01/11/2026
Day 1: What does the Vicar of St Margaret’s actually do?
Like most mornings, I start with prayer. Today, that was combined with a walk as I continue to recover from a bad back. There is something beautiful about walking the streets of Olton and praying for all those who live, work, worship and pass through our community.
Back at my desk, it was time for what I call ‘pencil edits’. This is when I revisit my sermon notes, reflect and make any final adjustments. With three very different worship gatherings on a Sunday, there is plenty to prepare! I only focused on my morning sermons during this time due to the shift from this mornings All Saints focus to this evenings All Souls.
9.30am – Family Service
I arrived early to make final preparations alongside our amazing volunteers, including the tech team, churchwarden and Family Service leaders, who prepare a fabulous craft activity each week.
This lively, interactive service is popular with children and adults alike. Today, we thought about the saints in our lives. The service lasts around 30 minutes, followed by another 20–30 minutes of fellowship and exploring the theme through craft activities in the hall.
10.30am – Choral Communion
A very different style of worship, but equally special. Another large team of people help make this beautiful service happen. Using the liturgy from Common Worship, we come together through prayer, Bible readings, a sermon and the celebration of Holy Communion. Our choir really uplifts our worship, and their anthem after the sermon provides a particularly lovely moment for reflection.
After both morning services, we enjoy coffee and fellowship in the church hall. I love this time to catch up with people and hear about the joys and challenges of everyday life.
Back at the vicarage, I spent some time praying for people following pastoral conversations during the morning. Candles were lit.
After lunch, I caught up with emails, prepared this week's school collective worship PowerPoint and reflection, and made plans for our choir to sing at a local residential home and social club.
There was also some downtime with a trip to Solihull with my son, followed by another walk to help ease my back.
Later, it was back to work: final edits to the service outline and sermon for our Parish In Memoriam Service (All Souls). I also welcomed a visit from our PCSO following my recent reports of anti-social behaviour outside the vicarage.
6pm – Parish In Memoriam Service (All Souls)
This is a beautiful, reflective service, offering people the opportunity to remember loved ones they no longer see and to hold them before God.
Many of those attending have previously held funeral services for their loved ones at St Margaret's, or at a local crematorium. This evening, we remembered more than 150 people by name. I found our lead chorister's solo of ‘Pie Jesu’ particularly moving.
There were further conversations over coffee afterwards, and I am especially grateful to all the volunteers who helped lead and support this service.
So, that's day one! A very church-focused Sunday, with three different worship gatherings and, at a rough estimate, more than 30 volunteers helping to make them happen. Each one is living out their own discipleship through serving God and his people.
And finally, some downtime: a bit of television, my daily Duolingo lesson and a glass of Malbec!
That's a Sunday in the life of the Vicar of St Margaret's!
