The Rector writes ...   

Once again the media is full of the convulsions of the Irish Church. St Paul reminds us: “if one part (of the Body of Christ) is hurt, all parts are hurt with it (I Corinthians 12:26), and although the sociology of another national church is not ours still we cannot remain unaffected by the difficulties of any of our brothers and sisters. Jesus warned his disciples that they would never be free of the attentions of the Devil, and we must be absolutely clear in recognising and condemning the activity of evil in our midst. When trust is betrayed through any kind of abusive relationship – be it physical, sexual, emotional or psychological – it is just plain wrong, and the damage done to the victims of abuse ought never to be under-estimated. That there have been systemic failures at so many levels is obvious, and while we need to keep a sense of proportion as to the actual scale of the problem, it is totally unacceptable that any young or vulnerable person should ever be put at risk while in the care of the Church. The words of the Good Shepherd are a timely warning that this particular form of evil must not be tolerated or excused: “Obstacles are sure to come, but alas for the one who provides them. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone put around his neck than that he should lead astray a single one of these little ones. Watch yourselves!” (Luke 17: 2)

Lessons are being learned. The protection procedures which have been introduced and are in force at every level of the Church’s life both nationally and locally are among the strictest, and it is right that they should be so. But our sensitivity to the Church’s institutional failures and the sinful acts of some of its members must not cloud our understanding of the Gospel message of reconciliation. It is our understanding that Christ’s atoning sacrifice on Calvary opens up the possibility of forgiveness for any and every sin: there is no one who is now beyond God’s reach, and full restoration to human dignity is offered even those who have fallen into the gravest of evils. Of course, there has first to be an acknowledgment of personal responsibility for sin, then a realistic purpose of amendment and, where possible, meaningful restitution or reparation. Where these conditions are met, we see the full beauty and significance of the parable of the Prodigal Son – the Father’s arms always open to embrace and welcome home his beloved children who have strayed. Of course, the Church and wider society must do everything to ensure that those responsible for abuse of the vulnerable are not in a position to offend again – but Christ’s compassion extends to abuser as well as abused, and no one should be dismissed as being beyond the mercy of God.

Last weekend’s reportage of the situation in Ireland included clips of a gathering in Dublin of those wanting to use the present crisis to secure changes within the Church’?s discipline (priestly celibacy should be optional, a female priesthood, local election of bishops, etc). While in no way wishing to question the integrity of those seeking such changes, it seems to me that the answer is a much more radical one, and lies where it has always been – in the individual quest for holiness of life. Much of the problem lies –as I see it – with conforming ourselves to the mores of the world rather than being conformed to the standards of Christ (most of the cases of abuse seem to come from the 1960’s and 1970’s at the height of the sexual revolution when traditional morality was undermined and many Christians came to accept that “the world should write the Church’s agenda”). Clichéd “solutions” are no substitute for the daily struggle for conversion, for living the life of the virtues, for opening ourselves to the action of grace. Christ’s words to his first disciples echo in every age: “you must be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect” Matthew 5:48) - his Church cannot be other than “semper reformanda”, but the greater challenge is to us, her individual members, to become what our Baptism calls us to be “coheirs with Christ, sharing his suffering so as to share his glory” (Romans 8:17).

Christopher Colven

Our Church


Our Church is right in the heart of London. It is a spiritual oasis to many people who come in for silent prayers and personal devotion. It serves the deep needs of those who desire to get away from the hurly burly of city life. On the other hand, the various parish liturgical services reflect the richness of catholic traditions and its pastoral orientation caters for all categories of people especially the young and those searching for truth.
The location of the church is not actually in Spanish Place as its predecessor used to be, but in George Street, almost at the corner of George Street and Marylebone High Street. Nearest Subway or Underground stations are Baker Street and Bond Street. For directions click here.