Prayers for Brexit

Prayers for Brexit

Sunday found us in the 12th century St Margaret’s , Wadham,Sussex. The old churchyard  with its leaning stones and cracked tombs had recently been cut, the sun was strong. It was here as a boy Shelley locked himself in as a prank and learnt the religion from which he would rebel.

More recently it was here that number one son, Leo and Vicky married and it here in a few weeks Delilah Belle will be christened. To get the Cof E points to qualify the family must attend a few services. So like worthy Victorians the Thompsons filled a pew. There were 50 others in the congregation.

Before the service we exchanged a few jolly words with the Rev Jules Barnes. She turned out to be a better vicar than preacher. A dull sermon and worse hymns, the service did not add up to much.  Delilah and Octavia were as bored as the rest of us. But at some point our prayers were asked for Brexit. So thats sorted. From now on  as the wheels fall of May’s  Mystery Tours,its His fault.

Though I do remember a few years  ago sitting next to a devout Catholic and asking her if she believed in the power of prayer. She said of course. So I said how come every week 100 million Anglicans  pray for the Queen and   her family, yet they  are one of the most dysfunctional families north of the river.

She replied  with all the seriousness of her faith, Perhaps you are not praying properly. Maybe we Anglicans havent got the right number. Theresa May is a vicar’s daughter and if she doesn’t know His number,who does. And without His help  Brexit is doomed. Light that candle,you never know.

So there we are. St Margaret of Cortona was deserted by her lover and  became  a nun and doer of good deeds. She is now the patron saint of the wrongly accused ,the homeless, single mothers and step children. So I qualify, but a rather heavy work load for even the  hardest working saint.