UNVEILING AND BLESSING OF THE WINDING WHEEL AND MEMORIAL WALL

Sunday 26th October 2025

Archbishop John and Fr Graham assisted in the unveiling and blessing of the Winding Wheel that has been positioned in front of the Memorial Wall.

The main coal mine in Rugeley was Lea Hall Colliery, which opened in 1960 and closed in 1991. It was notable for being the first mine planned and sunk by the National Coal Board and was a key part of the "first joint venture in Britain" with the adjacent Rugeley A Power Station, which took its coal directly by conveyor belt. Before Lea Hall, smaller private mines like Brereton Colliery also existed in the area. 

Coal mining has a deep historical impact on communities, shaping their culture, infrastructure, and identity, while the decline of the industry has left many former mining areas with lasting challenges like unemployment, poor health, and a sense of neglect. Recent reports highlight the ongoing issues in these communities, such as lower-than-average life expectancy, lack of sustainable jobs, and political disenchantment, often compounded by the legacy of environmental and social injustices associated with the industry. 

Lea Hall Colliery alongside the Power Station was the backbone of this local community and after both industries closed it had a profound effect on this community.  However, memorials like these keep the spirit of coal mining alive and never forgotten. 

Why I don't celebrate Halloween.

By the Rt. Rev. Serge Burglé

As Christians, we should not celebrate Halloween.

Halloween, if it can be called a festival, comes from Celtic paganism (especially from Ireland and Scotland). It was a celebration of the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter, which is common in ancient paganism. But it was also a festival of the dead, in the form of "ghosts" and, by assimilation, a festival of evil spirits and mythological figures, such as fairies. There were bonfires on this occasion and it is possible that there were also human sacrifices. It lasted 4 days, but the most important was the 1st day: this will coincide, from the 8th century AD, with the vigils of All Saints, that is to say the evening of October 31st. Hence its name  Halloween,  "All Saints' Eve."

Then this celebration was established in America, especially from the 19th century, with the massive arrival of Irish immigrants in the United States. And for about twenty years, we have been trying to establish it in France, for essentially commercial reasons. But I think that the activity of the sub-Heaven spirits and the dechristianization of our country are not unrelated to this.

What should we think about this in substance? Let us base ourselves on the Lord's words: "A tree is judged by its fruits."

First, it must be remembered that paganism, which is often seen in our time from a cultural, sympathetic angle, was a spiritual and moral horror. It consisted of worshipping idols, which were demons, as Christ Himself taught (He describes "Beelzebub" , the ancient Phoenician divinity, as "prince of demons", that is to say, Satan, in the Gospel of Saint Matthew, 12:24), of performing bloody sacrifices (originally human, then animal) and of practising magic and witchcraft. We no longer realize in our time that Christ delivered us from the grip of demons, which was terrible.

In Halloween events, people dress up as anything that evokes death, ugliness, and fear: skeletons, horrible, frightening characters, wizards or witches... But death is a horror that was not intended by God. Ugliness and fear come exclusively from the underworld, because God is beautiful. God is the supreme beauty, and everything He created is beautiful, and He is the one who always reassures and inspires confidence. Fear is the weapon of demons because it allows them to have control over beings, while God always liberates. Those who dress up as horrible and ridiculous characters forget that demons strive to disfigure Man because he is the image of God, and they are jealous of him.

As for witchcraft, it is an abomination: its aim is always to force someone to do what they do not want or to prevent them from doing what they want. It enslaves beings, imprisons them, mutilates them and can even destroy them. There is no good magic: all magic comes from below. And all this happens in the dark, with smoke, cobwebs and spiders… But who would like to live in the dark, among spiders? No normal human being can really take pleasure in these things, in ugliness, in fear, in wickedness. It is a delusion to believe that it can be pleasant. If those who say it were really in the situations they simulate, they would “weep and gnash their teeth” , as the Scripture says. Hell cannot be pleasant: it is the opposite of the Kingdom of God, the opposite of the “Garden of Delight.”

We must reject this, denounce this imposture and this stupidity. There is a saint who has shown us the example, it is  St. John of San Francisco and Shanghai. He fought strongly against this pseudo-tradition in the American-Russian milieu of San Francisco. On the eve of November 1, 1964, noticing that there was no one at the vigils of the day when St. John of Kronstadt was to be canonized (a cause for which he had fought), he burst into a place where there was a large "costume" ball for the Halloween celebration and went around the room looking at the people carefully, without saying a word. Everyone was petrified, and they were ashamed. 

