Subject: News from the University Church of St Mary the Virgin

The Bridge between the Years


Between the bell and bell a flower, a brazen calyx of no noise
Silence is the bridge between the years, the cusp

We have been exploring Quaker style silences in my college chapel, and this took a new twist in our latest lockdown. We were due to meet at 5.15pm for 20 minutes online silence, which none of us had ever tried before. I duly logged on to Teams and waited in silence, and no one else appeared during the whole time. I felt a bit foolish, having initiated something that no one turned up to (college chaplains have to get used to this) but I had enjoyed being in silence, and went back to my emails, when I found that the Principal's Assistant was fervently looking for me, and that several people were gathered in silence in another Teams meeting room. In fact, they were all enjoying it so much that no one would break the silence, and they might have stayed there indefinitely if I hadn't been called in to release them. So this was Oxford in Seventh Week: people really needing silence, delighting in it, feasting on it.

2020, strange as it has been, has brought the gift of silence. The planes stopped, the traffic went quiet, the schools closed. Silence came over the land. People went for walks because there was nothing else they were allowed to do. And what is coming round the corner, what are we looking forward to in 2021?

I have absolutely no idea because 2020 has proved the futility of predictions. But I am sure that silence will be our helper in whatever is to come. Silence which gives us a breathing space and a chance to open ourselves to the Infinite. And if you are looking for a New Year's resolution, why not try being silent with friends?  


The Revd Susannah Reide

Message from the Vicar


In the last few days, the Diocese of Oxford issued a statement which included the following observation: 'Whilst it remains permissible for churches to continue to be open for their usual worship provision, we are encouraging parishes/benefices in the Diocese of Oxford to take a very cautious approach in the weeks ahead. It is entirely acceptable (and may be preferable in some cases, following a careful risk assessment by clergy and church officers) to move to online provision only at this time.’


Along with the churchwardens, I have weighed this advice carefully in recent days. We recognise that with a new strain of the virus, we need to take precautions while the Tier 4 arrangements remain in place. Sunday worship will continue with the 8.30am and 10.30am celebrations of the Eucharist. We have slightly reduced the numbers that can attend, because even though everyone has been sitting at 2 metre distances while wearing masks, by reducing the overall number of people attending we continue to reduce the risks of infection. If you have registered for services tomorrow, you can be assured that they will go ahead.


The 10.30am Sung Eucharist will be recorded and broadcast at 12noon. The Eucharist will be accompanied by a Cantor, and we will need to carry out a further risk assessment to determine whether the choir may sing in the course of the Hilary Term. Midweek worship will take place online and the church will be closed during the week. We will be able to reopen the church for private prayer when we have more information about the risks posed by the new variant.


These are difficult times, and please bear with us as we negotiate the latest iteration of government policy and church guidance. The most important thing is that all of you remain safe. I am enormously grateful to our staff and volunteers for helping to keep the church open - but I also need to ensure their health and safety. In the next couple of weeks, the clergy will be in touch with you by phone or email just to see how you are. You are very much in our prayers, and we hope that as the vaccine is rolled out, we will be able to resume the usual pattern of public worship and private prayer. In the mean time, please don’t hesitate to get in touch if we can help you with anything.


With every blessing,

The Revd Dr William Lamb

Sunday 3 January: The Feast of the Epiphany


Sunday Services

There will be two services on Sunday 3 January.


Those attending must have registered on Eventbrite to ensure that we have your contact details for test and trace, and to ensure that we maintain social distancing.


8.30am - Holy Eucharist in the Chancel

Register Here

10.30am - Sung Eucharist in the Nave

Register here.


On the day of the service, please remember to arrive in good time to ensure everyone gets seated in a safe and organised manner before the beginning of the service. It is a legal requirement to wear a mask when attending our services, unless you are exempt.


Registration for services on Sunday 10 January 2021 will be possible on the website at 11am on Sunday 3 January

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St Mary's Church, High Street, OX1 4BJ, Oxford, United Kingdom

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