Number 26
October 1991
The Diocese of Oxford Reporter: Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Good News from Blackbird Leys "We love Blackbird Leys because the sun is shining," said the message attached to a red balloon floating up into a cloudless blue sky. "We love Blackbird Leys because we like the people, and the football, and the church", other messages read when, after a week of bad news, local MP Andrew Smith• cut the first string and the sky was dotted with balloons bearing messages of all that's good in Blackbird Leys. The launch took place on September 7, outside the Church of the Holy Family in the middle of Blackbird Leys. The estate, on the southern edge of Oxford, hit the national headlines at the beginning of September when a police move to put a stop to joyriding displays escalated into a week of street disturbances. The idea that a group of residents and children should help to boost local morale came from Mrs Alison Delaney, a member of Holy Family Church. One balloon landed on a bonnet on Salisbury Plain as an army officer was cleaning his car, and encouraging telephone calls came from as far afield as Southampton and Stonehenge. The Bishop of Oxford attended one of the prayer vigils held each evening during the week of disturbances. Christians from all over Oxford also joined the congregation at Holy Family on September 8, for a festival of celebration, praise and prayer for healing within the community. A collection for local under-fives groups, "the teenagers of tomorrow", was placed within a circle of Church Urban Fund candles on the altar. "1 wanted to make the point that though we endlessly talk about inner city problems, our problems are quite different. We are outside the city centre and not on the way to anywhere
and this leaves a great sense of anonymity," said James Ramsay, Priest in Charge of Holy Family Church. Jim Hewitt, a local Church Community Worker attached to the church is confident that there is a sense of community in the area. Residents have enthusiastically supported his work in setting up under-fives groups and also a Credit Union on the estate, he says. Responding to the Archbishop of Canterbury's recent comments on the root causes of urban disorder Jim Hewitt said: "I think that both the affluent and the impoverished are treating community resources as if they don't matter, andas if life is for getting excite ment however you can get it. We have a powerful central government on one hand, and small nuclear families on the other. In between are local government and community groups, starved of funds and pushed out of any position of influence." James Ramsay also comments on page 8. Also in this month's DOOR: • What to do if you have a vocation on page 4 • All about the new ordinands on page 7 • Also four-page One World Week Supplement
WHIMEMON
Cricketers in cup hat-trick For the third year in succession, the Oxford Diocesan Cricket Club won the Church Times Cup, defeating the London Diocese by seven wickets at Southgate Cricket Club. The performance, against a strong team was arguably the best that the ODCC have ever produced in the competition, reflecting the good team spirit and strength in depth which characterise the current team. London won the toss on a glorious sunny day and elected to bat. They made a solid, but slow, start against a tight attack reaching 63 for 3 at lunch, having lost a wicket immediately before the interval. The key breakthrough after lunch came when Gordon dismissed dangerman Wookey with his first ball and, with a good fielding performance maintaining the
pressure on London, they were dismissed for 134. In reply, Oxford lost a wicket in the first over, bringing Mitra and Bradshaw together in what proved a match-winning stand of 111. Both batted beautifully, Mitra being particularly severe on the attack after the tea interval when 62 runs were scored in 9 overs. Victory was finally achieved in 29.3 overs (Mitra 70, Bradshaw 42), bringing a successful and enjoyable season to an end. The Club dinner is being held in Oxford on Thursday 14 November when John Barclay, the former Sussex CCC captain, will be the speaker. Further details may be obtained from the club secretary, Jonathan Gordon. John Sam ways
Veterans and novices They did it on tandems, tricycles, on foot and even by canoe. Teenagers came on mountain bikes in psychedelic colours, children straggled in excited convoys behind their parents, octogenarians pedalled bravely on stately octogenarian bicycles. But whatever their age or transport, all who took park in the 1991 Historic Churches Cycle Ride on September 14 agreed that it was "the best ever" The DOOR was represented by the Revd John Crowe, Rector of Dorcheter and Chairman of the Editorial Support Group, taking part for the third year. With his son he visited 31 churches and raised well over £200. "This event allows more people to appreciate some of the churches which are off the beaten track; We visited some fascinating churches that we had never seen before, like the Roman Catholic chapel at Milton Manor and the St
f
Bartlemas Chapel off the Cowley Road," he said. One of the heroes of the day was Gina Scott-Smith (pictured) who a few weeks ago not only had no bicycle but didn't even know how to ride one. Her husband Brian solved the first problem by buying her a shining new machine, while his intrepid wife did the rest. "It wasn't easy to find a comfortable lane for falling off," she said. Finally, after several bruises, cuts and grazes, Gina was pronounced 'roadworthy' and was able to join the other Oxfordshire cyclists on the day. She collected many sponsors, including one friend who laid a bet that she wouldn't reach the first parish. Instead, Mrs Scott-Smith cycled more than 32 miles and visited 17 churches. Pippa Corbett
Sharing the Good News in the Decade of Evangelism -;_
It was all the fun of the Witney Feast for the Bishop of Oxford on September 15, when he joined the town Mayor, Michael Chadwick, and local clergy led by the Vicar of St Mary's, Roland Meredith, for a service on the galloping horses roundabout. The Feast dates back to 1343 when the King presented two deer to the Rector of St Mary's Church for a 'feast' in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary whose nativity is celebrated on September 8. Hymns at the traditional fairground service are accompanied by the gallopers' own steam organ. Photo: Frank Blackwell