This pseudo-festival is the exact opposite of All Saints' Day, which is associated with the feast of the dead. On All Saints' Day, we celebrate those who, through martyrdom or asceticism, have achieved the goal of life, namely to become like God, those who have "become gods by grace," that is, who are deified. And on All Saints' Day, we pray that our deceased may complete in their heavenly path what they began in their earthly path, namely  "reach the glory of the heavenly Kingdom." While the proponents of Halloween are focused on death and the kingdom of the dead, forgetting that Christ is risen and has conquered death. We celebrate those who enjoy bliss and eternal life, they are content that their ancestors lie in death, in the company of demons. These are two opposing paths.

If you see children ringing your doorbell, dressed as skeletons, witches, or devils, asking for candy, have the audacity to say: I do not like death, I prefer life. Christ is risen!

Fr Thomas visits St George's Serbian Orthodox Church in Leicester

If we are not active as part of a whole, working toward a higher goal, we will deteriorate inwardly and outwardly.  Only if our hearts are in a task greater than ourselves will we thrive in earthly matters too.  Society will deteriorate, physically and spiritually, unless each of its members has a task to fulfill for the sake of the common good and for creation - for God. 

From the book: NOW IS ETERNITY

FR THOMAS LEADS A MINI PILGRIMAGE TO MOUNT ST BERNARD'S ABBEY

The Faithful Companions of Mary (the Most Holy Theotokos) founded in 2025

A dispersed community of religious sisters whose charism is to assist the Blessed Virgin Mary in her apostolic mission of bringing souls to Christ, offering a unique path to religious life, combining traditional values with a focus on service, prayer, conforming to the Canons, the Rule, Code of Conduct and Safeguarding Policy of the Society of Traditional Old Catholics.  

We are an uncloistered and dispersed Religious Order of women, single, celibate or married, living in their own homes. Established by the Society of Traditional Old Catholics.

If you feel you are being called to this unique ministry, please contact us: info@thesocietyoftraditionaloldcatholics.com

In Christianity, integrity means living a life that is morally upright, honest, and consistent with Christian beliefs and values, both privately and publicly.  It involves aligning one's actions, words, and thoughts with the teachings of the Bible and striving to reflect God's character.  A person of integrity is someone who is trustworthy, sincere, and steadfast in their commitment to righteousness. 

ARMENIAN MINISTRIES VISIT FR THOMAS AT THE METHODIST HOUSING TRUST

FIRST MASS FOR THE SOCIETY OF TRADITIONAL OLD CATHOLICS AT THE GUILD HALL

Mass was celebrated at the Guild Hall in Lichfield on Sunday 16th February 2025.  The Tridentine Mass was said according to Archbishop Arnold Harris Mathews translation of the Latin Rite to the vernacular. 

The Guild Room was a perfect venue for this historic event.  It has been supported by clergy, laity and funeral directors. 

The first Guildhall was erected on this site about 1387, when Richard II granted ordinances to the Guild of St Mary and St John the Baptist, which had already been in existence for many years.  Traces of the early Guildhall can still be seen in the courtyard at the rear of the building, but there have been many additions and alterations to the building over the years.  Image below.

CELL ESTABLISHED IN THE PHILIPPINES

It is with great pleasure that we inform you that The Society of Traditional Old Catholics has now established a Cell in the Philippines.  Reverend Fr Robert B Cabanog was received into membership.  This fraternal affiliation will allow us to support each other in a project aimed at advancing the Gospel on our continents.  

May the Lord bless us in this endeavour.

 REMEMBRANCE SERVICE

MEETING AT THE GUILD HALL

RECOMMENDED READING 

ST MARY'S ABBEY IS TO BE RESTORED

BISHOP SERGE OFFICIATES THE SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE IN FRANCE

The marriage of Jennifer and Ludovic.

We met at the Bergerie du Mas de Payan in Saint-Martin-de-Crau Bouches-du-Rhône) to celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage between Jennifer and Ludovic.  Despite the pouring rain, we found refuge under a marquee. The ceremony took place with joy and good humour.  “Rainy marriage, happy marriage” says an old French saying.  This pretty Christian family is well known to the Saint Hilaire Mission.  Indeed, the Rt. Rev. Serge had already baptized, a few years ago, their two children Nolan and Anaé, as well as Jennifer who entered the Christian life on the same day as Anaé.  After the emotional speeches of certain relatives and the reading of the Gospel, the Celebrant underlined the presence of the Lord in the evolution of the life of their family.

We wish them many blessings.

ORATORY

ARCHBISHOP JOHN & FR GRAHAM CELEBRATE AT THE ORATORY OF ST JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA

WHAT A BLESSED DAY 

TYBURN CONVENT LONDON

REMEMBERING ARCHBISHOP ARNOLD HARRIS MATHEW

COFFEE MORNING IN AID OF A LOCAL HOSPICE