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 Programme front cover for the Bradwell, Essex pilgrimage |
Despite the initial teething problems, there is every indication that the parish of St. Thomas of Canterbury had amicable relations with neighbouring churches. The Franciscan Fathers often met local vicars and parsons during joint pastoral work in hospitals, schools and at civic receptions. The birth of ecumenicism proper, the child of the second Vatican Council, only stimulated the parishes involvement in this area, as one Father guardian wrote in the parish journal, "Ecumenical doings go from strength to strength". Franciscan fathers preached at the Congregational and Methodist chapels as well as local Anglican parishes. Teach-ins took place at St. Barnabas. There were ecumenical pilgrimages to the Saxon church of St. Cedd of Bradwell, joint socials at Buckhurst Hill. Good Neighbour schemes on the Broadmead Estate whilst Church Unity Week in January and Christian Aid Week Have always been generously supported by the parish.
At the same time the parish, even in pre-war years, became well known for its support of the Franciscan Mission Appeal and eagerly participated in schemes to help the Third World. The s.v.p. of St. Thomas of Canterbury was twinned with that of Kerala in India whilst further examples of the generosity of the parish to the wider world is seen in the traumatic year 1984: £2,000 for Ethiopia: £600 to help relieve effects of the African drought: £3,000 to c.a.f.o.d. £1,400 for the Amakhasi Project, to sink wells for the Zulu tribes of South Africa.
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 1994: Clare Halfpenny, standing, top left, is one of the volunteers the parish sponsors every year to work in the third World. Bottom Right: Clare, in Zambia, helping Charlie enjoy his first lolly pop. |