St Augustine’s welcomed Bishop Sarah Plowman on Saturday as part of her official duties to chair the election of office bearers for the 2025 Parish Council Annual General Meeting. 

The gathering was not only a key administrative event but also a moment of spiritual reflection, as Bishop Sarah delivered a sermon that resonated with the congregation.

In her address, Bishop Sarah spoke about the unique nature of Anglican worship, highlighting that Anglicans draw inspiration not only from Holy Scripture but also from the Anglican Prayer Book. She emphasised that the prayer book serves as a guide, shaping how Anglicans articulate and live out their faith.

A special mention was given to the St Augustine’s Op Shop, which Bishop Sarah described as inseparable from the church itself. She commended the shop’s role in the wider community, describing it as the church in action,reflecting the values of service, outreach, and compassion at the heart of the parish.

Her visit reinforced the strong sense of faith and community that defines St Augustine’s, leaving parishioners inspired and reaffirmed in their mission.

New system music to our ears

St Augustine’s has installed a state-of-the-art music system, which was used for the first time at Saturday’s communion service. The system was generously provided by Brad Cornish, son of Rev. John Cornish, with assistance from Rev. John’s brother, Phil, and Parish Councillor Paul Commins.

John Leach, who is operating the system, is delighted with the outcome and praised Brad for making the equipment available from his collection. While the system is well-designed, there are still several features yet to be commissioned, including an app that can be controlled via iPhone.

During trials on Tuesday, the sound quality was so impressive that there are now plans to use the system while the op shop is open, allowing background music to enhance the atmosphere.