The Anglican Church of Strasbourg
All activities outside Sunday worship
A study weekend at the Abbaye Notre Dame des Dombes, 01330 Le Plantay, from 9 to 11 March 2018, with a number of illustrious speakers, including Ephraim Radner and Annette Brownlee, Episcopalian theologians and professors at Wycliffe College in Toronto, who recently spent a sabbatical year at the Institute for Ecumenical Research in Strasbourg, and joined St. Alban’s in worship.
For more details: https://www.france-catholique.fr/En-chemin-vers-la-communion-a-la-decouverte-de-l-anglicanisme.html
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is observed annually, beginning on 18 January (Confession of St Peter) and concluding on 25 January (Conversion of St Paul). For this year churches in the Caribbean have prepared resources on the theme: “Your Right Hand, O Lord, Glorious in Power,” taken from Exodus 15:6.
On Sunday 21 January at 10h30, we will join in an ecumenical service with other neighbourhood churches at St Maurice,
41 avenue de la Forêt Noire (just on the other side of the Observatory).
THAT MEANS THAT THERE WILL BE NO SERVICE THAT DAY FOR THE ST. ALBAN’S CONGREGATION AT THE DOMINICAN CHURCH !
With the institution of St. Alban’s new Priest-in-Charge, the Revd. Dr. Mark Barwick, on 10 December, the Anglican church in Strasbourg was able to welcome the Bishop of Europe in Gibraltar, the Rt. Rev. Dr.Robert Innes and a whole clutch of Strasbourg clergy to celebrate the occasion with the congregation. Here are more pictures of a memorable service taken by Maryline William-Smith.
Left: Philippe Aviron-Violet, curé of St Maurice and St Bernard, Bishop Venuste Mutiganda, John Murray and Mark Barwick. Right: Fr. Hervé of the Dominicans. Bishop Robert at the lecturn.
Representatives of St. Alban’s – here Catheine Emezie and Richard Razafindratsima – present Mark with symbols of his ministry.
The Bishop and Archdeacon Meurig Williams give communion, with chalice-bearers Victoria Jacobs and Rufus Folaranmi.
Reader-in-Training Ozichi Baron leading the singing and drumming of the final hymn: “We are marching …”
Commemoration photo with visitors from Roman Catholic, Protestant and Evangelical churches in Strasbourg, churchwardens and St. Albans ministry team.
Good food for bishops and church veterans alike
Flanked by an impressive array of robed clergy from near and far, on Sunday 10 December the Revd. Mark Barwick was formally licensed as Priest-in-Charge of St. Alban’s Strasbourg by the Rt. Revd. Robert Innes, Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe, to give him his full title. It was Bishop Robert’s first visit to the Strasbourg church and the occasion could not have been more joyful. After a long vacancy of 4 years St. Alban’s at last has a new Priest-in-Charge. The Revd. Mark Barwick, his wife Corinna and their two children Madeleine and Elias, moved to Strasbourg from Brussels in September and have been warmly welcomed by the congregation. With the official institution Mark is now officially “en poste” for at least the next three years.
As the Bishop pointed out, in many ways Mark’s previous career has almost predestined him for the post of Priest in Strasbourg. He was ordained into the Episcopal Church and previously was assistant priest in Waterloo, Belgium. He speaks French and German, has worked with political institutions in Brussels and for many years was involved in conflict resolution with the Pax Christi organisation. During the instititution he was asked to affirm his loyalty to the Church of England and presented with a licence bearing an impressive red seal.
Among the visiting clergy were Jean-Georges Boeglin, Ecumenical officer of the Diocese of Strasbourg , Frère Hervé, Prior of our hosts the Dominicans, Philippe Aviron-Violet, curé of St Maurice and St Bernard, two representatives of the President and Vice-President of the Union des Eglises Protestantes d’Alsace et de Lorraine, Pastor Daniel Rivaud, representing the Entente Evangélique de Strasbourg and David Fieldsend, Reader from the Pro-Cathedral in Brussels. Mary Talbot from All Saints’ Geneva represented our former Priest-in-Charge, Alex Gordon, and his wife Geraldine. Their presence was an indication of the importance Mark attaches to tending the ecumenical relations already established by previous priests at St. Alban’s. The congregation turned out in force; the Malgache Chorale sang a Gloria, and the last hymn, “We are marching”, was accompanied by an enthusiastic group of drummers and singers.
The Malgache Chorale, led by Worship Leader Voahangy Ramananjatovo
In true and traditional Strasbourg fashion the institution was followed by one of St. Alban’s unforgettable feasts – conjured up by Victoria Jacobs, Anny Samuels and their helpers. It was a wonderful day with plenty of nourishment for mind, body and soul.
The Bishop of Europe was as enthusiastic as the congregation was: here is what he wrote in his blog.
Catherine Emezie writes:
I am pleased to invite you to the next women’s bible study and end of year pot luck dinner on Friday 8 December. A big thank you to Murielle Richardson who is hosting us at their home – 16 rue St Louis, 1st floor. (Bus 10 ‘St Thomas’, Tram ‘Porte de l’hôpital’ or ‘Grand’Rue’). Please bring along a main dish or dessert/drink.
We will begin with an amusing but not serious quiz (we all get to ask a question, I will supply them). We will then listen to a couple of personal testimonies and briefly reflect on some of the studies we’ve done in 2017.
It promises to be a fun and relaxing evening so I hope to see as many women come along. Feel free to bring a friend along too.
Please save the future meeting dates (2018):
Friday 19 January at 18.45
Friday 16 February at 18.45
Saturday 24 March at 09.00 breakfast meeting.
The churchwardens, Pauline Dif & Denis Le Moullac, present St. Alban’s choice of Mark Barwick as pastor and priest.
Bishop Robert, right, reading out the licence, to Mark Barwick, right, and Archdeacon Meurig Williams, centre. 
The Feast (or at least part of it!) Frère Hervé of the Dominicans on the right of Mark Barwick as he says grace.