For Christians, God - the creative source of all that there is - is understood most clearly as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three aspects of the one indivisible, unchanging and eternal being we call God. That there is a God who creates and redeems us in the power of his love is shown throughout the world's history but above all in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This God continually strengthens us for life's journey through his Holy Spirit. In relationship with God in the power of the Holy Spirit and in union with Christ, we can draw closer to God and grow in love of him. In baptism we become part of the body of Christ in the church and within the life of the church we are nurtured and travel together on our pilgrimage of life.

This relationship with God is built up through prayer, both personal and in common with other Christians, and through the sacraments of the church, particularly through receiving Holy Communion.

Prayer is nothing more nor less than communion with God, making contact in whatever way seems easiest to you. You need do no more than make space to listen to God by trying to find some stillness and quiet in which you can talk to God and listen. Although the idea of 'God' can seem remote to some people, in the person of Jesus we see (as one of the Churches prayers has it) 'the invisible God made visible and so we are caught up in the love of the God we cannot see'. None of us is worthy of God's love but his grace knows no limits. Just turn to him. Below are some prayers that you might find helpful. 

A prayer of St Columba

My dearest Lord,

be  a bright flame before me,

be  a guiding star above me,

be a smooth path beneath me,

be  a kindly shepherd behind me,

today and for ever more. Amen

Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known

and from whom no secrets are hidden;

cleanse the thoughts of my heart

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,

that I may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

(from the Book of Common Prayer)

Lord, I am hesitant and uncertain,

but will you, O God,

watch over each step of mine and guide me?

(a prayer of St Augustine of Hippo)

I hand over to your care, Lord

my soul and body,

my mind and thoughts,

my prayers and my hopes,

my health and my work,

my life and my death,

my parents and my family,

my friends and my neighbours,

my country and all people.

Today and always. Amen.

(prayer of Bishop Lancelot Andrewes)

Lord, lead me from death to life,

from falsehood to truth.

Lead me from despair to hope,

from fear to trust.

Lead me from hate to love,

from war to peace.

Let peace fill our hearts,

 our world our universe. Amen

(Benedictine prayer for peace)

ICON OF MARY, MOTHER OF GOD OF CLEMENCY 

^{© Yvonne Bell,  2004}or

The icon of the Madonna and Child is the most recent addition to the church. It was given in memory of Adrian Dwayne Worrell, a former altar boy, who was murdered in 2002. Dwayne's family is of Barbadian origin, and so it seemed appropriate to have a Black Madonna icon.

It was painted by Yvonne Bell, a Christian sacred artist and vestment maker, using the traditional methods of icon painting of egg tempera and gold leaf on solid wood. Yvonne was able to find a panel of  Iroko wood, an African hardwood to use. Traditionally icons of Mary and Jesus reflect her as 'Queen of Heaven' by using royal symbols and Yvonne has used African symbols of royalty in this tradition. The fabric prints are African and Mary's robe is in the material used for a royal family in Nigeria. The pink beaded bracelet is as worn by princesses in East Africa.

An icon is like a window onto the divine: by gazing on the picture it is possible to pray through the icon to the spiritual reality beyond. In the case of this icon, by focussing on the picture, we can enter into a new understanding of the incarnation of Jesus, his humanity represented by his relationship with his mother and a deeper understanding of Mary and the way in which she enabled the incarnation to take place. Jesus looks at his mother and she, embracing him, looks out at us and draws us too into the picture in prayer.