The
of the
the Diocese
Diocese of
of Canterbury
Canterbury
The newsletter
magazine of
ISSUE 6 SPRING 2011
Faith, hope, love –
Canterbury Diocese
welcomes more couples
for church weddings
What does
Discipleship
mean to you?
Inside this issue:
● Archbishop Rowan’s
Easter Message
● Easter Services and Events
● Curate Jumps for Roof
● Credit Unions beat the
Loan Sharks
The
of the
the Diocese
Diocese of
of Canterbury
Canterbury
The newsletter
magazine of
The Weddings
Project arrives in
the Diocese of
Canterbury
- page 14
What does 24/7 Discipleship mean
to you? Page 10-11
News and events from the
Diocese of Canterbury
Raising money to counter lead
theft at Woodchurch - page 8
Romney Marsh churches feature in
John Piper’s art show - page 8
Contents
Contact the editorial team
Diocesan News
6-9
Parish News
10
What does Discipleship mean to you?
Outlook is the new quarterly magazine
for the Diocese of Canterbury.
Advertising Manager: Rose Osborne,
email: [email protected]
Editor: Emily Shepherd, Tel: 01227
459401 email: [email protected]
Designed by: Green and Tempest,
www.greenandtempest.co.uk
12
What’s on in the Diocese
Future editions will be published:
May 26th (copy deadline May 6th)
August 25th (copy deadline Aug 2nd)
November 24th (copy deadline Nov 2nd)
14
Canterbury Diocese Invests in Weddings
15
Talking Point: John Fowler discusses how
Credit Unions keep loan sharks at bay.
16
Meet the People: John McParland, Principal
of the John Wallis Church of England
Academy in Ashford.
Communications Advisory Group:
John Barton, Richard Collins, Mike Field,
Christopher Robinson, Martin Short and
Leo Whitlock.
Canterbury Diocese, Diocesan House,
Lady Wootton’s Green, Canterbury
CT1 1NQ Tel: 01227 459401
The editor and team welcome submissions
for Outlook Magazine and can be
contacted via the contact details above.
FEEDBACK
We hope you enjoy Outlook magazine
and the editor would welcome your
comments: [email protected]
Diocese map: Digital Mapping Solutions from Dotted Eyes. © Crown Copyright 2011.
All rights reserved. Licence number 100019918 (Scale: 1:10,000), Mark Binns, [email protected]
2
4
The Revelation of Easter
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams
It’s been a time of great upheaval
in the Middle East in recent
weeks and months, and no-one
seems quite sure yet as to
whether we should be
celebrating or worrying.
Whatever happens to the
governments of various
countries in the region, there is
a nagging feeling that the changes are not too likely, in the short
run, to benefit those most at risk, or to lower the temperature
of local and global politics. The hundreds of thousands of Iraqis
and Palestinians in assorted refugee settlements, the minorities,
especially the Christian minorities, and quite a few other
groups, may well wonder what new insecurities lie ahead.
Human revolutions are never simple. It would be nice if we
could just once say, Yes, this is it, injustice has been replaced by
justice and the right people are at last in charge. But history
isn’t encouraging on this front. There is always an unexpected
price, there are always innocent casualties. Again and again,
enthusiasts say, ‘This time we’ve got it right’; but soon enough
the costs become plain and the tragedies unfold.
Which is why it is so important to understand what is utterly
different about the revolution of Easter. God reverses the unjust
verdict on Jesus – and on all who suffer because of human
pride and greed and rivalry. He summons the executed,
humiliated Jesus to sit on his throne in heaven and tells the
world that from now on everyone is to be judged by the
selflessness and compassion of this man. And instead of setting
up a new system of government, God pours out his Holy Spirit
to create an entire new society in which selflessness and
compassion can begin to seem natural and normal.
This revolution isn’t about ‘putting the right people in charge’.
It’s about a standing reminder to everyone that God alone is in
charge, that God alone is free to overturn the verdict of the
world when it condemns or despises forgiveness and love, and
free to recreate all things around those revolutionary realities.
Earthly revolutions come and go, surge up and fall away.
But the new creation of God’s people does not come and go.
What Jesus was and is he always will be – the embodied truth
of God’s love. When we are invited into his fellowship and into
fellowship with one another, we are being brought into an
eternal community of love. Easter is a time to thank God for
his unique revolution – and also to ask the awkward question
of why we still seem to spend so much of our time under the
old regime!
With blessings this Easter,
Archbishop Rowan
‘Transport’ by Antony Gormley
At the end of January a new sculpture
created by the artist Antony Gormley,
entitled ‘Transport’, was unveiled at
Canterbury Cathedral.
The two metre long work uses hand made
antique iron nails from the Cathedral’s
repaired south east transept roof to
construct a delicate filter-like membrane
outlining the space of a floating body. The
membrane is pierced with nails passing
through it from inside to outside and vice
versa. The work is suspended above the site
of Thomas Becket’s first resting place in the
Eastern Crypt of the Cathedral.
Photo: Robert Berry
Speaking about ‘Transport’ Antony
Gormley said: “The body is less a thing
than a place; a location where things
happen. Thought, feeling, memory and
anticipation filter through it sometimes
staying, but mostly passing on, like us in
this great cathedral with its centuries of
building, adaptation, extension and all the
thoughts, feelings and prayers that people
have had and transmitted here. Mind and
body, church and state are polarities
evoked by the life and death of Thomas
Becket. We are all the temporary
inhabitants of a body, it is our house,
instrument and medium; through it all
impressions of the world come and from it
all our acts, thoughts and feelings are
communicated. I hope to have evoked this
in the most direct way possible”.
Speaking of the Cathedral’s excitement The
Dean of Canterbury, the Very Revd Robert
Willis, said: “It is very thrilling for all of us
here at Canterbury Cathedral that Antony
Gormley has taken the old nails from the
roof which was being restored and from
them created the statue ‘Transport’.
“The sense of passage which the word
transport conveys, tunes well with the
constant movement of people through this
place of prayer and creativity. It also
suggests the way in which sacred spaces
communicate a sense of time and eternity,
of the finite and the infinite. We are hugely
grateful for this work.”
