Chester December 2009

Chester
Diocesan News
December 2009
www.chester.anglican.org
Youth funding success
Page 3
Growin g s t r o n g e r p a r i s h c o m m u n i t i e s
Prepare for Christmas, a time of journeys and visits
BISHOP PETER
considers God’s
saving journey
to us, and our
journey to Him
We associate Christmas with journeys. Mary
and Joseph travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem
– no fun there, travelling heavily pregnant for
100 miles over rough terrain. The Wise Men
travel to pay homage to Jesus. Mary and
Joseph take Jesus to Egypt, to avoid Herod.
We in turn travel to see relatives, or they
travel to us. Today journeys are usually much
easier, and we need to remember how difficult
and dangerous travel used to be in former
times.
The whole Bible is full of journeys: of
Abraham wandering to and from the promised
land; of Moses leading the people of Israel
from Egypt to the promised land; of Israel’s
later exile in Babylon and return. In his ministry
Jesus never stays long in one place, but is
constantly on the move from village to village,
and occasionally to Jerusalem.
And then there is Jesus’ final journey to
the Cross. What a puzzling and mysterious
journey this is. The Bible gives only one
explanation: this is God’s journey to us, into
the sin and separation between us and God,
and finally into our death, to overcome it and
to promise us a new and eternal life.
To be a Christian is to allow God’s journey
to us and our world, as set out in the Bible, to
become our journey to Him. We are baptised
into Jesus’ death and resurrection. God’s
journey into the world, through Mary, makes
sense of our journey to God. That’s what
Christmas is all about.
+ Peter
STOP PRESS... Archdeacon Donald to become a bishop
The new Bishop of
Peterborough
is
to
be the Ven Donald
Allister (pictured), the
Archdeacon of Chester,
No 10 Downing Street
announced as CDN went
to press.
Donald, aged 57, was a vicar in Birkenhead
and Cheadle, and Rural Dean of Cheadle
before becoming the Archdeacon of Chester
in 2002. He will be consecrated and installed
as Bishop of Peterborough next spring. Full
story on back page; plus hear an interview
with Donald on www.chester.anglican.org
Judy Hunt’s collation as Archdeacon of Suffolk
Judy Hunt with Bishop Nigel and Bishop Peter at her
collation as Archdeacon of Suffolk
Judy Hunt is pictured after being collated
as Archdeacon of Suffolk at St Mary’s
Church, Woodbridge back in October. She is
responsible for about 200 parishes in the east
of Suffolk.
The Bishop of St Edmundsbury and
Ipswich, the Rt Revd Nigel Stock, said: “Judy
is extremely able. As a former vet she will have
great empathy for the agricultural community.
Chester diocesan news
Published monthly by the Diocese of Chester –
the Church of England in Cheshire, Stockport,
South Tameside, South Trafford and Wirral
EDITOR: Stephen Regan, tel 01244 681973 ext
233. Post news items to him at Church House,
Lower Lane, Aldford, Chester CH3 6HP or
email stories and pictures for the February 2010
issue, by December 18, to:
[email protected]
2
But she also has impressive strategic ability
and an eye for detail.”
Judy was one of the first women to be
ordained in our diocese. She became our
Director of Ministry in 2003 and the Mission
portfolio was added three years later.
Bishop Nigel knows Judy well. He was
previously the Bishop of Stockport.
DESIGNER: Steve Freeman, based at Church
House, tel 01244 681973 ext 255
PRINT and DISTRIBUTION enquiries: please
phone Cowdalls Printers on 01270 212389
• Chester Diocesan Board of Finance is a
company limited by guarantee, registered in
England (no. 7826) and a registered charity (no.
248968)
Big funding successes for youth projects
A year of outreach, designed by young people
of the Christian Union at Upton-by-Chester
High School, has been funded by the Church
of England’s Youth Evangelism Fund (YEF).
The project has taken inspiration from Romans
10.15: “How beautiful are the feet of them that
preach the gospel of peace and bring glad
tidings of good things.”
And the whole project is using socks as a
leitmotif for that passage from Romans, which
is itself a reference back to Isaiah 52:7.
Among the evangelism events the young
Christians at ‘Upton High’ will put on are:
Random acts of kindness, such as helping
teachers; giving out chocolate; giving out
bottles of water to sports teams; and offering
to paint the RE department’s corridor.
Every time an act of kindness is carried out
by the young people, a card will be given out
directing recipients to the CU’s website which
explains the gospel – using sock puppets!
The students will also be putting their
personal faith stories on the website … along
with pictures of their favourite pairs of socks!
