Postcard from Lancashire
Dear friends at St Mary Abbots
Inspired by Fr Christopher’s postcard from Minnesota, I wanted to write with a little update of our news too! We’ve now been in Warton for just over 3 months, and are so happy that God has called us to this place. It’s an absolutely stunning place to live, and the active, rural lifestyle suits us all very well. It’s amazing to be able to head up the mountain or to the beach after school or between services on a Sunday. We have been amazed how quickly we have felt part of the community here – even though it’s very different to Kensington, in the villages there is a similar sense of people knowing one other and caring for each other. I meet a huge number of people whilst I’m out and about with the children or the dog, or when I’m running or cycling, and everyone always has time for a chat. My new car – an Electric Mini Cooper in Racing Green – has also been a talking point!
I’m the Vicar of a Benefice of 3 rural churches, each very different, but each with a very committed congregation who keep everything going. I don’t have any paid support staff, but I work alongside a Licensed Lay Minister who is fantastic, and have the support of 3 retired clergy and another NSM priest. Easter as a new incumbent was always going to be a challenge, but I was so moved by a wonderful journey through Holy Week across the 3 churches – everyone came together as a Benefice family and so we marked Maundy Thursday at St Oswald’s, Good Friday at St Mary’s, and the Holy Saturday Vigil at St John’s before the usual Sunday pattern of worship across each Church. When I walked into St Oswald’s on Easter Sunday I could not believe how beautiful the church looked – an incredible group of people had spent all day decorating each window with beautiful floral displays commemorating departed members of the church family.
I have a lot to learn here but am very well supported by parishioners and the wider Diocese. As a first time incumbent I am part of a 2 year learning community, and have a mentor for 5 years. Both of my Bishops have been exceptional in the pastoral care they have offered to me and the family as we have made the move here. I have had to learn a lot about churchyards as we have 3 active ones, and lots of visitors to the graves and memorials.
Tragically my exceptional warden at St Oswald’s, Alison Semple, was diagnosed with terminal cancer the week after we arrived, and she died a month later. It was a devastating loss. It has been a huge challenge not having a warden, but I now have people interested in standing for election at our Annual meeting and I am confident that God will call the right team together.
Already there have been a number of changes and I am thrilled that since my arrival the PCC have agreed to admit baptised children to communion, and to commit wholeheartedly to a Net Zero ambition. We now have a thriving Eco Group which is drawing together many people from outside the church as well, and we have been busy fundraising for a fantastic Eco Church lighting project at St Mary’s – last week I ran the Manchester Marathon and have so far raised £1700 of our £2500 target.
Here is a picture of me meeting a new addition to the fold in lambing season! We would love to hear news from St Mary Abbots, and would also be delighted to receive visitors to the area if anyone is passing.
Much love from Mother Alice
Inspired by Fr Christopher’s postcard from Minnesota, I wanted to write with a little update of our news too! We’ve now been in Warton for just over 3 months, and are so happy that God has called us to this place. It’s an absolutely stunning place to live, and the active, rural lifestyle suits us all very well. It’s amazing to be able to head up the mountain or to the beach after school or between services on a Sunday. We have been amazed how quickly we have felt part of the community here – even though it’s very different to Kensington, in the villages there is a similar sense of people knowing one other and caring for each other. I meet a huge number of people whilst I’m out and about with the children or the dog, or when I’m running or cycling, and everyone always has time for a chat. My new car – an Electric Mini Cooper in Racing Green – has also been a talking point!
I’m the Vicar of a Benefice of 3 rural churches, each very different, but each with a very committed congregation who keep everything going. I don’t have any paid support staff, but I work alongside a Licensed Lay Minister who is fantastic, and have the support of 3 retired clergy and another NSM priest. Easter as a new incumbent was always going to be a challenge, but I was so moved by a wonderful journey through Holy Week across the 3 churches – everyone came together as a Benefice family and so we marked Maundy Thursday at St Oswald’s, Good Friday at St Mary’s, and the Holy Saturday Vigil at St John’s before the usual Sunday pattern of worship across each Church. When I walked into St Oswald’s on Easter Sunday I could not believe how beautiful the church looked – an incredible group of people had spent all day decorating each window with beautiful floral displays commemorating departed members of the church family.