3
Diocesan News
Bishop Trevor joins Archbishop
Gregorios to bless the seas
On a crisp cold day in January, Bishop Trevor
joined Archbishop Gregorios of Thyateira and
Great Britain for the annual Blessing of the Seas
at Margate.
The ceremony, which took place on Margate
Beach, celebrated the baptism of Jesus Christ.
At the end of the ceremony Archbishop Gregorios
threw a specially decorated cross into the water to
bless the seas which was immediately recovered
by a young member of the Greek community who
plunged into the icy sea to retrieve it.
Bishop Trevor and Archbishop Gregorios
Photo: Dave Stewart, Kent Regional News
Additional building support for
congregations
Congregations are to receive additional advice and support with
their church buildings following the announcement that English
Heritage will fund a part time ‘Support Officer’ for Canterbury
Diocese. Ian Dodd, who also works as Secretary to the DAC
(Diocesan Advisory Committee), formally took up the post at the
start of the year.
Retired bishop swaps ‘quiet life’ for
checkpoints and curfews
Former Bishop of Dover,
Richard Llewellin, will be
spending three months from
the middle of February in
Israel/Palestine as a human
rights observer.
The post is funded for three years by a capacity building grant from
English Heritage and forms part of their ‘Inspired!’ campaign which
seeks to help groups who manage and maintain historic places of
worship.
He will be part of an
international team
monitoring and reporting
human rights violations
and offering protection
to Palestinian civilians
in their daily lives where
checkpoints and curfews
hinder movement.
He will support Israeli and
Palestinian peace activists.
Ian commented: “Through my new role as Support Officer I am able
to make site visits to churches and offer practical support. A large
part of my role is helping congregations discern new uses for their
buildings and find creative and sensitive ways to make alterations.
The challenge is to widen the use of our church buildings whilst
sustaining a growing worshipping community.”
Archbishop of Canterbury launches
‘Faith in the World’ Competition
An essay writing competition for young people has been launched
by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Young people between the ages of
13 and 21 may take part, with cash prizes.
Full details of how to enter and the entry form can be found at:
www.archbishopofcanterbury.org
The closing date is 11th March 2011.
FOR UP-TO-DATE NEWS www.canterburydiocese.org
Follow the Bishop of Dover and Diocese of Canterbury
on Facebook and You Tube
4
Richard, who lives in
Thanington, commented:
“I have visited the Holy
Land on a number of occasions, both on study courses and
in leading pilgrimages. Now in my retirement I have the
opportunity to spend time simply living amongst the occupied
territories, bringing encouragement and assuring the people
that they are not forgotten.”
Richard on tour in the H1 area of
Hebron city.
The project, known as The Ecumenical Accompaniment
Programme for Palestine and Israel (EAPPI), was set up in
response to an appeal by Christian Church leaders in the Holy
Land for an international presence in the occupied territories,
especially in places and situations where Palestinians feel
vulnerable or threatened.
Diocese re-shapes into 3 Archdeaneries
Join Canon Ed on a fundraising
bike ride to Paris
From 1st February 2011, Canterbury Diocese has been officially
re-shaped into three Archdeaconries: Canterbury, Maidstone and
Ashford.
The move comes following the decision made by Diocesan Synod in
November to re-shape the diocese so that it can provide more support
to churches.
Archdeacon Sheila will remain the Archdeacon of Canterbury; a role
with diocesan, Cathedral and national responsibilities. Archdeacon
Philip will become the first Archdeacon of Ashford and will be
welcomed at a special service in Canterbury Cathedral on Sunday
13th March at 3.15pm.
The diocese is currently recruiting for a new Archdeacon of
Maidstone. Archdeacons take responsibility for church buildings and
the welfare of clergy and their families within the Archdeaconry.
Contributing skills and experience to one or more frameworks in the
diocese, Archdeacons also work closely with the Bishop and the Senior
Staff team.
Canon Ed Condry is calling on
cyclists to join him on a cycle ride
to raise money for Canterbury
Cathedral. The 220 mile ride, which
takes place from July 27th to July
31st, will follow the Green Route
from London to Paris, an attractive
route that meanders along tracks,
railway lines and towpaths.
Ed, who last year cycled from Land’s
End to John o’Groats commented:
“This year’s trip is designed to be
a bit slower. There are men and
women, young and old, including
experienced cyclists and complete
beginners in our group. Our main aim is to have a mini-adventure.”
He added: “You do not have to be impossibly fit. Your bike does not
have to be carbon fibre with thousands of gears!”
To take part, each rider must raise a minimum amount for the
Canterbury Cathedral Appeal plus pay their expenses. To find out
more please contact Canon Ed Condry, 15 The Precincts, Canterbury,
CT1 2EL, 01227 865228, [email protected]
JULY 27th TO JULY 31st
LONDON - PARIS
FOR CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL
GET INVOLVED!
[email protected]
Canon Ed Condry cycles past Canterbury Cathedral.
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Parish News
Still in the Picture – after 43 years!
John Winn (far right) with Archbishop
Ramsey in 1967.
In December, Archbishop Rowan
visited St Nicholas, Ringwould, to
celebrate St Nicholas Day with the
Rector of Ringwould, Revd Cathy
Sigrist, self-supporting minister
John Winn (middle back) with
Revd John Winn, local people and Archbishop Rowan and Rector
those from the nearby villages of
Revd Cathy Sigrist and Michael
Kingsdown, Sutton and Ripple.
and Charlotte Moore in 2010.
The last visit to Ringwould
made by an Archbishop was in 1967 when Archbishop Michael
Ramsey installed Revd Lovell Pocock as the Vicar of St Nicholas.
Present at the service, and for the post-event photograph, was a
young and keen churchwarden (pictured on the far right in the
black and white photo) a 25 year old John Winn! John is still in
the picture 43 years later having served at St Nicholas as a Reader
for 15 years and for the last nine years as a self-supporting priest.