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They say that the first essay I wrote, aged eight, began "I want to be a mishonry (sic) and sail the ocean blue". It was the romance of the whole thing the that appealed to me idea of being an explorer. In fact, my experience of God in my life has been like one enormous exploration, because the God I understood as a young man is hardly the same God I know now. We never talked about religion at home. It was all assumed. However, there was one dramatic incident when I was 19. 1 was in Trafalgar Square when there was a riot between the facists and the communists, and I was suddenly aware that as a Christian I ought to protest. I found myself getting up on a bollard, and though I hadn't had any
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Merfyn Temple experience I knew that the Bible said: "At a time when you know not what to say the Holy Spirit will give you utterance". So I thought something would be given to me to say. And something was. I simply said that we, as Christians, believe in the Prince of Peace and did not treat one another in this way. The crowd gathered around jeering: "Tell me the old, old story," and eventually knocked me off my pedestal but afterwards I felt a tremendous sense of elation. God had given me something to say. At that point I knew I was going to be a missionary. The great slogan after the 1910 Edinburgh conference was 'The conversion of the world to Christianity in our Generation,' and when I got to Africa I remember climbing a mountain and looking over my area, which was almost the size of Wales, and praying to God that these people would become Christians. But I very quickly began to understand that the Christ I was presenting was for their whole life. I realised that I had to be as interested in how they grew
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their food and had their babies, as I was in teaching them the Scriptures. So they called me the missionary with the Bible and the plough. I was led more and more into trying to understand Christ as the deliverer from all their fears, and that was what got me into politics. I became very friendly with Kenneth Kaunda, and he has been the most influential African in my life. We shared our common Christian beliefs, but he had a very African awareness of God in nature. He asked me to leave the work I was doing, and first to head up the National Youth Service for all the unemployed youngsters, and then to become the chief land settlement officer. For seven years I lived in an African village in a house made of mud bricks, alongside people who already worshipped God before I or anybody else appeared. It was the most exciting experience of my life, as I began to realise that people who weren't Christians actually believed in God. Ever since then, I've had this growing awareness of God, above
and beyond all religions. When I retired I said I would give one year to the Peace Movement - so I cycled all around Britain. When I got back, I was living in a caravan and suddenly I was offered the use of an acre-and-a-half of land near Pangbourne to make an organic garden. Africa seemed to have receded into the background, but Reading University had a course for overseas women students in agricultural education, and groups of them began to come to see me in the garden. I suddenly realised that what I was doing was of enormous significance to them. Mistaken technology What I have seen is that we from the West have given the Africans a totally mistaken technology for their food production, which is based on the importation of tractors, fertilisers and pesticides. And it is leading to more poverty and terrible degradation of huge areas of land. The only hope can be that we help the people to return to many of their old understandings of how they produce their food. It is a religious issue about how you use the land. In 1989 I got a call from a Zambian who said I should go back to Africa, because they were in trouble with pollution and soil degradation. While I was there I
travelled with a bicycle for 3,000 miles in order to discover what damage had been done to the soil by the use of artificial fertilizers. My purpose was to establish a centre for organic farming in Zambia. Watching creation It was when I returned to Africa that I became fully aware of God as Creator, and had a sense of working in creation with Him. It's not working for God but with him, as you handle the soil, as you keep the rules of harmony by not killing wasps and bees, and recognise that it's a whole integrated system which you must not destroy. Watching creation every day in the garden, and knowing that this ties up with my experience of God and with my whole view of how we can handle the huge problems of hunger in Africa, is a totally fulfilling experience. If you ask what Jesus taught about Creation Theology the answer is, He didn't. He was a Jew, and He just accepted the basic belief from Genesis that God made the world and made it good, and that man was made in the image of God and entrusted with it. This idea of an integrated creation, a whole world, has been the accepted view of Christianity, Judaism, and I believe of most other religions. It is only now in our present generation that the sacredness of the earth has been challenged by a man's arrogance. So now I see myself as one of those who is called by God to address man's terrible violence to the Creation and to say STOP. Merfyn Temple was born in China where his parents were missionaries. He is married to Audrey, the daughter of a missionary, He himself spent 30 years as a Methodist missionary in Zambia, though for part of the time he was seconded to Kenneth Kaunda's government as Land Resettlement Officer and Adviser on Village Development. After Africa he became Minister of All Saints' Methodist Church, Abingdon, but since retiring from the ministry he has run The Small Garden, an organic market garden in Upper Basildon near Reading. His latest book, New Hope for Africa, is available from him at 40, Thames Avenue, Pangbourne, Reading, RG8 711Y. Price £5.95 (postage 75p).