The project is being helped by Greg Condon,
a Youth Worker at St Michael’s Church, Plas
Newton, Chester, which supports Christian
mission at the school. The idea for the project,
Greg Condon
and all the foot-slogging practicalities and the
acts of kindness, are down to the students
themselves.
Mark Montgomery, our Diocesan Youth
Officer said: “I was very happy to support the
many creative applications
for funding that came to
us before being sent on to
YEF’s national panel, and I
am especially pleased that
the sock project, which is
backed by Plas Newton
parish,
has
received
national recognition.
“Altogether
nine
projects from our
diocese have won
funding,
including
a project of film
evenings in Bunbury, a youth café
in Sandbach, and a night at the Crocky Trail
(an outdoor adventure and obstacle course)
by St Mary’s in Eastham, South Wirral.
YEF funding is supported jointly by the
Archbishops’ Council (50 per cent), the Henry
Smith Charity, the Laing Family Trusts, and
the Jerusalem Trust.
ery
Mark Montgom
3
Church history society welcomes new members
The Warrington Church History Society meets
five times a year. It holds regular outings to
sites of great church history interest throughout
our diocese and further afield, and each year
two lectures for members on subjects linked to
church history.
The society was founded in 1980 by John
Isherwood, a retired college lecturer, who now
lives in Willaston, South Wirral, and several of
his fiends.
Mr Isherwood, a member of Christ Church,
Willaston, said: “The Christian heritage, in
terms of buildings, architecture, literature and
denominational history, in Cheshire and the
North-West, is very rich indeed.
“Anyone interested in deepening their
knowledge and appreciation of church history
will find our society very welcoming and
useful.”
The society charges a modest annual
subscription. Its next meeting is likely to be
held in early February 2009, at the Methodist
Mission in Bold Street, Warrington.
Those who wish to find out more,
or join the society, should phone John
Isherwood on 0151 327 1851 or email
[email protected].
NB The society will hold its carol service,
starting at 7.30, at Stockton Heath Christian
Fellowship in the centre of Stockton Heath,
Warrington, on Wednesday 16 December.
St John the Baptist Church – the
original cathedral of Chester.
Training and ministerial development
Called to Serve
This is an annual event held at Chester
Cathedral that’s designed to help people
who are seeking their vocation to a licensed
ministry. The next Called to Serve will be on
Saturday 23 January from 10am to 1pm.
There will be workshops on Reader ministry,
Pastoral Worker ministry and ordained
ministry. It will be possible to attend two
of the workshops. There will also be input
from the Church Army. For more details or
to book a place, please contact the Revd
Ray Samuels, our Diocesan Director of
Ordinands, on 01244 346945, or email
[email protected]
The Annual Cathedral Lecture for Chester
Theological Society takes place on Saturday
30 January at 2pm in the Chapter House of
Chester Cathedral. The Revd Canon Prof
Loveday Alexander, Canon Theologian,
will lecture on Ten for Today: Do the Ten
Commandments offer a practical ethic for the
21st century?
4
Being There
In the spring term two courses will be offered
for those working with people in a pastoral
capacity.
Bereavement ministry is for individuals and
for parish groups. It will run for five weeks on
Thursdays at St Luke’s Church, Huntington,
Chester CH3 6BT on 14, 21 and 28 January;
and on 4 and 11 February 2010. The course
will take place in the afternoons (2pm to
4.15pm) or in the evenings (7.30pm to
9.45pm).
Baptism is for those who work with families
who bring children for baptism. It will run for
five weeks at St Paul’s Church, Compstall
Brow, Compstall SK6 5HU on Tuesday
evenings (7.30pm to 9.30pm) on 12, 19 and
26 January and on 2 and 9 February. Each
course costs £40.
Please phone Gerri Tetzlaff at Church House
on 01244 681973 ext 229 or email gerri.
[email protected] to book.
Introducing our new Worship Adviser
The Revd Colin Randall was born in Fareham,
Hampshire, and raised in Gloucestershire. He
was a secondary school maths teacher before
becoming a priest 25 years ago.
He’s spent much of his ministry so far in
Carlisle and Oxford dioceses, but arrived in
our diocese back in summer to take up his
new dual role as Priest-in-Charge at Barrow –
and Diocesan Worship Adviser.
Colin previously worked in a wide variety of
parishes with all sorts of traditions and worship
styles – from robed choirs to worship bands,
and from use of incense to Youtube clips.
Married to Judith, the couple have three
sons, of which only one is still a teenager.
