Report From the Rector for 2015
Dear Friends
2015 has been through what the Chinese would call “interesting times”. After a period of sick leave for five months I returned to duty, if not in full health, at least with renewed energy and was delighted to find the Benefice not just surviving but full of life. That was due chiefly to the vigilance and efficiency of the then Churchwardens and Pastoral Team but also to the willing co-operation of all the parishioners.
The last twelve months have seen our Honorary Assistant Curate, the Reverend Penny Sherrington, grow in confidence and skill to become an invaluable and trustworthy colleague. We were extremely fortunate that Kerry Tucker and her husband Robert decided to move into Bletchingley and even more delighted when it emerged that Kerry is an Anglican priest. With the Bishop’s Permission to Officiate (PTO) Kerry has started to take some services and become available to cover holidays and illness – a pearl of great worth. John Buck as Reader (now also with PTO as he is over retirement age) has continued to do far more than we should really expect and so we are extremely grateful. In September Liz Windridge began her Reader Training and has already begun to show herself as an asset in leading worship and preaching, even if it is, at the moment – as she herself pointed out – with L plates. Valerie Barnes has stepped back from coordinating the Visiting Team. We are indebted to her and to Michael for all the time they have devoted over the years to this important work. The Visiting Team has expanded and now has representation from Nutfield which means that there is more pastoral work undertaken than most are aware of and much more than could be done by just one full time stipendiary priest.
The highlights of the year were many, and really started with the arrival of Barbara Evans taking on the duties of Parish Administrator – a role in the life of the Benefice which has largely been filled by volunteers and by the Rector undertaking far more basic administration than he really should have done.
This has meant that a lot of the day to day burden of form filling, Sunday Notice preparation, magazine editing and production and preparation of duty rotas associated with Parish life has been alleviated as well as much of the administration associated with my work as Area Dean. However, this has all been done from the Rectory Study which has not been ideal, and the facility which will be provided by the new Parish Office in the refurbished Church House will be a godsend which will cause us to wonder how we ever managed without it.
The start of work on Church House was the second achievement and with everyone associated with this project, not least the Appeal Committee and especially Ed Muller and Richard Fowler, there will be a huge sigh of relief when it is completed.
There were several liturgical and spiritual landmark moments, but chief among them at St Mary’s was the dedication of the restored statue of Our Lady and the child Jesus on the Feast of the Annunciation by Bishop Jonathan in the company of a good representation of ecumenical partners from our Roman Catholic friends and supporters. The Confirmation of a healthy number of candidates – young and older from both parishes by Bishop Christopher at Christ Church, South Nutfield on 26th April was another moment of joy, not only in the service itself but also in the way that it sealed the bringing into effect of the Bletchingley and Nutfield Group Ministry of all three parishes which had begun on 1st April. This was to be later realized when The Rev’d Alison Way and I swapped churches and pulpits for the day on 5th July.
Socially and musically we have had some major successes, but among them the Magna Carta weekend really stood out. Many thanks, to all involved and especially Valerie Muller who really master-minded the event and saw it through. None will forget the magnificent singing of Julian Gavin which inspired the other performers too. The first ever Carol Service for and by the Orpheus Centre was magnificent in its attendance and content and really helped to cement our growing relationship. Christmas always brings musical delights from our choirs but this year was exceptional – especially with the amazing 50th anniversary of Charles Thompson’s leadership of the Nutfield Nine Lessons and Carols. As it happens, 2015 will have been the last Christmas that I shall celebrate as your Incumbent and I am truly grateful that it should have been so happy and successful with such amazing attendances.
No year passes without some sadness. The death of John Ewington in August was one such event. We rejoice that his suffering was brief and that we were able to give him the sort of “send off” which he richly deserved in the company of so many distinguished church musicians. The death of John Sowton also provided an opportunity to celebrate the life of a remarkable Christian Gentleman in a rather different and ecumenical way but again with a church full of friends and admirers. Christopher Miles’ passing after so many years of illness was another moment of rejoicing for which his Requiem Mass made great emphasis.
This will be my final Annual Report as your Rector. Now is not the time or the right occasion for valedictory words – there will be ample opportunities for that later. I shall end as I always do – by encouraging you to work more co-operatively as a Benefice and to make our parishes more focused on Mission and Service by using the enormous goodwill we enjoy in our communities to draw more of our fellow men, women and children to the Lord’s House and to his table.