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.
Coronavirus update:
a message from our Vicar, the Rev James Power
From Monday 23 March, St Mary's Church will be closed to the public, as will all other C of E churches in London.
We close our doors with heavy hearts, but knowing that it is vital that we all do our utmost to limit the spread of coronavirus infection.
We are still praying together - spiritually as close as ever, while separated physically - and will continue to find ways of maintaining contact and serving all the people of the parish.
Recordings of some services will be available on the Services page of this website.
Here is part of the message which the bishops of London's four dioceses have sent out (you can read the letter in full here):
"We have all heard the strong calls from the Mayor and the Prime Minister not to leave home unless it is essential, and not to use public transport unless we have to ...
... In light of this, the time has come, in London, not only for us to suspend public worship, but for us to close our church buildings entirely. In doing this we demonstrate how important physical distancing is in saving lives."
All public services of worship at St Mary's Harrow on the Hill - and across the whole Church of England - have stopped for the time being. This follows advice from the UK Government to avoid all non-essential personal contact and avoid public gatherings. You can read the full advice here, including a letter from the Archbishops of York and Canterbury.
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 open on Tuesdays and Thursdays 9am – 2pm 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,
James
NEW PARKING SCHEME UPDATE:
Please be aware that work starts on 23 March to mark out parking bays and install meters on Church Hill. There will be no parking on Church Hill until these works are finished.
Messages or queries for St Mary's?
Please contact our Parish Office here. The office is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Thoughts from James
Into the unknown
At the dark of the year of 1939, the young Princess Elizabeth handed her father, George VI, a poem which he quoted from as part of his Christmas message. For many who heard it, it remained a source of courage and comfort.
I shared the first part of it with the choir on Sunday as our vestry prayer before Choral Evensong. In this uncertain and challenging time it seems right to share the whole poem more widely. The author is Minnie Louise Haskins.
And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”
And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”
So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night.
And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.
So heart be still:
What need our little life
Our human life to know,
If God hath comprehension?
In all the dizzy strife
Of things both high and low,
God hideth His intention.
God knows. His will
Is best. The stretch of years
Which wind ahead, so dim
To our imperfect vision,
Are clear to God. Our fears
Are premature; In Him,
All time hath full provision.
Then rest: until
God moves to lift the veil
From our impatient eyes,
When, as the sweeter features
Of Life’s stern face we hail,
Fair beyond all surmise
God’s thought around His creatures
Our mind shall fill.