Welcome to the Church of St Mary, Harrow on the Hill:
a place of peace and prayer for all people for over 900 years.
Hello!
Welcome, and thank you for visiting us.
St Mary's Church has been ministering to the community of Harrow for over 900 years and is still Harrow's most recognisable landmark. We remain a lively presence in what has become the most religiously diverse borough in the UK.
A message from our Vicar, the Rev'd James Power
This Sunday - Sunday 6 December - is the Second Sunday of Advent and I am delighted to report that we will be back in church to worship! The Eucharist will be celebrated at 10.30 a.m.
An "on-line version of the service can be found here
St Mary's is open for private prayer Wednesday - Saturday from 11.00 a.m. - 3.00 p.m.
Do you need support or company - or do you know anyone else who does?
A visit (where possible); a telephone call; help with shopping etc?
Please do contact us: we are glad to help.
The Church Office is currently closed but we are checking phone and email messages daily.
Email: stmarys.harrow@btinternet.com
Tel: 020 8423 4014 (answerphone: leave your contact details)
With all good wishes,
Fr James
The December/January Edition of THE SPIRE is here
A Heritage Trail produced by Judith Shepherd under the "umbrella" of both St Mary's and the Harrow Hill Trust is available here.
Recordings of services are available on the Services page of this website.
Sermons and Reflections are available here
NEW PARKING SCHEME UPDATE:
Please be aware the new Car Parking Zone which affects Church Hill comes into operation from 1 December..
Messages or queries for St Mary's?
Please contact our Parish Office here. The office is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Advent is marks the beginning of a new Church year when we begin telling the story all over again. It's obvious focus is preparation of the coming of God in the vulnerable child of Bethlehem but it also directs us to what we refer to as the Second Coming, when Jesus will return in judgement. The traditional themes of this season are sometimes referred to as "four last things": heaven, hell, death and judgement". We perhaps feel a little less comfortable in addressing these more challenging aspects of our existence which may be why we prefer to escape into the more superficial aspects of an "early" Christmas celebration; yet, if we are prepared to allow these more disturbing themes to direct our thoughts and prayers, we will discover - as perhaps these past months of pandemic have demonstrated - that we have to take the issue of death seriously and grasp the truth that the path to resurrection is the path to the cross.The Psalmist writes, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over." Ps 23:4-5 The paradox is that by embracing the whole story, by confronting the death that is life's only certainty, we discover a both comfort and joy of the Gospel. I wish you a holy and fruitful Advent where the light truly shines in the darkness!