Come along to these Thomas Traherne Events, celebrating the 350th anniversary since this great 17th century poet and mystic's death and burial under St Mary with St Alban Church, 1674.

Traherne was born in Hereford and studied in Oxford before coming to St Mary's, Teddington in 1667 as Chaplain, where he is now pictured in the east window. His luminous writings were rediscovered in the nineteenth century and promoted by TS Eliot. His works are now widely read, and over 100 composers have set parts of them to music:

Thursday 10: 7.30pm Requiem Eucharist to mark the 350th anniversary of Traherne's burial here at St Mary with St Alban.

Saturday 12:  5.00pm Celebration & Commemoration Evening in church (a free, ticketed event): a wonderful opportunity to enjoy Traherne's poetry, both spoken and set to music, alongside talks by Bishop Lord Richard Harries, the theologian, writer and broadcaster, and Professor Sarah Hutton, from Oxford University's Traherne Project. With a a chance to chat over wine & nibbles:

    • Readings of Traherne poetry and prose
    • Performance of choral and instrumental works based on Traherne writings
    • Talks by Bishop Lord Richard Harries and Professor Sarah Hutton
    • Wine and nibbles
    • Tickets are free - with bar available and donations requested for drinks.
    • Click here for tickets

Sunday 13: Sunday Services:

    • 8.00am Communion Service: Said Requiem for Traherne
    • 9.00am Family Service, to include Traherne based stories/music for children
    • 10.00am Parish Eucharist, focusing on Traherne, with choir/organ pieces

Also on Monday 7, Tuesday 8, Wednesday 9, and Friday 11 Morning and Evening Prayer will be held on Zoom, to include short pieces of Traherne poetry and music based on his writings. Click here for Zoom link (password: 014549). Click here for more details about how Morning & Evening Prayer on Zoom works.

Wednesday 23 October: Sign-up now to join this parish trip to Choral Evensong at Magdalen College, as part of the Thomas Traherne 350 celebrations being held there and at Brasenose. Depart from SMwSA about 2pm. Arrive Oxford @3.30pm. Tea, etc. Meet at Magdalen College 5.30/45pm. Service starts at 6pm prompt. The service is free and unticketed.  There will be travel costs to pay, once we know numbers. Click here to sign-up.

We will be delighted to welcome anyone to all of these events, to commemorate this anniversary.

Click here to find out more about Thomas Traherne's life.

Also an invitation has been kindly extended by the Oxford Traherne in collaboration with Brasenose College, Oxford, which will run events from Sunday 20 - Friday 25 October, to include a library exhibition, choral evensong at both Brasenose and Magdalen, and workshops. Everyone is welcome.  Click here for more details.