It had been many years since our last visit to Kingston. Geoffrey and I live in the State of New Hampshire and are active members of Trinity Church, Claremont NH. Each year when we visited family, Geoff would recall his early love of St. Luke’s church and his family ties to it. He was raised just around the corner (Kings Road) and attended Kingston Grammar School.
This year is special to us, Geoff marks his 70th birthday and this May visit was a reunion of faith and friends.
As we entered the church we were warmly welcomed by: Mrs. Daphne Bevis. The chat began, the years slipped away, Mrs. Bevis ushered Geoff to his “Peace be still” window. Many a Sunday he sat in the pew as a boy, gazing at that window. He recalled the big event of wearing his first pair of long pants into church and sitting – gazing in wonder, at this lovely stained glass window.
Geoff’s grandmother was at the ceremony to lay the corner stone of this beautiful red brick community church where he was baptized, his sister Molly was married there, brother Donald was a server, Auntie Rose Lowrie attended, and his father, Leslie Shepherd on occasion would play the organ. As I watched my Geoffrey touch these keys, we both knew we were here to be a portal to sharing our faith, family, and thanking our Father, for the glory he shares with all of us.
It is our hope that our parish in Claremont, New Hampshire may grow and break bread with our brothers and sisters at St. Luke’s Church, Kingston Upon Thames.
Special thanks to Father Martin Hislop for his personal time and invitations shared with us on 6 May 2009.
Peace - Geoffrey & Judy Shepherd
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