Among the treasures of our church is a lovely baptismal shell, given in memory of Cecil George Parsons, one of our choirboys who died over eighty years ago.   The money in the youngster’s Post Office Savings Account was used to purchase it.  It is touching that those grieving for the loss of a child should make such a gift: their generosity and sensitivity provided something delicate and appropriate which is used whenever a baby is baptised.  The scallop was the sign worn by pilgrims who had visited the shrine of St James at Compostela in North-West Spain.  It is a fitting reminder that we, too, are pilgrims.

 

Lent, beginning on Ash Wednesday, is a special time of pilgrimage.  The season seems to have originated in a period of rigorous preparation for adults who were to be baptised at Easter and thus become members of the Body of Christ, the Church.  It was also a time of penitence for those in need of forgiveness for serious public sin.  Lent later developed into a time of prayer and fasting for the wider Christian community as they looked forward to the celebration of the death and joyful resurrection of Christ in Holy Week and at Easter.

We, too, can join that pilgrimage now.

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