This weekend the churches of Stepney Deanery are celebrating the 200th anniversary of Poplar All Saints. It was formed out of one of the very few parishes in East London, before you crossed the River Lea, St Dunstan's Stepney. In time, the Parish of the Isle of Dogs was carved out of Poplar, so we are a daughter and a granddaughter parish. On Saturday I sent the following message to All Saints parishioners: 

To the parishioners of All Saints Poplar, loyal greetings from your offspring churches of Christ Church, St Lukes and St John's which were given birth from All Saints in 1857. 

We wish you a happy festival day on Sunday. Your history is very special; there are many clergy who look back to their curacies at Poplar with something akin to wonder - how did they get the best in the Church of England as their training parish? (minus the Isle of Dogs, of Course!).

If your history has been special, your future is even more more so, if you aline yourself with what God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit is already at work doing in the Parish of Poplar. We will continue to enjoy working alongside you in the power of the same great and generous God.

Fr. Tom