been working so hard on analysing much of our 90 years history – some of which will be on display during our celebrations as the church is open for visitors – do invite people along. Mark, Sandy, Jan and others have been working hard on making our grounds look lovely (and we could do with a bit of cleaning help on 24th if you are free - thanks) 

Some members of the Parochial Church Council have also been working hard on thinking through where we are currently as well as our future and so during the celebrations we shall be launching our new vision and mission for the next few years ahead. Others have also been working hard on putting together a special prayer for the event. Watch this space… 

The church of Christ is very much alive and kicking here in Ruislip Manor and has been through an interesting journey since its birth in 1936. We look back with joy and wonder at our past and continue to build His church in the footsteps of Saint Paul and see where our mission will take us next…

“How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” 

Genesis 28.17

The year 1936 in the UK was actually known as the “Year of the Three Kings”, which was nothing to do with those Wise Men bearing gifts, but the constitutional and royal succession crisis which dominated the country when King Edward VIII abdicated the throne to marry American divorcée Wallis Simpson. As following the death of King George V, the brief reign and shock abdication of Edward VIII led to the accession of George VI. 

1936 also saw Jesse Owens won 4 gold medals at the Berlin Olympics and the Spanish Civil War began, serving as a major prelude and ideological battleground before World War II. 

Margaret Mitchell’s famous historical novel “Gone with the Wind” was published. 

Among the famous people born was Pope Francis, Jim Henson (the muppets), Robert Redford, Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, Burt Reynolds, and Brian Blessed. 

St Paul’s Ruislip Manor was built and still stands as a house of prayer. 

Peter wrote in his first letter (1 Peter 2.5): 

“Like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 

It is a time to celebrate the church, the building and the people – YOU! – thank you for all that each of you do, congratulations on our achievements, and may God continue to Bless and guide us in our faith and work and journey together. 

Almighty God, to whose glory we celebrate the dedication of this house of prayer: we praise you for the many blessings you have given to those who worship you here: and we pray that all who seek you in this place may find you, and, being filled with the Holy Spirit, may become a living temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

Blessings, In Christ,

Your Shepherd

Fr Tommy