St Nicholas Church – SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR)

Sutton: St Nicholas Church – Feeding Squrrels & Pigeons! (21.9.2025)

21/09/2025 Adrian (釋大道)

We visited the Church-yard of St Nicholas Church on the 14.9.2025 – a pleasant Saturday afternoon in South-West London (formerly East Surrey). At the moment we are experiencing what we use to call an “Indian Summer” – providing this is still an acceptable analogy (who knows – the ground upon which we stand keeps dissolving into loose sand). Either way, communing with wild animals teaches children empathy, sympathy, and kindness. This is inter-species communication – a very important aspect of a civilised upbringing and education. From a superstitious Buddhist view – all life is karmically inter-related following endless cycles of rebirth (bundles of life-habit living through all different life-forms until the realisation of enlightenment breaks the cycle). Is this real? I have no idea – but the Buddha seems to think rebirth is a Brahmanic myth – but it is a myth which he uses to convey his teaching and make his point, etc.

Sutton: St Nicholas Church – Stain-Glass & Stones Exhibition! (14.9.2025)

14/09/2025 Adrian (釋大道)

The history of England lies primarily within the grounds, buildings, and written records of its local Churches, who dealt with this information a long time before the Secular State developed – or was able to do so. The Local Authorities of Sutton possess a peculiar attitude toward local history – as if time started again in 1965 (and all previous history was wiped-out when Sutton was part of “East Surrey”) – when Sutton became part of Greater (South-West) London. Of course, for a price, Sutton Library might help you via an online enquiry – but this data is free during a personal visit. Whatever the case, always be on the look-out for local open-days and local historians.

Sutton: St Nicholas Church – Where Stone Eagle’s Dare! (13.9.2025)

13/09/2025 Adrian (釋大道)

Why did a Sutton Town Planner come up with the idea of a) demolishing the Old Rectory (which should have been a listed building), and b) placing the Gate-Eagles on two-plinths jutting-out of Council Flat walls? Was this an example of Free Masonry gone mad – or madder than their usual schemes? I spent about 15-minutes talking with a local historian in St Nicholas Church, Sutton, during an exhibition of the stain-glassed window and various stones. He told me that the Rectory Gates were originally in West Street – but the eagles ended up on the main road situated on the exterior walls of the new Council Houses – now named “Beech Tree Place” – effectively around the corner in a different street.

Sutton: St Nicholas Church – Stones & Stained Glass Exhibition! (8.9.2025)

08/09/2025 Adrian (釋大道)

Sutton is now part of Greater (South-West) London (formerly East Surrey) – and Churches are viewed (rightly or wrongly) as a type of museum, although I think St Nicholas is still in use despite Church attendance being very small across the UK. Our view (as non-Christians) is that these places should be properly and respectfully preserved – and the faithful be allowed to worship in them. On the other hand, as the Church of England is funded through general taxation (regardless as to whether the worker is Christian or not) – ALL people (providing the behave) should be able to frequent the building. We also love the squirrels, pigeons, rats, and mice which live in the graveyard.

Sutton: St Nicholas Church – Interior and History! (10.9.2023)

10/09/2023 Adrian (釋大道)

Since around 1539 CE (and Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries) this Church has been ‘Protestant’. This is a large Church built for a substantial Township and can probably hold at least 100 worshippers at any one time. Bear in mind that there used to be a greater number of Churches in the UK per small area than there are today – and that populations used to be far smaller despite virtually everyone professing a faith. Perhaps the ample and impressive size of the Church is linked to it serving a local population with a higher social status and wealth – requiring certain standards as being seen to be kept! As far as we are concerned, archaeological structures retain the data of the past, and by studying these structures we are able to glimpse into that past!

St Nicholas Church: Dame Brownlowe’s Tomb – Erected in Sutton Parish Church 1699-1700! (9.9.2023)

09/09/2023 Adrian (釋大道)

Obviously, ‘water’ is a very special and divine substance for the Christian religion as it washes away sins and through its purifying agency – allows the ‘Holy Spirit’ to enter the minds, hearts and bodies of those being baptised! This is why our family was very grateful for the care and attention we received – as we were the proverbial ‘weary traveller’ in need of sustenance! As our children habitually took to drawing a colouring in pictures (in the wonderfully equipped children’s section) – myself and Gee traversed the structure – recording in photograph and video all the data we could find!

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