Easter Sunday 2024

A reflective poem about my visit to St. Peter’s Church, Preston Park, Brighton, recalling my former worship there as an altar server in particular.


By Preston Manor stands
A thirteenth century place
Of worship, Saint Peter’s,
Haven of heavenly grace.

Services offered from
The Book of Common Prayer
Given utterance by
The congregation there.

Fond memories come back
Of service to the priest
And ultimately God
At Eucharistic feast.

Gospel procession made
And at the chancel read,
God’s holy word proclaimed
By which we all are fed.

“Ye that do truly and
Earnestly repent you of
Your sins” – confession made
Absolved by God’s pure love.

Bread and wine now are placed
Upon the altar, where
Consecration is made,
God truly present there.

This holy sacrament
Which God’s pure grace imparts
Is now received by all
With joyful, thankful hearts.

On Easter Sunday here
In twenty, twenty-four
I walked along the path
Unto Saint Peter’s door.

And stepped inside and felt
God’s presence ever near
And holy, perfect love
Which casts away our fear.

Communion offered up
In modern parlance made
As light from Heaven fell
A spiritual cascade.

This holy place of prayer
Once more was filled with light
My silent teardrops fall
In the morning sunlight.

O blessèd sanctuary
O haven of pure love,
God’s Spirit rest on you
As did the heavenly dove.