The Rector Writes.... February 2020
There are few emotions more crippling than feeling guilty. It can turn toxic and damage our relationships leaving us feeling restless and defensive (and thus prone to cause yet more harm, leading to more guilt, and so on in a downward spiral). Many of us know something of its power. Whether it is the words that we wish we could take back; the opportunities missed to spend time with someone; the hurt caused because we did not think of someone else’s perspective – it can haunt us. Read More

The Rector Writes - January 2020
So, 2020 is upon us. The first fifth of the twenty-first century is past (which hardly seems possible). Markers like that can helpfully prompt one to look back. If we look globally, all sorts of things have happened: It barely seems credible now, but as the twentieth century dawned, people spoke of “the end of history”, the idea that western liberal democracy would be without serious rivals. Since then we have had 9/11 and the threat of Islamist extremist terrorism, renewed Russian authoritarianism, Chinese repression of dissent, and so on. And yet those challenges do not tell the whole story... Read More

Website Update
We are updating various sections of the website. As part of this, we have switched to using Google Calendar for our Benefice Calendar. Please see What's On > Benefice Calendar for details of upcoming services and events. You can add the Google Calendar to your smartphone for live updates using the 'Add Calendar' button in the bottom right hand corner of the Benefice Calendar page. Read More

The Rector Writes - November 2019
Can you believe that it was 30 years ago this month, on 9th November 1989 that the fall of the Berlin Wall began?  Over two million people from East Berlin visited the West in a celebration described as ‘the greatest street party in the history of the world.’ However, we are still living with walls, thinking of those dividing Gaza and Palestine from Israel. It’s a strong human instinct to build walls to separate us from those we view as different and threatening. (Or think of the divisions in our own society between Brexiteers and Remainers). Read More

The Rector Writes - October 2019
As soon as the schools go back, and Strictly Come Dancing starts you can be sure that the shops start to become full of pumpkins, and skeleton costumes, ready for Halloween. But how should Christians respond to Halloween? Is it simply a fun festival for the children or does it have a dark side that we should avoid? Read More

The Rector Writes - September 2019
September is the time of year when we get back to normal routine after the summer break. Although we can’t always choose what we what will do with our time (there may be no escaping the time spent doing the ironing, or commuting), we can control our attitude towards it. How are we to use our time wisely? What might the Bible say to us here? Read More

The Rector Writes - August 2019
“Summertime, and the livin’ is easy..” Well, we may not quite manage to live up to those words from Gershwin, but for many of us that is what the Summer is meant to be about. How many conversations have you had that have included, “where are you going this summer?” Maybe like me, you’ve lost count. “Schools out for summer” Alice Cooper said about writing those lines that the three minutes counting down to the summer holiday are the best in the year. Or, if your taste is more Sir Cliff than either Gershwin or Alice Cooper, then there’s: “we’re all going on a summer holiday” Read More