Colin’s interests include rock music (he’s a fan
of Coldplay, U2 and Muse) and science fiction
(especially Dr Who and Star Trek).
He has had a long interest in worship and
liturgy. While in Oxford diocese he taught the
Readers course on worship, and last year
he attended the Willow Creek (church) Arts
conference in Chicago.
Colin told CDN: “I want to help churches
have worship which is truly God-centred and
mission-shaped and which values its Anglican
heritage.
“We live in an era of very rich resources for
worship. I can, hopefully, be a guide to help
parishes find what works for them.
The Revd Colin Randall – a guide to
the rich resources of worship
“I’m also happy to help with worship audits,
and to offer assistance to any parish that’s
looking at its worship as part of the GAP
process.” If you would like Colin’s help and advice
please phone 01829 740263 or email
[email protected]
A new memorial to those who served
A war memorial of red Cheshire sandstone
has been erected at St Peter’s Church,
Hargrave, near Tarporley.
The idea for the monument came from the
Vicar, the Revd Paul Barrow, with support
within the parish and from the villages of
Hargrave and Huxley.
The
vicar
said:
“These
days,
commemorating the sacrifices of HM Forces
is considered somewhat unfashionable and
jingoistic, but we think otherwise.
“On the top of our memorial is a cross. We
don’t glory in war, any more than we glory in
the hatred, cruelty and sheer evil that did the
Jesus to death on Good Friday.
“But we can and should be profoundly
thankful that there were young men and
women who followed the way of the cross to
its ultimate conclusion by giving their lives to
defend us.”
The memorial was dedicated by Army
padre, Father Andrew Lloyd, the Deputy
Assistant Chaplain General, who also
preached at the parish Eucharist on
Remembrance Sunday.
•
Another parish commemorates the
sacrifices made in war – see page 7.
5
Introducing our new Head of Counselling Services
Jane Knight has
taken up her new
position with our
diocese.
A
professional
counsellor/
psychotherapist,
Jane was born
in
Ambleside,
Cumbria, and grew
up in St Anne’s,
Jane Knight
Lancashire.
She was brought
up in the Church of England and currently
worships at St Mary’s in Nantwich.
Jane is married to Rob, a head teacher, and
the couple live in Willaston, near Nantwich.
They have two grown-up children, Beth and
Ruth. Jane has taken over as our Head of
Counselling Services from Gill Carding, who
has retired.
Around the
Diocese
An organist is required for Holy Trinity,
Blacon, Chester, to start as soon as is
practicable. The duties include Sunday
morning Eucharist, plus funerals and
weddings. The parish has a choir which
the new organist might like to work with.
For details or to apply please phone the
PCC Secretary Pam Tushingham on 01244
373694 or email
[email protected]
In aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care, an
evening service of Advent songs, anthems
and readings, led by the Tisley Church
Singers and friends, will be held at St John
the Baptist Church, Aldford, CH3 6HW.
The event will start at 6.30pm on Sunday 6
December.
6
Jane said: “Counselling is for everybody
– for clergy, their families and laity. Most
of us have times in our lives when we feel
overwhelmed by events and circumstances.
“I can provide help, advice and consultancy
for clergy and lay workers in pastoral
situations, especially with regard to mental
health issues.
“I am also keen to promote and develop
a range of strategies for clergy and their
families to promote good mental health and
well being.
“The Mental Health Forum is already
developing a resource document to provide
information and advice to clergy and
parishes.”
If people would like to talk to Jane, please
phone her on her dedicated, confidential
numbers, 01270 652034 or 07918 732806.
Or email [email protected]
In Crewe, Christ Church’s 31st season of
Wednesday lunchtime concerts continues
on Wednesday 9 December with a
Christmas concert given by the Sandbach
Ladies Choir under the direction of Valetta
Cranmer and accompanied by John Axom on
the organ. There will be a retiring collection.
For further information phone Emma Janes
on 01270 215866 or email
[email protected]
St Helen’s Church, Tarporley will hold a
sponsored hymn-athon on Saturday 5
December (also Tarporley Country Market
Day). Between 11 am and 4.30pm, fifty
favourite hymns and carols will be sung to
raise funds for the Church Tower Repairs
Appeal. Visitors are welcome to take part.
There will be regular breaks for refreshments.
For details please phone Chas Hardern on
01829 732595, email [email protected]
or phone the Revd Keith Hine on 01829
732491 or email [email protected]
Readers and Pastoral Workers licensed
The annual Reader Licensing service at
Chester Cathedral (pictured above) took
place back in October when 16 new Readers
were admitted and licensed. Bishop Peter
officiated and the Very Revd Ken Riley
preached. The service was attended by
many supporters from family and parish.
