Dear Friends,

 

I don’t usually write about ‘churchy’ things in my magazine letter, but I guess that this month ‘churchy’ news will attract more attention than usual, as the Lambeth Conference gets under way at the end of July, and no doubt, as well as some magnificent processions in stately Anglican splendour, the dirty linen of the C. of E. will be hung out to dry as well (or at least, that will be the intention of the media).

The Lambeth Conference (named after the London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury) takes place every ten years, and it provides the opportunity for all the 800 or so Anglican bishops throughout the world to meet for study, worship and conversation. They will gather on the university campus site at the University of Kent at Canterbury, with the aims of getting to know one another on a deeper level, considering the missionary challenges in different parts of the world and gaining a greater understanding of the contribution which Anglicanism can make, and addressing issues of conflict. On the agenda will be, among other topics:

·         Engagement with other faiths

·         Ecumenism – working with other denominations

·         The role of bishops

·         Social and family relationships

·         Evangelism and mission

·         Gender and sexuality

·         HIV/Aids

·         Millennium development goals

I wonder what else you think they ought to discuss, and what should be their priorities?  Anyway,I wish our Archbishop Rowan well as he seeks to guide this disparate group of church leaders through some of the more contentious issues which will be aired. Different nationalities come to these discussions with widely differing perspectives, and the challenge of persuading opposing protagonists to listen to one another with charity and respect is formidable. He is a wise and godly man for whom I have the greatest admiration and respect, and contrary to what some people think, he is capable of expressing the most profound ideas with simplicity.

 

The saintly, eccentric old Archbishop of Canterbury, Michael Ramsey, was once discovered in an unguarded moment in his hotel bedroom en route for a foreign visit. He was lying on the bed, thumping a pillow, and saying as he did so: ‘I hate the Church of England!’ There are moments when I think I can understand how he felt; when the role of being the ‘State Church’, with all the (at times) quaint ceremonial and the trappings of ‘power’ that that entails deflect us from the challenge of engaging with people in the 21^st century.

 

But most of the time, I am glad to be a member of the Church of England, with all its diversity of views and different ways of doing things, whether in a busy city centre or a quiet village. I am grateful for the opportunities for engaging with secular life that come our way through being ‘the Established Church’, and for the parish system, with its involvement in local communities.  I am glad we are open enough to engage in honest debate, even when it shows up the cracks, because that reflects the reality of human nature, with its imperfections and contradictions (though I wish some of the African bishops were less simplistic in their interpretation of the Bible, and less harsh in their judgements). I hope that this forthcoming Lambeth Conference will combine honesty with tolerance and compassion for those whose beliefs or way of life differ from what is perceived to be the ‘norm’.

 

It took me a long time to find my way into the Church of England: 19 years of growing up in the Methodist Church, followed by 25 years as a Roman Catholic – my own choice, and one which brought immense enrichment and stimulus into my life. But being received into the Anglican Church at the age of 44 felt like a real home-coming, and I continue to have no regrets. I felt then, and continue to believe, that the Church of England has the right balance between Scripture (the authority of the Bible), Reason (the informed, truth-seeking conscience of the individual), and Tradition (the doctrines and practices which have developed over the centuries and continue to emerge and be tested in the present day). Sometimes the balance gets shaky – like a three-legged stool with uneven legs – but the combination of these three elements, in tension with each other, makes a good foundation for belief, and for building for the future.

 

If, during the Lambeth Conference, you hear negative reports in the press about the state of the Church of England, call to mind some other words of the late Archbishop Michael Ramsey:

‘The credentials of the Church of England are its incompleteness, with the tension and travail of its soul. It is clumsy and untidy, it baffles neatness and logic. For it is sent not to commend itself and ‘the best type of Christianity’, but, by its very brokenness, to point to the universal Church.’

 

What do you think about the Church of England? Perhaps we should have some correspondence on the subject – let the editor have your views for next month’s magazine. Meanwhile, do go on supporting your local branch of the C. of E. – just a small part of a huge, world-wide family.

 

With love,

Rosey

 

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THE CROSS TREE CENTRE APPEAL

Everyone living in the parish was invited to the Launch of the Appeal on 6^th May.

You should by now have received a letter inviting you to think of making a donation to this important development in the life of our church. We hope you realise that it is not the usual kind of ‘dig into your pocket/purse/wallet/handbag for some small change’ appeal: we are talking about real generosity here!

To be frank, we are asking for as substantial a sum as you can think of offering.

We know that in the current economic climate, there is a certain amount of tightening of belts. Nonetheless, many of us have a sum ‘put away’ for some time in the future – maybe for after we have left this world. We are asking for you to think of giving us a contribution from those precious funds now, so that this valuable work can be carried out in next year or so – the need is urgent, for us to see this new building taking shape here, in our life-time, as a sign of hope for the future. And we want the whole parish to have a stake in it……

 

What could you do? Apart from considering carefully, prayerfully, what capital sum you could give, could you do something, perhaps in a small, personal way, to raise money and involve your friends and neighbours? For example, if 20 people each had a coffee morning or a tea-party, and raised £50 each (not a hard thing to do – you need only invite a few neighbours round), that would be £1000. Let’s get a chain of small fund-raising events going – not only shall we make progress with raising the funds we need, but more local people will be involved, and it will be fun!

 

PLEASE RESPOND TO THE APPEAL AS SOON AS YOU CAN – WE NEED TO KNOW WHERE WE STAND, IN TERMS OF YOUR SUPPORT.

THIS IS OUR CROSS TEE CENTRE –

 LET’S WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

 

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CARE NEEDED:  Disabled lady in Failand would like some help in the home, light domestic duties, 2-4 hours per week. Good rate of pay, references essential.

Please phone 392214

 

 

 

Little Green Fingers – Wraxall School at Tyntesfield

 

If you happen to be in the Kitchen Garden at Tyntesfield on Monday afternoons you cannot help but see (and hear) the garden gang from Years 3 and 4 from Wraxall School. The children will be upended on their allotment bed scrabbling for weeds and, more interestingly, spotting various creepy-crawlies as they prepare the ground for their salad seedlings and root crops. Sophie, the Learning Officer, and Phil, the vegetable expert, work hard to keep the gang on task, learning the skills properly and creating their own veg garden. They are doing fine, and so are the lettuces, which look perfect. From sowing to eating, the children will care for their plot through the summer and into October for apple picking and a celebratory feast of their produce.

This garden programme is Tyntesfield’s first project in the National Trust’s Country Guardianship scheme for young people and it comes at no cost to the school. As well as the weekly sessions during term time, there will be summer holiday workshops, when the children can share their work with family and friends and show-off what they have learned about the Victorian gardens. If you have not been yourselves, do come and see. Soon there will be a real Mongolian yurt (round tent) as an added attraction in the kitchen garden and to provide welcome shelter. (We, and Sophie’s special tea-party spread, all got soaked during the thunderstorm of 23 May, but the slugs loved it…).

 

Tim H-S (Garden & Learning volunteer at Tyntesfield, husband of Rev. Rosey)