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The Door, October 1991 3
Initiative on the homeless
City links up with the Church A residential home and a drop-in centre in Cowley, Oxford, for homeless single parents were opened by the Bishop of Oxford, the Right Revd Richard Harries, and the Lord Mayor of Oxford, Councillor Alan Pope, on September 3 (pictured right). They are the result of an unusual partnership between the Oxford Diocese and the City of Oxford to try to deal with the growing problem of homelessness. The new facilities were a small but significant contribution to resolving an overwhelming problem, said Bishop Richard. The Mayor, who is also a member of Cowley Deanery Synod, said he felt the joint provision was "one of the great things in the Diocese's response to the Faith in the City Report". Micklewood House offers six bedsittin rooms with kitchen facilities and a shared lounge and bathroom for six homeless women and their children. Each family will be offered a programme of development tailored to their particular needs. Housed in the same building is SPHere (Single Parents Here), a staffed drop in centre with play space and equipment for children under five and single parents (of either sex) who are living in temporary or inadequate accommodation. Micklewood House is a former guest house which has been converted to a high standard by Oxford City Council. Their Housing Department will also be responsible for referring possible residents to the project manager, Karen
Kuehne. She is employed by the Oxford Diocesan Council for Social Work (ODCSW), and has until recently ran a similar project in America. The twin projects were born two years ago when Shirley Kay, Director of the Oxford Diocesan Council for Social Work (ODCSW) and Muriel Halliday, the Oxford's Principal Homelessness Officer shared their ideas on how the city and the Church could work together. The Council for Social Work already administers a SPHere group in Reading, and was planning another for Oxford. It became clear that SPHere could be combined with a residential home project, and a steering group including both City and Church representatives was formed. It will eventually become a management group. Its chairman is Gwen Ranklin, who is also chairman of the Cowley Deanery Synod. Paying tribute to the support of local churches and particularly to Gwen's efforts Shirley Kay said: "without the tremendous help of Gwen and her husband the project would not have been as viable as it has been. Volunteers are needed for both projects, and at the time of going to press the following items were also needed: bikes and books for under-fives, strong safe toys for toddlers, small dining tables, garden tools, kitchen utensils and equipment etc. Please ring Karen Kuehne on 0865 794913.
Sing-in for hospices AT 7.30pm on Saturday, October 5, Windsor Parish Church will resound with more than 400 glorious voices performing Haydn's Creation. And, almost to a note, 120 choirs throughout the country will be doing the same thing. The giant sing-in has been organised by the Voices for Hospices organisation, a charity set up last year to raise money for the hospice movement. International musicians, singers and conductors have given their time for nothing and the event is sponsored by Scottish mutual Assurance. BBC Radio 2 is broadcasting the event from various locations around the
country, starting with a countdown at 702pm. In Windsor, 360 singers have already registered to perform under the baton of well-known conductor Benedict Gunner to raise money for the 15 - bed Thames Valley Hospice. Rehearsals are on October 2 and on the performance day. If you would like to join the singers (fS) or just sit and listen (3), contact Anne Ayres, concert secretary, (0753) 855173). Or you can make a donation at any branch of the Trustee Savings Bank until October 18 or send it to Thames Valley Hospice, Pine Lodge, Hatch Lane, Windsor SL4 3RW.
IN MY VIEW
Christian Aid appointment One Village The Revd Justine Wyatt takes up the post of Christian another shop Aid Area Secretary for Oxfordshire and Berkshire on October 1. Justine is a United Reformed Church minister, and a member of staff of Mansfield College, Oxford. She has a wealth of experience, including that of local Christian Aid activity and URC ministry in Cumnor. She can be contacted at the Christian Aid area office at 55 Rectory Road, Oxford 0X4 1BW, telephone 0865 251222.
