News Archive

Fulfilling the National Curriculum's Religious Education requirements could be quite a challenge when teaching children with moderate to severe learning disabilities. But, using the rhythm and repetition of rhyming slang enables Keith Park and his team to involve children in stories from the Bible.

We were delighted when Keith approached us to ask if the church would be able to host storytelling sessions for children from several schools - and we were doubly delighted when the Pearly King and Queen offered to help.

Following the success of this initiative, we now host regular Bible in Cockney events at St Mary-le-Bow.

Right: the Pearly King and Queen of Bow Bells help with the story telling.

The Rector was one of a group of clergy serving in the world's major financial centres, which met in Hong Kong in early June 2007 to share their experiences and develop their ministry.
The group first met last year in New York.

Right: pictured at St James's Settlement, a social care centre in Hong Kong

As part of our valued Mission Link with Chennai Cathedral, in south east India, we were delighted to welcome the Bishop of Madras to speak to us on 24th May 2007.

The Bishop gave a powerful presentation about the church's involvement with the struggle of the Dalit (untouchable) people of India, saying 'the Gospel touches the untouchable, and shows its transforming power in their lives.'

Four years of preparation came to fruition with the launch of St Mary-le-Bow: A History at the City of London Club on 19th September 2007. Present were many of the book’s contributors, patrons and subscribers, plus City dignitaries and representatives from some of the livery companies.

Dr Michael Byrne, co-editor, talked about the scope of the book and the great experience that it had been to work with so many luminaries. The collection of essays spans ten centuries and includes insights into architecture, social history, and the church today.

St Mary-le-Bow enjoys a historical association with the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Canterbury, whose Appeal court - the Court of Arches - is both a tribunal and the name of a part of out crypt. The Court sits at St Mary-le-Bow to confirm the elections of all Bishops of the Province of Canterbury, and Archbishops of both provinces.

On this occasion, the Archbishop of Canterbury presided over a Royal Commission of six other senior Bishops and several legal officials, to confirm the election of Dr John Sentamu as 97th Archbishop of York, on Wednesday 5th July 2005.