I have a lot to learn here but am very well supported by parishioners and the wider Diocese. As a first time incumbent I am part of a 2 year learning community, and have a mentor for 5 years. Both of my Bishops have been exceptional in the pastoral care they have offered to me and the family as we have made the move here. I have had to learn a lot about churchyards as we have 3 active ones, and lots of visitors to the graves and memorials.
Tragically my exceptional warden at St Oswald’s, Alison Semple, was diagnosed with terminal cancer the week after we arrived, and she died a month later. It was a devastating loss. It has been a huge challenge not having a warden, but I now have people interested in standing for election at our Annual meeting and I am confident that God will call the right team together.
Already there have been a number of changes and I am thrilled that since my arrival the PCC have agreed to admit baptised children to communion, and to commit wholeheartedly to a Net Zero ambition. We now have a thriving Eco Group which is drawing together many people from outside the church as well, and we have been busy fundraising for a fantastic Eco Church lighting project at St Mary’s – last week I ran the Manchester Marathon and have so far raised £1700 of our £2500 target.
Here is a picture of me meeting a new addition to the fold in lambing season! We would love to hear news from St Mary Abbots, and would also be delighted to receive visitors to the area if anyone is passing.
Much love from Mother Alice
Postcard from Minnesota
Dear Friends,
It’s now about six months since I left St Mary Abbots, which feels like a good time to send you an update. We have settled into our lovely new apartment near the Mississippi here in Minneapolis (unlike in England, it’s not normal here to get accommodation next to the church). Cuthbert and I commute on the bus over the river to my parish in St Paul, the state capital.
My new church, St Matthew’s, has a similar number of parishioners to SMA, though far fewer visitors. It is in a lovely suburb near the university here, and so has lots of academics living nearby, along with quite an artistic community: artists, composers, poets and others. Aside from getting used to the additional responsibilities of being an incumbent (which has given me a fresh insight into the pressures Mother Emma is under!), I am loving getting to know this wonderful, fascinating community as I meet up with as many people as I can one-to-one. They have also been hugely supportive in helping me settle in, cooking for us, sending furniture while we waited for ours, and just generally being very encouraging.
Thank you once again for everything you taught me in my time at St Mary Abbots, and for your friendship and your prayers. You all stay in mine, and I hope to visit at some point before too long.
With much love,
Fr. Christopher
It’s now about six months since I left St Mary Abbots, which feels like a good time to send you an update. We have settled into our lovely new apartment near the Mississippi here in Minneapolis (unlike in England, it’s not normal here to get accommodation next to the church). Cuthbert and I commute on the bus over the river to my parish in St Paul, the state capital.
My new church, St Matthew’s, has a similar number of parishioners to SMA, though far fewer visitors. It is in a lovely suburb near the university here, and so has lots of academics living nearby, along with quite an artistic community: artists, composers, poets and others. Aside from getting used to the additional responsibilities of being an incumbent (which has given me a fresh insight into the pressures Mother Emma is under!), I am loving getting to know this wonderful, fascinating community as I meet up with as many people as I can one-to-one. They have also been hugely supportive in helping me settle in, cooking for us, sending furniture while we waited for ours, and just generally being very encouraging.
Thank you once again for everything you taught me in my time at St Mary Abbots, and for your friendship and your prayers. You all stay in mine, and I hope to visit at some point before too long.
With much love,
Fr. Christopher
Father Gillean's Sermon
|
On Sunday 24th September 2023, Fr Gillean Craig, Vicar of the Parish from 2002 - 2018, marked the fifth anniversary of his retirement from Kensington by preaching at our 11.15 service of Choral Matins.
Fr Gillean joined everyone for coffee in between the Eucharist and Matins and Martina supplied activities for older children to do in the pews during Matins so families who knew Fr Gillean during his time here could attend the later service. | ||
