From the Priest In Charge

June 29th is the feast of those great apostles SS Peter and Paul. This is the time of ordinations and of prayer for vocations in the Church.

Recently I read that we should always speak about the “Ordained” priesthood when referring to the clergy, because all the baptised make up what S Paul calls the priesthood of all believers. In other words all Christian people have a vocation through Baptism, to follow Jesus Christ the great High Priest in living lives of sacrificial love.

When we were confirmed we acknowledged that it was the beginning of our personal journey of faith. At whatever stage you are at there is always something to learn, something deeper to enter into, and always will be as long as we are human! Christianity is not something designed to be for individuals, we live as part of the body of Christ and so have a responsibility to make sure we are keeping spiritually fit, and that is very difficult on ones own.

Some of you will be called to serve God by exploring the “Ordained” priesthood, and again it is part of all our Christian journeys to at least ask the question in prayer “Is God calling me to serve Him and the Church in this way?” Indeed to ask others, especially sons and Godsons and men you see in the congregation who you feel should be exploring the idea. If you think it is so then come and talk with me or another priest so that the process we call discernment can be started. No one has a right to be a priest; the calling has to be recognised by the Church. Don't let lack of academic qualifications or “I could never preach” thoughts or money worries hinder you. Training and financial support is given all the way to ordination.

If you feel the answer to your questioning of God is no to the priesthood, then it maybe that the life of a nun or monk may be for you. These days there are so many different ways of living in community, the traditional vows of poverty, chastity and obedience that I could place almost any of you! Communities accept, single, widowed and divorced people, young and old. Again much support can be given.

No to that as well? So pray that God will raise up faithful people to serve as priests, monks and nuns according to His will. Pray for, and support, those you think do have a vocation. Then pray “how Lord is my vocation in the priesthood of all believers to be realised?” Is it in listening, in sharing, in visiting, in time, in money, inside Church, outside Church? Here I am Lord I come to do your will?”

May he give us the grace to hear and respond generously to his reply.

God bless.

Fr Spicer

From the PCC

The PCC met on June 3 rd with fourteen members present.

As part of the continuing discussions on the Parish Development Plan we worked through a questionnaire in a booklet produced b y the C of E “Giving for life.” Various thoughts and ideas were put forward by members. Policies for our charitable giving and how we use legacies are needed. It was decided that the congregation should be told about this booklet and an introduction to our Development Plan, during the sermon on 6 th June and asked to respond verbally and in/or writing. Mrs Paddy Dobbs, who had been invited by the wardens to be part of the discussion left the meeting.

Mark Roberts presented the latest financial statement assured us it was fairly standard for the time of year. An amount of £11,025 has been received from the Inland Revenue as a result of Gift Aid donations for the past year. Thanks go to Mrs Underwood, Covenant Secretary for her efforts in obtaining this amount from the IR.

The Gatehouse Conditions Survey has started with the conditional works due to start on 7 th June. We now need to begin thinking of options for future use of this building and Fr. Spicer asked people to put forward any ideas as soon as possible. The District Council has removed the old lighting casings from the South Lawns and this was thought to be a great improvement. At the Priorswell Centre the scaffolding will go up on 14 th June. At Carburton the faculty process for the drainage channel has begun; at the moment no monies are available to carry it out. Robin Wild reported that the National Trust hoped to re-open the Chapel later this year.

The next PCC meeting is on 15 th July and the wardens will again invite members of the congregation to take part in the Development Plan Discussions

Pam Wild

PCC Secretary

Faith of Our Fathers

The Church Union

Not a single person this month but an organisation. The English Church Union, as the modern Church Union was originally known, was founded in 1860. It grew out of a group called the Church of England Protection Society a group that sought to protect the rights of the Church against the civil law and government interference. In May 1860 the organisation was renamed The English Church Union and under that designation it accomplished a task of incalculable value defending the Church's faith, laws and practice with singular zeal and wisdom for more than half a century. Amongst its more famous members and activists were many of the giants of the Anglo-Catholic Movement. The Union also worked to defend clergy who were persecuted for their beliefs or ritual practices such as Arthur Tooth, Sidney Faithorn Green and Richard William Enraght against legal action brought under the Public Worship Regulation Act 1874 . The Union had an interest in all aspects of English Church life from liturgy (and in particular the Revision of the Book of Common Prayer in 1928) and ritual to theology and education. It is an organization of laity and clergy who seek to work together to promote the Catholic Faith in this land. The Church Union has always published books and tracts to help with catechesis. In the 1920s and 1930s the great work of the Union was to work with other Catholic Societies in running the Anglo-Catholic Congresses. These Congresses where attended by many thousands of people up and down the country. They sought to educate people as well as rallies to encourage people in the Catholic faith. The Union has a very similar role today. It works with Forward in Faith and publishes tracts under its publishing title of Tufton Books. In the 1980s and 1990s the Union lead the work of those opposed to the ordination of women. They worked with the Catholic Group on Synod and others to try to prevent the measure being accepted. In the aftermath of the vote the Union worked tirelessly to keep the Anglo-Catholic Movement united and focused around our bishops. In 1878 a resolution passed by the English Church Union and moved by Fr MacKonochie, said; "the peace and well being of the Church demanded the frank recognition on the part of the State, of the Church's inherent right to interpret her own formularies in all matters concerning the Faith and the conduct of divine worship". This work very much continues today as the Union seeks to help Catholics find a way forward as proposals are brought to Synod regarding the ordination of women to the episcopate. The Union has an invaluable role in bringing together the work of all of the Catholic Societies in working together for the conversion of England.

‘Defend and Maintain: The History of the Church Union' by Philip Corbett and William Davage is available from the Additional Curates Society.