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Rural Dean for the Deanery of Shingay

I recently took on the position of Rural Dean for the Deanery of Shingay and was asked to say a little bit about my duties. As Rural Dean I am the Bishop’s representative for the Deanery, which takes in the parishes of the Shingay Group (Guilden Morden, etc.), the Orwell Group and Bassingbourn and Whaddon. This involves looking after the wellbeing of the vicars in those parishes, chairing the Deanery Synod and the meeting of clergy. It also involves meeting with the other Rural Deans, the Archdeacons and Bishop of the Diocese of Ely.

Unusually, and I think I am the only Rural Dean to possess such a thing, the position in this Deanery comes with a seal on a ring! It is normally only Bishops who wear such jewellery! I won’t be wearing it! On the box containing the ring is the following inscription: The Bloodstone in this ring was found in the Garden of Gethsemane by Mr Hershon Missionary to the Jews who had it engraved in Jerusalem by a converted Jew. Mr Hershon gave it to W.C. Whitehead in 1855 who had it set as a ring and made it into a seal for the Rural Deanery of Shingay, which was formerly a preceptory of the Knights Hospitallers of Jerusalem. The Rev’d William Chantler Whitehead was Rural Dean of Shingay from 1903 to 1906. Andrew O’Brien, All Saints’ Church

Rural Dean for the Deanery of Shingay Seal on the right. You will note that the Seal is reversed. When pressed into hot wax the text will read correctly.

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