Tower and Town, February 2021 (view the full edition)Editorial: Angels In MarlboroughFew people have ever claimed to have seen an angel: Abraham entertained three, though they were in disguise, and Jacob wrestled with one. But angels have figured in our culture in many well-known and well-loved contexts, especially at Christmas time, in song and poetry, and indeed whenever we need to identify that personal connection between the divine world beyond and our lives here. They are active intermediaries; they are 'messengers' in Greek; and they bring to us something brilliantly bright, inspiring and divine. In Marlborough, the College Chapel is dedicated to St Michael and All Angels and has twelve exceptional paintings illustrating angelic interventions in the Bible. Vincent and Helen Stokes created a magnificent and moving display of hundreds of home-made angels in St Mary's for Christmas and the New Year, as you see on the front cover of this edition and as Helen describes inside. Their impact, especially for our stricken times, was uplifting. An extended meaning of 'angel' is someone who does something for someone else, probably unexpectedly and almost certainly selflessly: 'You are an absolute angel,' you hear. Several charitable organizations have contributed to this edition and we can focus on what they do to help, inspire and lighten people's lives. We pay a particular tribute to Dr Nick Maurice for what he has contributed over so many years to this Church and Community magazine. We are delighted to have squeezed one last article out of him as he retires from Tower and Town, and know that he will continue elsewhere to share his concern with us for a better world and urge our support. John Osborne |