Admitted and licensed were: Val Bond, Bev
Boulton,Trish Cope, Anne Draper, Malcolm
Evans, John Fenton, Pip Horne, Alan Jones,
Hugh Jones, Ron Jones, Alison Linfield, Alan
Lowe, Susan Nykorak, Kath Wentel, Julie
Withers and Elisabeth Wye.
Last September ten new Pastoral Workers
were admitted and licensed at a service of
celebration at the cathedral. Bishop Keith led
the Pastoral Workers in a quiet afternoon as
part of their preparation and then preached
and presided at the service which was
well attended by family, parishioners and
friends. Admitted and licensed were: Lynn
Alexander, Marjorie Burden, Elaine Curnock,
Margaret Darbyshire, Amy Haigh, Carol
Jordan, Kathleen Jubb, Margaret Kitchen,
Julie Lillicrap and Janice Lupton.
Making history,
preserving history
Anne Lawson, Vicar
of Crewe Green.
Made of Welsh slate
to complement the
dark
decorative
bricks in the wall, it
balances the post
box on the opposite
side of the church
gate.
The plaque gives
thanks for the men
and
women
of
Crewe Green who
served their country
during
times
of
conflict.
Residents of Crewe Green had a new war
commemoration plaque in place in time for
their Remembrance Sunday service.
The plaque, which has been placed
prominently on the churchyard wall along
Narrow Lane, is the result of cooperation
between St Michael and All Angels’ Church
and Crewe Green Parish Council. The cost
of the plaque has been covered by the
Leadbetter Trust which is administered by
the parish council.
The plaque has been worked by Bob
Parry, stonemason at Co-operative Funeral
Care, Crewe, from a design by the Revd
7
Donald Allister to become Bishop of Peterborough
Donald and Janice Allister
Archdeacon Donald, who has served 29
years in ministry in our diocese, is to become
the new Bishop of Peterborough.
Liverpool-born Donald, aged 57, is the son
of a Mersey docks manager and a nursing
sister. He grew up in Birkenhead, Bromley
(Kent), Heswall, then Birkenhead again before
studying at Cambridge University and later at
theological college in Bristol.
He is due to be consecrated and installed
as Bishop of Peterborough next spring. He will
succeed the Right Reverend Ian Cundy, who
died last May.
Donald said: “Christian ministry is a huge
privilege and for me it has also brought many
joys. I have loved my roles in various churches
and in the Diocese of Chester.
“I am overwhelmed by this new job but
believe that it is the Church’s call and God’s
call to me. I will certainly miss the Diocese of
Chester and my many friends and colleagues
here.”
Donald is married to Janice, a GP. They
have a son, the Revd John Allister, who is
Curate at Hurdsfield, near Macclesfield, and
two grown-up daughters, Rosie (a vet) and
Susan (who gave up her academic career in
recent months to become a full-time mother).
The Bishop of Chester, the Rt Revd Dr
Peter Forster, said: “I am delighted at
Donald Allister’s appointment to the See of
Peterborough. Donald was brought up in the
Diocese of Chester, and has served most
of his ministry here. We shall miss him very
much indeed.
8
“Donald had a most creative incumbency at
St Mary’s, Cheadle. He played a major role
beyond the parish, as a Rural Dean and in the
wider diocese. The current flourishing of the
parish owes much to Donald’s wise leadership.
“The years as Archdeacon of Chester have
allowed Donald’s ministry to develop and
grow. He has won respect and admiration from
all parts of the Diocese, and in the elections to
General Synod topped the clergy poll by a wide
margin. He has combined the administrative,
pastoral and teaching roles of Archdeacon in a
remarkable way.”
The Bishop of Birkenhead, the Rt Revd
Keith Sinclair, said: “It has been a great
privilege to work with Donald Allister over
these past two-and-a-half years. He is a great
colleague with a passion for the Gospel and a
love for the Church.
“Donald’s ministry has been valued by men
and women in ministry across the traditions.
He is pastoral, a great preacher and teacher,
and the Diocese of Peterborough can look
forward to receiving a godly and gracious
bishop. We shall miss him tremendously.”
As Bishop of Peterborough, Donald
will oversee the mission, ministry and
administration of an ancient diocese that
has more than 360 parishes and covers
Northamptonshire, Rutland and most of the
city of Peterborough. He will join 43 other
diocesan bishops of the Church of England.