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The Anglican Church of All Saints

Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife North

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Midweek Letter

Click here to read this week’s, 1st February Midweek Letter.

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Notices

7th February – Tuesday

6:00pm – Interclub Quiz – hosted by ESTA (The English Speaking Theatrical Association)


8th February, Wednesday

10:00am – Holy Communion – Celebrant: Fr Peter Cavanagh
11:15am – Bible Study/Prayer Group


12th February, The Second Sunday before Lent

11am Sung Eucharist – Celebrant & Preacher Fr Peter Cavanagh


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Midweek Letter

1st February 2023

We are now almost at the end of the spring Romerías, and I have been asked by several visitors what these Fiestas are and their history. I have discovered that these events which occur at several villages around the Island, notable in Arona, Tigaiga and Buenavista, venerate the memory of Saint Antonio Abad who is known as the patron saint of many groups including amputees, gravediggers and epileptics. But, he is probably most famous as the patron saint of animals, domestic or otherwise. Thus the Romerías also include a livestock fair. They occur in the spring and are calling blessings on the animals, and the land for the coming productive season.

In the English tradition Saint Antonio Abad is generally known as Anthony the Great, who was born in Egypt in about 12th January 251 and died 17th January 356 at the grand old age of 105.

He lived the life of an hermit and is thought to be the first Monk. Anthony was not the first ascetic or hermit, but he may properly be called the “Father of Monasticism” in Christianity, as he organized his disciples into a community and later, following the spread of Athanasius’s hagiography, was the inspiration for similar communities throughout Egypt and elsewhere. Macarius the Great was a disciple of Anthony. Visitors travelled great distances to see the celebrated holy man. Anthony is said to have spoken to those of a spiritual disposition, leaving the task of addressing the more worldly visitors to Macarius. Macarius later founded a monastic community in the Scetic desert.

The fame of Anthony spread and reached Emperor Constantine, who wrote to him requesting his prayers. The brethren were pleased with the Emperor’s letter, but Anthony was not overawed and wrote back exhorting the Emperor and his sons not to esteem this world but remember the next.

In 338, he left the desert temporarily to visit Alexandria to help refute the teachings of Arius. He then returned to his life as an hermit.

After his death  Anthony was interred, according to his instructions, in a grave next to his cell.

Back to Tenerife and the Romerías. These follow a similar pattern wherever they are celebrated. Starting with a Mass in the Parish Church, followed by a procession bearing an image of the Saint through the streets to the village square where all the local animals, oxen, sheep, goats and other farm livestock, also a whole collection of domestic animals of all shapes and sizes are amassed, and, amid the noise, smells, and confusion, the Priest blesses all the animals.

Then the local produce is presented to the assembled crowd and the party begins. The Canary Islanders are very good at turning Religious events into Fiestas. So amid the cacophony of noise, aromas etc. from all the animals and the colourful and intricate local costumes of the islanders, with the aid of the local band(s) of musicians the dancing and partying continues into the late evening.

Long live the traditions of the Island with the joy that the Christian fellowship brings. As we leave the season on Romerías we move forward into the Carnival season, with its associated Fiestas and maybe excess, leading up to the period of fasting in Lent.

Peter Lockyer
Reader

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All Saints’ Church is part of the Anglican Communion
Diocese in Europe.

Latest Newsletter

August 2022 Newsletter

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Follow @allSts_tenerife

Services & Events Schedule

SUNDAY:
11:00am – Sung Eucharist

WEDNESDAY:
10:00am – Holy Communion
11:15am – Bible Study & Prayer Group


For the latest information about Car Boot Sales (updated 14th June 2022), please click here.

For the list of dates of future quizzes through to June 2023, please click here

Contact Us – Who’s who

Chaplain:  Vacancy
tel: +34 605 48 67 92
email: allsaintsnorthtenerife@gmail.com
Assistant Priest:
The Revd Rachel Ganney
tel: +34 672 83 47 11 (WhatsApp)
email: rachel@ganney.net
Reader:
Peter Lockyer
tel: +34 922 37 03 28
email: allsaints@lynx3.eu
Congregational worship leader:
Judith Rigby
tel: +34 711042849
email: rigbyjudith59@gmail.com
Church Wardens:
Wendy Sanderson
tel: +34 922 32 09 78
Dawn Rutherford
email: dawnr30@hotmail.co.uk
Safeguarding officer:
Judith Rigby
tel: +34 711 04 28 49
email: safeguardingpuertotenerife@gmail.com
Hon Treasurer:
Cheryl Douglas
email: cheryl6921@hotmail.com
Chaplaincy Council Secretary:
Kath Delgado Cabrera
tel: +34 615 22 23 11
email: kath.delgadocabrera@gmail.com
Organist:
Rayco Gonzales
tel: +34 699 64 94 54
email: raycobrito@hotmail.com

LINKS TO KINDRED SITES

St Francis’ Anglican Church,
Tenerife South

La Palma Anglican Church

The English Library, Tenerife

The Friends of Tenerife

Ecumenical links

In der Anglikanischen Kirche in Puerto de la Cruz hält die Evangelische Kirchengemeinde Teneriffa Nord sonntags regelmäßig um 17 Uhr deutschsprachige Gottesdienste für ihre Mitglieder, Urlaubsgäste und interessierte Besucher.  Im Gemeindehaus hinter der Kirche befinden sich Gemeindebüro und Gemeinderäume. Hier und im dortigen Gartengelände wird bei vielerlei Gemeindeveranstaltungen ein geselliges Beisammensein gepflegt – Tel. 922 374 964.

OUR GERMAN Lutheran Brothers and Sisters also use the church for their Sunday Services and social events.  They have an office at the Parsonage and can be contacted by telephone on 922 374 964  Their office hours are displayed by the main door to the Parsonage.

We also have Ecumenical Links with the Scandinavian and Finnish churches in Puerto de la Cruz.

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