Wye ‘reboot’ Celebration Services
Starting this spring, St Gregory and St Martin Church in Wye will be
‘rebooting’ their ‘Celebration Services’. A series of well-known speakers
will preach at the monthly services, including Revd Dr William
Atkinson of Elim Pentecostal Church and the London School of
Theology, a minister who played a key role in the conversion of
Priest-in-Charge, Revd Ravi Holy.
Ravi, whose young adult years were spent drinking, taking drugs,
playing in a punk band and spurning Christianity, underwent
a dramatic transformation nearly twenty three years ago.
At this time he started attending a Pentecostal Church. Ravi
explains: “William Atkinson is an old friend from Kensington
Temple, the Elim church in London, and was instrumental in
the process of me becoming a Christian. It’s very appropriate
that he is the first speaker at this new service and we look
forward to welcoming him on 13th March.”
The Celebration Services which take place on the second
Sunday of each month at 10am will include other notable
speakers; on 10th April, Jane Williams of St Melitus College will
speak, on 8th May the Vicar of St Luke’s, Maidstone, will be the
preacher and on 12th June Revd Paul Sinclair, the ‘revving rev’
and the founder of www.motorcyclefunerals.com will join the
service. More information from: www.wyebenefice.org.uk
Churches offer a listening ear to
retailers in Canterbury
Charing presents a ‘gift’ to
Kennington
Members of St Peter and St Paul,
Charing, presented an unusual
‘gift’ to the Parish of St Mary’s
Kennington in January. Wrapped in
gift paper, decorated with warning
signs which read ‘fragile’ and
‘handle with care’, the Reverend
Richard King was presented as a gift
from the young people of Charing to
Kennington to mark Richard’s new
post as Priest-in-Charge of St Mary’s
Gift wrapped Richard at St Mary’s
Kennington.
Kennington.
Richard, who started his life as
a British Gas engineer, has spent the last four years working in a
dual role as parish priest at Charing and as one of the two Diocesan
Missioners. At his installation in February, Richard commented: “I’ve
received a wonderful welcome and I’m looking forward immensely to
working at Kennington.”
6
Reverend Mark Ball with local retailer Richard Mattingly (left) from
‘Whispers’ retail shop on St Peter’s Street, Canterbury.
In response to the pressures on shop workers and retailers in the
present economic climate, churches in Canterbury have appointed
three workplace chaplains to operate a new venture called Work
Space.
The new Work Space Chaplains include ministers from local
Salvation Army, Methodist and Anglican Churches.
Anglican Chaplain, Revd Mark Ball, who is also Priest in
Charge of Canterbury City Centre and St Dunstan’s Parishes said:
“Work Space was created to make available and provide church
to people on the shop floor. Canterbury High Street is a very busy
shopping centre area, attracting many visitors each week and
employing hundreds of people in the retail industry. Work Space
will provide a chaplaincy service for management and staff on the
shop floor, who will be able to contact us for pastoral support.”
Information is available from: www.workspacecanterbury.org.
Building work begins at new
Archbishop Courtenay School
Bishop Trevor took part in a special turf
cutting ceremony in December to mark the
start of construction work on a new building
for Archbishop Courtenay Church of England
Primary School. Plans for the new building have
been underway since the school was formed in
2005 through the amalgamation of All Saints and
St Stephen’s Church of England schools.
Bishop Trevor commented: “The blessing of the new school site is
cause for much celebration and reinforces the Diocese of Canterbury’s
ongoing commitment to work with the County to provide the best
possible facilities for our young people.”
Head Teacher, Mrs Louise Stubberfield, commented: “Pupils and staff
are very excited that work is now underway. The new building will
provide a modern, spacious and environmentally friendly school that
we can all be proud of. We cannot wait for it to open in two years
time!”
The new school in Eccleston Road will include ten classrooms, a
nursery facility and a ‘Godly play area’. The new school is due to open
early in 2012.
New Year’s Honours for Holy Trinity
Ramsgate Chair of Governors
Mr Rod Thomas, Chair of the Board of Governors at Holy Trinity
Church of England Primary School, Ramsgate, has been awarded an
MBE for voluntary services to education in the New Year Honours
list. Rod commented: “I am absolutely delighted and very honoured to
receive this award which I feel is not only an honour for me but also for
the school.”
Stelling Minnis School says
fond farewell to Margi
At the end of a successful
Religious Education Week,
pupils and staff at Stelling
Minnis Church of England
Primary School said a fond
farewell to retiring local Priest
Revd Margi Walker.
Religious Education week
at the school included pupils
turning the library into a
creative prayer room where
they used Celtic prayers and
made prayer chains and prayer
pebbles. Visitors helped with
RE week, including local
Rabbi, Cliff Cohen, who
Pupils say a fond farewell to Revd
shared with the children
Margi at Stelling Minnis Primary
information about the Jewish
School.
faith, and members of the
ecumenical group Kidz Klub Canterbury who led a puppet
workshop on the Parable of the Prodigal Son.
At the communion service which marked the end of the week,
Head Teacher, John Gray, congratulated the children on their
positive response to RE week before thanking Margi for her work
in the school. John said: “Margi has done wonderful things here at
Stelling Minnis Primary, including leading wonderful assemblies
and supporting staff and governors.”
Margi, who has spent the last five years as a House for Duty
Priest in St Mary Stelling and St Peter Upper Hardres responded:
“I will miss all of you as it has been a joy coming to your school.”
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7
Parish News
Curate ‘jumps’ for
church roof
A curate of a church on the Romney
Marsh, which has been targeted by lead
thieves nine times in the last 12 months,
is planning a parachute jump to help raise
funds for a new roof.
On 28th May 2011 curate of All Saints
Woodchurch, Revd Paul White, will jump
out of an aeroplane at 12,000 feet in an
effort to raise money towards the £65,000
required. Paul, who has never taken
part in a parachute jump before, said:
“The lead thefts have been a significant
blow to us. Together we need to raise
around £70,000 for the re-roofing and I
wanted to literally jump feet first into the
fundraising efforts!”
Paul continues: “Whilst we were insured
for lead theft, the sheer amount of lead
theft that has been going on across the
country meant our insurer has capped
all policies at £5,000. We need another
£65,000 for the new roof. Fortunately we
have permission to replace the lead with
stainless steel which is much less attractive
to thieves and hopefully will prevent
further theft.”
During 2010 lead thieves targeted All
Saints a total of nine times taking all of
the lead from the roofs of both the North
and South aisle. A temporary felt cover
is in place to keep the rain out but to
prevent damage to the church’s interior a
permanent metal roof must be laid soon.
To sponsor Paul’s parachute jump visit:
www.allsaintswoodchurch.org.uk
Theft advice from Kent Police
To reduce the risk of lead being stolen
from your roof you can:
• Make sure all tools and machinery are
stored securely.
• Use alternative materials to lead for
any repairs – this reduces the risk of
your premises becoming a target for
thieves.
• Coat lead in anti-climb paint – the
paint does not degrade the lead
but makes it difficult for a thief to
remove. It is also non-drying and
marks clothes and skin, often helping
the police to identify offenders.
• Coat lead with silver
paint – this reduces the
value of the metal and
thieves are less likely to
steal it and sell it on.
• Use coloured lead,
which will allow the
lead flashing to blend
in with the building,
making it more
difficult to be seen
by thieves.
• Security mark lead
using a forensic marking solution.
Romney Marsh Churches feature in major John Piper art show
John Piper’s ‘Ivychurch, Romney Marsh’ (1982).
Mixed media on paper.
8
“The romance of this small, blank, isolated
neck of land is strong” said twentieth century
artist John Piper in his illustrated book about
Romney Marsh.
Now works by the painter, which include
many paintings and drawings of Romney
Marsh churches, will be exhibited this Spring
at three venues in Kent – Mascalls Gallery in
Paddock Wood, Tunbridge Wells Museum and
Scotney Castle, Lamberhurst.
John Piper (1903-1992) was well known
as a designer of stained glass windows and
was inspired, as a boy, by the windows at
Canterbury Cathedral.
In later life he was a supporter of the
Romney Marsh Historic Churches
Preservation Trust.
As well as many paintings and drawings
of Kent churches, the exhibition will feature
images of the coast and countryside which the
artist produced during a career which spanned
from the 1930s until his death in 1992.
Original works related to Piper’s many
religious commissions in the region, notably
the High Altar tapestry at Chichester
Cathedral, will be shown in Tunbridge Wells
Museum and Art Gallery where the Revd
Dr Stephen Laird, Chaplain at Kent University
and Priest-in-Charge of Blean, will give an
illustrated talk entitled ‘John Piper and the
Church’ on 23rd March at 7.45pm.
‘John Piper in Kent and Sussex’ runs from
9th March until 21st May. Details from
01892 819039 or [email protected]
St Mary of Charity is set ablaze with a new
ministry for children and young people
January marked the beginning of a new venture in the
life of St Mary of Charity Parish Church, Faversham,
with the introduction of FLAME, a new ministry for
children and young people.
Youth Minister, Martin Tyler, explains: “Since the
review of the church back in the autumn a team of
people have been praying and discussing how God
might be leading the church forward in specific
ways. It was felt that there was a need to prioritise the
development and renewal of the ministry towards children and young people.”
Explaining that it was initially hard to find leaders for the groups, Martin
describes how after much prayer and a few conversations, enough volunteers
had come forward to give the project the green light. Obtaining exciting new
material published by Scripture Union and displaying it in the church also
prompted a number of people to offer their services and skills to help run the
groups.
Martin explains the launch of FLAME: “The 9th of January launch day went
off with a bang as we invited 25 children and all the leaders to the front of the
church to be prayed for before they went off to their new groups. The roof was
lifted as the children went off to the chorus of ‘Shine Jesus Shine’ and afterwards,
over coffee, there was nothing but praise for what had gone on in the groups with
excited children running about the church and saying that they wanted to come
back for more next week.”
Five groups suitable for children and young people between the ages of 3 and 18
take place every Sunday at the 10.30am service. FLAME will also run holiday
clubs throughout the year. More information from: www.stmaryofcharity.org or
from Martin: [email protected] or 01795 530421.
9
What does 24/7
Discipleship
mean to you?
Discipleship is a word you infrequently hear. Disciple
literally means ‘learner’ and Christian Discipleship is the
process of growing in Jesus and becoming more like him
in our day to day lives.
Understanding the term discipleship is hard; understanding how to
grow as disciples in our busy, noisy and changing world and how to go
on and make disciples, is harder still.
But Jesus calls us all to be disciples and to make disciples in his name
(Matthew 28:19). Bishop Trevor describes discipleship as ‘a lifetime’s
journey’ with great rewards: “As we grow in faith, we attract others to
be disciples in Christ’s name. As more disciples are called in Christ’s
name, the Kingdom of God grows and society can be transformed.”
So what does discipleship mean to you and what might you do this
year that will help you grow as a disciple? Bishop Trevor invites
individuals, groups, churches, chaplaincies, schools and deaneries
across the Diocese to participate in a ‘Year of Discipleship’ so that
together we can help each other live out our faith 24 hours a day,
seven days a week.
Nicola Rumsey
Paul Henderson
Paul Henderson is a retired
teacher and Authorised Lay
Minister at St Saviour’s,
Walmer. Paul found his
discipleship was influenced by
the story of his friend Mike.
“I met Mike whilst undertaking
teacher training at college in Exeter.
I was a nominal Christian at that
time but Mike’s faith was established. Mike influenced me by his
knowledge of faith; how he applied his faith to his life and the way he
lived his life. He always made sure I was going in the right direction.
“I came across this phrase recently: ‘Child of God, be careful who you
listen to. If you want to march in the right direction you had better
listen to the right drummer.’ Mike has always been the right drummer.
It is important as a Christian that you have the Bible, your church and
your prayer life but it is also important to have someone who can keep
you going along the right route.
“People should not to be afraid to share their stories of faith and in my
experience, people’s reactions are always very positive. I am grateful
that Mike was never afraid to talk about what he believed and for the
confidence he gave me to espouse my faith.”
Bishop Trevor on Discipleship
“My passion is for every
Christian to grow in faith and
to make disciples in Christ’s
name. I know this passion is
shared and as I have travelled
around the Diocese I sense a
real and urgent desire within
our collective life to grow as
disciples in this ever changing
and noisy world and to
make disciples. I also sense degrees of uncertainty as to
how this might be done in our particular situations.
“Discipleship is about learning how utterly
dependent we are and are called to be upon the free
grace of God; the free grace which accepts, forgives,
heals, restores, empowers.
Nicola, a business woman and mother of three, who
worships at St Alphege, Whitstable, shares her story of
discipleship. You can watch Nicola’s podcast at:
www.canterburydiocese.org/247liveit
“I knew that it was not enough for me to come to church every Sunday,
sing the hymns, say the prayers and go home. I knew there had to
be more. I had lots of questions and I wanted to be able to bring the
Christian message into other people’s lives without ramming it down
their throat.
“Attending a small group transformed my discipleship. In the group
we built up trust and friendship and we’ve been able to share our ideas
about Christ and how we feel. We can talk openly and answer each
other’s questions and sometimes the comments someone makes can
really make sense. Discipleship is about following God, but doing this
on your own is a journey that’s not going anywhere.
“This Lent why not try a Lent group or a house group to explore your
discipleship? Chances are you will get a lot out of it and go home
buzzing! I know I do!”
10
“This sort of discipleship is about the whole of life
and not just some sort of religious aspect, or even
religious practice. This sort of discipleship is about
how I treat other people, how I treat the world, how
I treat myself. This sort of discipleship will reflect
something about my experience of being invited
into God’s love.
“But why are we doing this now?
“I sense the disciples we are making in our churches today have
particular and pressing needs. Those who are new to faith often
have very little knowledge of what being a Christian involves or
how to be sustained on the journey they have begun. Others within
our churches bear lots of questions we often assume they know
the answer to. Where do they take their very real questions about
following Jesus? Others who are bearing the increasing burdens
of ministry may be suffering from fatigue. All of us need to be
refreshed and nourished for the long journey of faith.
“If we’re not being made and remade day by day as disciples, then
what else have we to offer to a world that is increasingly hungry
for hope and meaning? That is why we are looking afresh at
discipleship. That is why we are doing it now.”
Lord, you called your first
disciples to follow you.
Help us to deepen our walk with
you and renew our discipleship.
Kindle in all our hearts a longing
to see you more clearly, love you
more dearly and follow you more
nearly.
24/7
Amen
Based on the prayer of 13th century
Saint Richard, Bishop of Chichester, to
pray daily for our discipleship.
Discipleship Events
Why not join in with a discipleship event in your church or at
the Cathedral this year?
‘Confident Discipleship’ a Lent Learning course
Join a Lent group at your church this March and help discern what is
working well and what needs working on. Your local church is in the
disciple-making business, perhaps there are ways that you can find
to do this even better?
Easter Monday Youth Pilgrimage
Monday 25th April.
Join over 700 people, young and not so young, on Easter Monday
converging at Canterbury Cathedral at 12 noon for worship with
a live band and to share pilgrimage and discipleship stories with
each other.
Discipleship Resources
Central to the 24/7 Year of Discipleship is the need to share stories
and ideas with each other to help strengthen our discipleship.
During the year, parishes may make use of the following resources:
• A monthly video and postcard which tells the discipleship story of
one individual.
• A regular ‘Faithbook’ mailing – including stories from individuals,
groups, churches and deaneries. Faithbook will be issued as an email
update and also as a mini magazine.
• The Diocese is also making available a monthly parish magazine
article, resources for the Lent course and creative prayer resources for
the nine days of prayer between Ascension and Pentecost.
• A website with resources, readings, ideas and stories:
www.canterburydiocese.org/247liveit
A ‘Nine day week’ of prayer – Ascension to Pentecost
Friday 3rd June – Saturday 11th June.
Clear your diaries and use this time to pray for discipleship in your
church, in your life and in the Diocese. Creative prayer resources will
be available for individuals, groups and churches.
The Gathering
Friday 16th September and Saturday 17th September.
A two day learning event at Canterbury Cathedral for all ages,
exploring the themes of ‘Community’ and ‘Discipleship’ with
national and local speakers.
Christ the King
Sunday 20th November, 5pm, Canterbury Cathedral.
A time to celebrate discipleship and the life of Christ.
Find out more about the 24/7 Year of Discipleship
and register your interest:
www.canterburydiocese.org/247liveit
11
What’s on in the Diocese
Monday 18th to 20th April
Archbishop to discuss NARNIA in Lent Lectures
The Archbishop, Dr Rowan Williams, will discuss the popular
Narnia stories of C. S. Lewis in his 2011 Lent Lectures which take
place in Canterbury Cathedral during Holy Week.
Archbishop Rowan explained: “The Narnia books of C. S. Lewis
continue to intrigue and inspire many, and the recent very
successful films have shown that they still have wide appeal.
Lewis certainly intended them to be vehicles of Christian teaching.
But in an age less familiar with Christian images and ideas than
his, how can we best draw out these themes?”
These lectures will look at some of the most important themes
in the novels and ask how far Lewis succeeds in giving new life
to traditional Christian ideas about sacrifice, forgiveness and
resurrection, doubt and faith, the divine presence in Jesus and the
final goals of human life.
The lectures, entitled ‘Not a tame lion’, ‘I only tell you your own
story’ and ‘Bigger inside than outside’ take place on Monday
18th April, Tuesday 19th April and Wednesday 20th April from
7.30pm at Canterbury Cathedral. Entry is free.
Information about Cathedral services during Easter can be found
at: www.canterburydiocese.org/whatson
LENT LECTURES
12 April
Thomas Traherne: ‘Clothed with the
Heavens and Crowned with the Stars’.
Cassadó. Tickets £8 per head,
refreshments included, from: 01304
613056.
On Wednesdays from 7.30pm.
