TESTING Parish of Shirley, Croydon

Sanctuary Sunday is marked at the end of Refugee Week and aims to promote the Church of Sanctuary programme, building cultures of welcome, hospitality and safety in our churches.

Meadow Saxifrage (Saxifraga granulata) in St John’s Churchyard, Shirley

Jane McLauchlin June 2021

The churchyard has a good population of this attractive plant, which is also found locally in All Saints Sanderstead churchyard, the gardens at Coombe Wood and the road verges of Sanderstead Hill and Purley Downs Road. It grows in longish grass which remains unmown until early June, when it flowers. It is not very conspicuous before and after flowering. If the grass remains unmown for a few weeks after flowering it will produce and distribute its seed. The soil conditions and management of St John’s must suit it, with the path sides neatly mown and most of the rest allowed to make a colourful flowery meadow. Oxeye Daisies were particularly conspicuous on my visit of 7 June 2021. There were many patches of Saxifrage, mostly in sections B and F, with a few found in A, D and H. I have indicated these on the map from Bernard Maguire’s churchyard tree trail.

Caritas Social Action Network: Communities for Refugees Webinar
14th June, 6:00pm-7:30pm

Hear from Catholic parishes and dioceses about their experiences of Community Sponsorship, and from families welcomed by Catholic Community Sponsorship groups.

Refugee-led community organisations: How should we improve Community Sponsorship? 
(With Refugee Council)
15th June, 5:30pm-7:30pm

Reset and the Refugee Council are looking for members of refugee-led community organisations to help develop Community Sponsorship.

UNHCR (the UN’s Refugee Agency): Communities for Refugees Webinar
16th June, 6:00pm-7:00pm

Hear from people who’ve experienced Community Sponsorship and from the UN’s Refugee Agency about their role in Community Sponsorship.

Citizens UK: Community Sponsorship in Scotland
17th June, 6:00pm-7:00pm

Find out how Community Sponsorship is growing in Scotland and hear from the people who’ve experienced the programme.

Church of England: Communities for Refugees webinar
17th June, 6:00pm-7:00pm

Hear from people who’ve experienced Community Sponsorship, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and the Revd Canon Gareth Jones, Refugee Coordinator for the Diocese of Chelmsford.

For Information about how we can all be involved, please follow this link: Theme of Refugee Week 2021: We Cannot Walk Alone | Refugee Week

Here is a calendar of some of the events taking place: