Remembering Margaret

Margaret Long

Margaret was a founder member of All Saints Church and remained a faithful member until her death on May 20th 2024, aged 93 years. Married to Geoff, she had two daughters, Juliet and Cathy.

Magaret trained as an almoner and worked at the Riverside Rehabilitation centre in Oxford. She took part in many church and community activities, including singing, acting, being Honorary President of Abingdon Operatic society, belonging to Drayton Wives and U3A. Many will remember Margaret as a gifted hostess and for her loving warmth and hospitality.
(Jenny Pooley)

In For all the Saints, a book about the history of All Saints Church published for its 50th anniversary, Margaret provided some of her reminiscences:

Laying foundations
I remember standing on the site of what was to be the church on a grey, wet morning in November, with a large crowd, watching the foundation stone being laid. It was quite hard to see because of all the umbrellas in the way!

Special services
In my early years at All Saints I usually taught in Sunday School, so I often didn’t go into church at all. But I remember the Family Services. One Mothering Sunday I remember the minister saying, ‘Would anyone who has a mother with them in church like to come up and collect a flower for them.’ My friend Bella and I, both adults, went up hand in hand with all the children, because we both had our elderly mothers in church, each aged around 85. I also remember Jenny Pooley’s daughter Miriam collecting all the daffodils at a Mothering Sunday service.

I have always specially enjoyed Christmas at All Saints. I loved the carol services lit by candles, and singing on the church steps on Christmas Day, so everyone on the estate could hear us! When I was a steward I enjoyed the quiet times in the vestry before a service, praying with the minister – that was very special.