Minster Making

On Sunday 29 May, Croydon Parish Church was filled with people eager to celebrate the Re-dedication and Renewal of the church as Croydon Minster.

In the presence of the Mayor of Croydon and civic and community leaders, Bishop Christopher dedicated the Minster by anointing key places in the building with holy oil, starting with the main door and moving round the church to the high altar. He consecrated the congregation and commissioned them to go out into the world to work for the building up of Christ’s kingdom.

In his sermon, Bishop Christopher brought greetings and blessings from the Archbishop of Canterbury and talked about making history, in Croydon’s faith and civic communities, as well as in the Diocese and wider church by bestowing Minster status on the church.

At the end of the service Canon Colin Boswell, the Vicar, thanked the various civic dignitaries for attending and gave special thanks to all the people that had made the Minster look so beautiful and all the staff that had worked so hard on all the preparations for the event.

The Minster-Making was part of a continuing ‘Minster Week’ of celebrations which also included a gala dinner, a guided tour of the ‘Three Treasures’ – the Old Palace of John Whitgift, the Whitgift Almshouses and the Minster – as well as a Children’s’ Art & Craft Morning.