Organised by Churches Together in
Sittingbourne and held at Baptist
Church, Sittingbourne (parking in
Albany Road car park, off
Remembrance Avenue). All are
welcome of whatever denomination
or none. Light refreshments will be
served during the evening. Phone
01795 420990 between 10am-3pm or
email [email protected]
for details and to register interest in
attending.
For information on any of the
Canterbury Lent Lectures email
[email protected]
or phone 01227 455994.
Tuesday 8 March
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Party at
St Laurence-in-Thanet
March and April
Canterbury Lent Lectures
OTHER WHAT’S ON
Saturday 5 March
Spring Concert at Smarden
Church
March 16, 23, 30 and April 6
Life-enhancing Lent Course by
Bishop Trevor
At St Peter’s Canterbury on Tuesdays
at 12.30pm followed by a light lunch.
15 March: ‘William Tyndale, the
hidden translator of the most
influential book in our language’. The
Revd Michael Walling, Methodist
Minister.
22 March: ‘Jonah - the original
Prodigal? What happens when we try
to escape God’. The Revd David
Mackenzie Mills, Precentor,
Canterbury Cathedral.
29 March: ‘Paul and Romans: the
power to convert.’ Dr John M. Court,
Hon. Senior Research Fellow in
Theology, University of Kent.
5 April: ‘Thy Word alone: George
Herbert and the Bible’. The Revd Dr
Peter Davie, retired Principal Lecturer
in Theology, Canterbury Christ
Church University.
12
Monday 18 April to Wednesday
20th April
Canterbury Cathedral
3.00pm - 5.00pm, St Laurence
Church, High Street. All welcome to
come along and enjoy some pancakes.
Contact: The Parish Office:
01843 592478.
7.30pm. Archbishop Rowan will
discuss the popular Narnia stories of
C.S. Lewis in three free Lent Lectures.
Further details from 01277 459401.
Friday 18 March
Bishop’s Day for Clergy at the
Chapel, Christ Church University
By Cantores Dominicae at 7.30pm
with a champagne reception at
7.00pm. This concert by Musical
Director Peter Futcher, is in aid of
urgent lighting work to the Church.
The choir will be singing Vivaldi’s
Gloria and Rutter’s Requiem.
All tickets £7.50 (by phone or on the
door). Contact: Marcus Palmer,
Tel: 01233 770557.
9.30am (for 10.00am start) to 3.00pm.
Stephen Wright, lecturer at Spurgeon’s
College in London, offers helpful
ways of preaching key Holy Week and
Passiontide narratives in the Year of
Matthew. Phone 01277 459401 for
bookings.
Saturday 26 March
Cathedral Choristers at St Peter
and St Paul, Appledore
7.00pm. Canterbury Cathedral
Choristers in concert. Tickets to
include interval canapes and a drink,
£10. For reservations call 01233
758203.
Saturday 5 March
Recital at St Mary,
Woodnesborough
Saturday 2 April
Prayer and Spirituality
Enneagram course
7.30pm. Cellist and Priest-in-Charge
of Woodnesborough, Revd Daniel
Harrison and Pianist John Baker will
present a programme including music
by Fauré, Vivaldi, Beethoven and
10.00am - 4.00pm at Stelling Minnis
Village Hall. Exploration into prayer
and our habitual defence mechanisms
which hold us back in our spiritual
growth. The cost of each day is £10.
Contact Margi Walker:
[email protected]
Sunday 3 April
Sutton Valence Choral Society
All Saints’ Maidstone
7.30pm. Sutton Valence Choral
Society, conducted by Bryan Gipps,
will present Stainer – Crucifixion,
Palestrina – Stabat Mater. E-mail
[email protected]
Tickets £10 from Sharon Music,
65 High Street, Maidstone,
Tel: 01622 761643 or at the door.
Saturday 16 April
St Matthew Passion Holy Trinity
Broadstairs
7.00pm. St Matthew Passion
performed by 70 Chamber Choir of
Thanet and Thanet Festival Choir
with the Festival Chamber Orchestra.
Tickets £10 in advance (£12 on the
door) Tel. 01843 602332.
Sunday 17 April
Music for Lent and Passiontide
All Saints’ Maidstone
3.30pm. All Saints’ choir programme
will include ‘Hosanna to the Son of
David’ - Gibbons, ‘Procession of
Palms’ – Williams. Free entry retiring collection.
Saturday 14 May
Organ recital at St Peters-inThanet
Cathedral Organist, Dr David Flood
will be playing an organ recital on the
evening of Saturday 14th May from
7.00pm. The programme will include
works by Bach, Franck, Vierne and
Liszt. Tickets £10 or £8 if bought in
Easter Monday, April 25th
Easter Youth Pilgrimage
This year the Easter Monday Youth Pilgrimage forms part of the 24/7
Year of Discipleship events and will challenge young people to share
their stories of faith as they walk into Canterbury Cathedral on Easter
Monday.
The Easter Monday Youth Pilgrimage has been going for over 30
years and provides a unique opportunity for young Christians to
make their way from across the region to Canterbury Cathedral to
celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Last year around 700
people joined the pilgrimage, including Archbishop Rowan and
Bishop Trevor.
Pilgrims are invited to bring a stone with them that might represent
their walk with God. Converging at the Cathedral at 12 noon, pilgrims
join for worship with a live band. During lunch young people will be
invited to share their stories with each other before joining again
for a time of worship in the cathedral which will help them explore
discipleship and strengthen their faith.
For more information visit: www.canterburydiocese.org/emyp
advance from Desmond Harvey.
Tel: 01843 869744.
Saturday 28 May and
Sunday 29 May
Open Gardens, Canterbury
Cathedral
Explore the delightful private
gardens in the Cathedral Precincts
and have a cream tea in idyllic
surroundings. Details from
Cathedral House, telephone
01227 762862 or visit web site:
www.canterbury-cathedral.org
Saturday 28 May to Monday
30 May
Flower Festival at Saltwood
Church
Flower Festival plus Art exhibition.
