Walthamstow Church

St Mary’s Church in Walthamstow, East London, is an old parish church which has spent a lot of money on doing itself up. It claims to be ‘inclusive’ and seems to excel at community involvement. It has a decent website with helpful information, though it seems rather shy when it comes to explaining how I can right with God. The externals are covered in a rather peculiar, yellowy render, giving it a rather jaundiced appearance.

An account exists from the 8 October, 1944, when a German bomb damaged part of the church tower. A bomb disposal officer claimed to have felt the shape of a bomb and the jagged edge of its fins in the dark. This was apparently enough to close the churchyard for several Sundays while the "bomb" was located and diffused. It turned out to be a broken coffin, which must have come as an embarrassment to the bomb officer but a relief to everyone else.

Distinguishing between bombs and coffins is vital, and employing light will aid one in the task. Similarly, assessing the value of a church or denomination is best done in the light of God’s word, the Bible.

נ NUN: Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105