Last Sunday, the St. James’s clergy team arrived at St. Bart’s bright and early to meet with the clergy for a run-through of the 9 am Eucharist, the Forum, and the 11 am Eucharist. There was an uncanny feeling amongst us all that we had all gathered in this way before, but this visit with all six of us is, as you know, the first time we’ve all been together. Peter described our arrival as the ‘British Invasion’ – and, like the Beatles, we are so glad to be here to see and affirm that at St. Bart’s, ‘all you need is love’.

It is an honour and a delight to get to know you all, and to find out how much our parishes and our ministries in London and New York have in common. There is more to come, and you are all warmly invited to visit St. James’s (and be part of our online community too!). Alongside celebrating the St. James’s Wren Project (with over 200 people including the Duke of Edinburgh and actor Adjoa Andoh) on Tuesday night, Imagine Worship’s theme of ‘Wonder’,  a lunch with New York women clergy to reflect on the challenges and hopes we share, the Met art and theology tour with Meredith and Ayla, Lucy’s ‘Reading the Bible with Your Feet’ conversation at the Forum on Sunday, and both Lucy and Mariama in the St. Bart’s pulpit for the 11 am Eucharist to celebrate Eastertide, there has been, as the prayer goes, ‘more than we could ask or imagine’. The hospitality we have experienced at St. Bart’s is immeasurable. We will return to London transformed and inspired, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit, our hearts filled with gratitude.

The Revd. Dr. Ayla Lepine
Associate Rector, St. James's Piccadilly, London