Parish communion celebrated Holy Cross Day, a time, as lay reader Betty Booker reminded us in her sermon, to ponder why Jesus had to die in such a terrible way on Good Friday.

The focus was sharpened by the news of the dreadful death of aid worker David Haines. Betty said sin and evil is deeply rooted in all of us, but by looking up at the cross we know that God provided the remedy for our sins in Jesus and the door to new life.

The Rev Jane Bradbury presided at communion, with Canon David Miller introducing the service. Marjorie Searle read the lesson and Maureen Grattan-Kane led the prayers. During communion the choir sang an arrangement of “Dear Lord and Father of Mankind”, directed by Chris Bradbury and accompanied by Richard Berry.