Saturday 28 May, 10am to 5pm.
Sunday 29th May, 12 noon to 5pm.
Monday 30th May, 10am to 4pm.
Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 June
Open Gardens at St Nicholasat-Wade
10.30am to 5.00pm. Approximately
twelve village gardens open with
stalls selling plants, cakes,
preserves, books etc. with
Gardeners’ Lunches and Cream
Teas. Entrance £3 includes all
gardens and art and flower
exhibitions in church.
Information from 01843 847210
or 01843 841457.
Cathedral Library Event
On Thursday 31 March, after 18
months of refurbishment and
packing and unpacking 50,000
books and pamphlets, the
Cathedral Library will re-open its
doors to the public.
During 2011 there will be an
exciting programme of events
starting with a lecture on 31 March
by Dr David Starkey in which the
historian will share some of his
personal favourites from the
Cathedral Library Collections.
The evening
event will take
place at 6.30pm
in The
Cathedral
Lodge
Auditorium.
Please contact the Cathedral
Friends for more information about
this lecture and other library events.
E-mail [email protected] telephone 01227
865292.
In support of this event the Library
will also host a special exhibition
from 10.00am to 5.00pm. Entrance
to the exhibition is free but normal
precinct charges apply.
Spirituality and Well-being
seminars
A series of seminars on
‘Spirituality and Well-being’ are
being held in Sittingbourne and
Canterbury during 2011.
Facilitated by Hospital Chaplain
Pam Beckinsale, the seminars will
be helpful for clergy, ministry
leaders, children’s leaders, carers,
health professionals and anyone
interested in the connection and
implications between spirituality
and well-being - for details call
Pam on 07762 100543 or e-mail:
[email protected]
13
CANTERBURY DIOCESE INVESTS IN WEDDINGS
team, backed by Archbishops’
Council have developed a highly
popular website for marrying
couples which was used by
250,000 visitors last year:
www.yourchurchwedding.org
A system of attractive paper
resources and online diary has
also been developed to help
clergy build up meaningful
relationships with couples.
Churches in Canterbury Diocese
are putting wedding ministry in
the spotlight by taking part in
the ‘Weddings Project’, an
initiative which seeks to make
church weddings more attractive
to couples.
The Weddings Project was
initiated following extensive
research with 410 couples and
170 clergy in England. The
research revealed a real desire
among couples for a flexible,
14
sensitive and authentic ministry
from the clergy at the time of the
marriage. Interviews with
couples showed that they do not
look first and foremost for a
pretty church for their wedding,
but look for someone, the
minister, who will articulate
something of promise, of life-long
commitment, and of a God who
loves.
In the light of their initial
research, the Weddings Project
Many Dioceses across England
are taking part in the project and
in February, 35 of the clergy who
carry out nearly 80% of the 900
annual weddings in the Diocese
attended a stimulating two day
training event to learn more
about the research and to share
what is emerging as best practice.
A one day workshop for clergy
who did not attend the February
event, ministry team leaders and
wedding administrators is being
held on April 11th at Seasalter
Christian Centre, Whitstable.
More information is available
from Marilyn Haddock on
01227 459401 or book online at
www.canterburydiocese.org
The aims of the Weddings
Project initiative are threefold:
to attract more couples to a
church wedding; to build in
the general public a growing
sense that the Church of
England is an enthusiastic
believer in marriage and to
care so well for couples that
they recommend church
weddings to their friends, and
even become part of the
church in the future.
TALKING POINT JOHN FOWLER
BLESSED ARE THE POOR . . .
ARE THEY? – REALLY?
The evidence from the financial
world is quite the opposite. The
loan sharks who exploited some
of the most vulnerable people in
our Diocese in the run up to
Christmas have made huge
profits. These legal lenders, who
charge rates of several thousand
percent APR, have now disclosed
that they, too, have made huge
profits. Far from being blessed,
many of the poorest people in
Kent are feeling cursed, unloved
and poorer still. And it’s not only
the loan sharks who are
enhancing that vulnerability and
exclusion; the high street banks
continue to discriminate against
some of the most vulnerable
people who are not able to open
accounts and use the services
which are available to the more
wealthy.
I am really not much of a football
fan but I was shocked to discover
that the principal sponsor for
Blackpool Football Club is a
financial organisation, the online
lender - wonga.com. Have a look
at their website and you will see
on the front page, in large print,
that their typical rate of interest is
a colossal average APR of 4214%.
This may not mean much to you
but in order to put it into context,
Kent Savers Credit Union charges
a maximum 26.8% APR; so
wonga.com is charging over 150
times that rate!
It is outrageous that, in this day
and age, those who can least
afford it are being so badly
exploited. So, what can we do
about it?
Credit Unions are a very special
phenomenon, geared to the needs
of all people and designed to
provide a service, not to make a
profit. Any surplus funds are used
to provide a return on the
investments of savers.
Archbishop Rowan Williams has
described them thus: “The
positive benefits that Credit
Union membership brings to
communities are manifold,
especially to those on low
incomes. The Credit Union
movement will grow and be able
to provide its services to a much
wider number of people –
especially local community and
religious groups and people on
low incomes – who may
otherwise have to rely on less
affordable or reliable loan
options.”
Credit Unions are very well
known and widely used in many
parts of the world; in Ireland, for
example, more than half of the
“Credit Unions
are a very special
phenomenon,
geared to the
needs of all people
and designed to
provide a service,
not to make a
profit.”
neighbours who need loans,
whether to buy school uniforms,
replace their broken washing
machine, repair their car or fix a
leaky pipe. Saving with a Credit
Union, such as Kent Savers, can
provide a low cost way to give
something really useful back to
the people of our local
communities.
All Credit Unions in Britain are
authorised and regulated by the
Financial Services Authority
(FSA) and members are covered
by the Financial Services
Compensation Scheme so that
their savings – and loans – are
protected.
It really is a ‘win-win’ situation.
