Service of repentance held in ‘cradle of the English Reformation’

A service of repentance, forgiveness and intercession for unity took place at the Anglican church of St Edward King and Martyr, Cambridge on 16 November.

The ecumenical evensong of unity commemorated the five hundredth anniversary of a sermon given by Robert Barnes at St Edward’s on Christmas Eve,1525, in which he criticised clerical corruption.

Coming at a time when Martin Luther’s ideas were beginning to spread in England, the sermon helped set in motion events which led to the split between the church in England and the Catholic Church. St Edward King and Martyr is often referred to as “the cradle of the English Reformation.”

The purpose of the service was to “recognise the wounds of the past” and to “look forward to the hope of the future.” Prayers and scripture readings were chosen to reflect themes of unity and peace amongst Christians.

Revd Dr Mark Scarlata, vicar Chaplain at St Edward’s welcomed more than 100 people to the church, including pastors, ministers and lay people from local churches. The Catholic Bishop of East Anglia Peter Collins preached from the same pulpit where Barnes’ original sermon was preached, calling for unity amongst Christians. Bishop Collins said: “We must unite and we must hold common voice for all to hear, for Christ alone brings integrity — to the individual soul and to the face of the earth.”

Gerard Banaszkiewicz, who helped organise the service, is part of a small group of Christians from various denominations who met regularly at St Edward’s to pray for unity when the idea for a service emerged.

Banaszkiewicz told The Tablet: “In July 2024, during prayer, several thoughts converged: the coming 500th anniversary of the English Reformation, the role of St Edward’s as its ‘cradle’ their longing for unity, and the sense of a wound in Christ’s body caused by sin and division.”

 “Believing the Lord was saying He wanted to bring healing,” Banaszkiewicz added, the group proposed a service of repentance and unity, which was “warmly welcomed by Revd Dr Scarlata.”

Birmingham parishioner Mark Gannon told The Tablet he had a “sense” the service was “an important moment.”

Gannon said: “The Church of St Edward, the pulpit, the welcome of Rev Scarlata and the deep significance of seeing Bishop Peter preach with his ecumenical heart from the Barnes pulpit: all gave a tangible sign of the immense desire for unity and healing between our communions.”

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