Kent Savers is a very timely
initiative. Across our Diocese we
Beware!
are now seeing increasing
numbers of people in financial
difficulty as the economy
tightens. Those who want to
exploit them are rubbing their
hands in glee. Kent Savers
provides an opportunity for our
churches and our congregations
to support the most vulnerable
and to ensure they are treated
with respect and fairness. We can
all do our bit to ensure that the
poor really are blessed.
John Fowler is a member of All
Saints’ Church, Maidstone, and
Chief Officer of Kent Savers
Credit Union. More details are
available on the Kent Savers
website: www.kentsavers.co.uk
or telephone 0333 321 9050.
population banks with Credit
Unions rather than high street
banks. In south east England
there are now Credit Unions in
West Sussex, East Sussex and
smaller ones in Thanet, Medway
and Canterbury, of which
Archbishop Rowan is patron.
So, the newly formed Kent
Savers Credit Union has a very
important role to play in
offering ethical and moral
financial services to all of the
people of this Diocese.
Kent Savers was set up early in
2010 and is already providing
important services to the people
of Kent. Members pool their
savings in order to provide
inexpensive loans so that
members are able to access lowcost finances. In its first ten
months, Kent Savers has
attracted over 200 borrowers,
most of whom have taken loans
of between £400 and £700. And
the rates which they are
repaying range from 11.9% to
26.8% APR. At the same time it
is anticipated that those who
save, some of whom have
invested up to £10,000, can
expect to receive a dividend of
3% this year. The savings are not
used to play the stock market –
they are used solely to help
15
MEET THE PEOPLE
John McParland
John McParland is the Principal of the John Wallis Church of England
Academy in Ashford. John is married and lives in Harrietsham with his
wife and four children.
students were disruptive and a full time Police
Community Support Officer patrolled the site;
this contributed to creating distance between
staff and students. We no longer use walkie
talkies and there is no need for the PCSO to
patrol the Academy. The Senior leadership
team are high profile around the site and as a
result the atmosphere is much calmer.
How does your faith influence the way
you lead?
Faith is my backbone and it helps me in the
way I work with students. It is a real privilege
to be a leader of a faith school; we have an
opportunity to make a difference to the lives
of young people by striving to live out the
Gospel values. Jesus Christ came for sinners
and offered forgiveness. We need to give our
young people second chances. When there is
pressure to permanently exclude a student I
argue for them to remain and to have another
chance. What is best for these students?
Where else are they going to go? They need
our help and guidance.
John and pupils at the new John Wallis Church of England Academy.
You turned down a trial with Manchester
United Football Club?
While playing for my football club in Newry, I
was watched by the Manchester United scout
in Northern Ireland and offered a trial with
Manchester United. I turned it down as I had
already made a decision to train for the
Priesthood. Had I gone to Manchester United
I would have been there when George Best
was in his prime.
But the Priesthood wasn’t for you either?
I felt that I had a calling to become a Priest
and aged 18 I went to the seminary to train
alongside African missionaries. My years at
the seminary and at university were very
special, studying philosophy and theology,
and I wouldn’t have missed them for the
world. But I really struggled with the call to
celibacy and eventually left the seminary
before becoming an ordained deacon.
You went on to become a teacher?
I didn’t set out to become a teacher. I was
passing through London on my way to the
USA to undertake further studies and I was
offered an opportunity to work in a Catholic
school in London, teaching French and RE. I
subsequently spent some time in America
playing Gaelic football and I was even offered
a job on Wall Street, but I chose to return to
London to study for a PGCE at Goldsmiths
College, University of London. A year into
my first job I became head of the RE
department and I have spent most of my
working life teaching in Catholic Schools.
What attracted you to the post of
Principal at The John Wallis Academy?
I was approached to apply for this post and
was attracted to it because it was a Christian
Academy. I saw it as an opportunity to make a
difference to the lives of young people from
South Ashford who may not have had the
same opportunities as other students in Kent.
What are your hopes for the new John
Wallis Church of England Academy?
I want our students to reach for the stars, to
have high expectations, high aspirations and
to grow in self confidence and self esteem. I
want them to achieve their full potential in an
environment that is underpinned by our
strong Christian ethos of love and respect. I
want our Academy to be a community where
high quality teaching and learning is the
norm. I want our Academy to be an
outstanding Academy.
What changes have you made to date?
It was essential that we made a difference
quickly and with the new senior leadership
team we have achieved this in a number of
ways. We introduced zero tolerance of
students disrupting lessons and are strict in
ensuring all students wear the correct
Academy uniform, which was provided free
to all our students. We no longer allow the
students to leave the Academy at break or
lunch times and to make breaks more
enjoyable we have created an attractive
restaurant including an outside decking area
for students to sit and eat. All staff eat in the
restaurant to help strengthen the relationships
between staff and students. We have
refurbished all the toilets and also built a
dance studio.
We have also transformed the ethos so that
students feel more valued. Previously staff
carried walkie talkies to send alerts when
What is your style of leadership?
I use different styles of leadership at different
times depending on the situation and
circumstances. I make sure I spend a lot of
time walking around the school interacting
with the students and staff as it is important
that the Principal is seen and is available. I
take an interest in students and they respond
to that. I am strict about their behaviour and
the dress code, but I also take time to listen to
their side of the story. Having an open door
policy for students and staff is very important.
What plans do you have
for the Academy?
We will be opening a sixth form in September
and introducing some exciting vocational
opportunities for our students aged 14 – 19 in
plumbing, engineering, and beauty therapy.
We are also keen to push performing arts and
sport in our Academy. In the future we will
join with Linden Grove Primary and become
a Church of England Academy for 3 – 18 year
olds.
Originally the Academy was going to
receive £21 million but this has been affected
by the spending review; we are in negotiations
with the DfE for the funding of our building
project. New Academy buildings have
transformed the lives of students up and
down the country, but education is about
more than buildings and facilities.
What motivates you?
I see so much good in our young people and I
am passionate that they have the best
education possible. We are making a
difference by believing in them, by expecting
a lot from them and by telling them that they
can achieve and reach for the stars. Our
students are really responding to this,
developing their self confidence, growing in
self esteem and believing in themselves. It is
true that we receive far more than we give.
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