View from the inside Prisoners' Week (November 17-23), is a national week when all Christians are called to focus their thoughts and prayers on our prisons, and on the work of their chaplains and chaplaincy teams In Reading Prison there will be a special service in the chapel for inmates and The Focolare Movement will visitors from local churches be holding an open afterat 215pm on Sunday noon on Saturday, October November 17, followed on 5 for the first time for many Wednesday 20, by a chap- years. laincy open evening at The name means 'hearth' 6.lSpm. On Friday 22 Oscar Wilde's famous 'Ballad of and it began in Italy in the Reading Gaol' will be per- midst of World War II formed at the prison for when a group of young inmates. There will also be women realised that only an exhibition of prisoners' God is worth living for. art and craft, 'Art Inside' at Since then, Focolare has Reading Central Library become a worldwide ecumenical movement with sevduring the week. For more details contact eral groups in the Oxford the Revd David Hastings, area. Its emphasis is on HM Prison, Forbury Road, mutual love and a desire to live as much as possible Reading RG1 3HY. according to the Gospel. The open afternoon starts The Diocesan Guild of Bell at 1pm at Headington Parish Ringers is celebrating the Hall with shared packed Oxford Diocese's 450 lunch and will include talks anniversary next year with and slides. Details: 0295 its own calendar. Produced 265836. jointly with Ringing World, the calendar will feature Lights go out post card-sized colour photoThieves recently sawed graphs of 12 churches through the great west door The calendars are being sold in aid of the Guild and of Nether Wichendon Church in Buckinghamshire cost ÂŁ3 from Mrs P.M. Nugent, 44 St George's Hill, in the middle of the night and stole four priceless chanWidmer End, High Wycom- deliers which have been a be, Bucks HP15 6BE (Cheques to: Oxford Di- special feature of the church for 300 years. ocesan Bell Fund).
Open hearth
Ringing in
Lent Course A Lent Course for 1992 is being prepared by Christian Aid, CAFOD (Catholic Fund for Overseas Development) and SCIAF (Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund) - on behalf of the Council of Churches in Britain and Ireland. "Living the Good News" will use stories from Luke's Gospel and present-day Latin America to explore how the Bible relates to people's everyday lives and to current issues. For more information contact Sandie Schagen at Christian Aid 071-620 444, Brian Davies at CAFOD 071-733 7900, or John Dorman at SCIAF 041-221 4447.
Decade News is a new magazine which has been produced by the Abingdon Deanery Decade Working Group. Its aim is to encourage Christians in the area tosupport each other in prayer, hear about new initiatives and learn from one another. In his editorial, the Revd Leighton Thomas, Vicar of Sutton Courtenay, says: "We wish to facilitate the process of cross-fertilisation between the parishes. We may well want to share ideas, and consider future action in our parishes with colleagues in other parts of the vineyard." News from the parishes and plans for the tuture are all included in what may be the first of a series of newsletters. Readers are asked to let their parish representatives know their feelings about Decade News. In Abingdon itself, the Church in Abingdon is following up its Abingdon Alive month last October with an intensive week of looking outward this October 6-13. Called 'Alive and Belonging to Abingdon', its main aim is to encourage more contacts between local caring organisations and the people of the town. However, there will also be some major events including 'The Davidson Affair' a presentation of the events of Jesus' life seen through the eyes of 'Imperial Roman Television's best reporter'. Throughout the week, there will be open house at St Nicholas's Church to provide a shop window for 14 local caring organisations and at the final service at St Helen's on October 13 at 6.30pm, Mother Frances of Helen House Hospice will be the preacher. Full details of all events from Peter Hills on 0235 521077.
City harvest Church Urban Fund Week this year is from October 6 to the 13, and includes two Sundays. A new CUF Week harvest and Worship Pack includes worship material with a specially written 'sunflower' hymn and also has some ideas for services linking harvest and urban themes. Details from Tom Diggle on 071-620 0917/8,
By Michael Bourdeaux
Soviet believers: a time of opportunity In the bad old days the In the European commuterm 'Russian' was often nity there are now endless misused by journalists to discussions about establishcover a hundred ing such funds - "they nationalities, causing not have the grain, but they only confusion, but some- don't know how to harvest times offence. The events of it". It is odd that those the last few months, if no- words can be applied almost thing else have shown how verbatim to the Christian ludicrous it was, even under scene. There are indeed Stalin, to portray 'Soviet millions of unreached souls people' as conforming to who could be part of the some universal stereotyped harvest, but the technical communist ideal. equipment and experience The Churches, having for re-establishing the life of played such a sterling role the churches in a free society in counteracting this, are are absent. Christians in the now essential players in the first world can supply that emerging democratic system. 'know-how', but they must They do not need to be not assume that they hold taught the Gospel. Miracu- the key to interpreting the lously, and with a strength Scriptures. This is a task to beyond the human, they be undertaken by Russians have preserved it against all - and Ukrainians, and the odds. What they do Armenians and BaIts. The opportunities are endneed is technical 'knowless, and there are no limits how'.
One Village, the Christian Oxfordshire-based foundation which serves the Third World has just opened a new shop in King Edward Street, Oxford, selling rugs, quilts, cushions, lighting and accessories made in some of the world's poorest places. The new shop adds to existing shops in Woodstock and Cheltenham and a national wholesale service. Nothing is sold unless it contributes to community development and works towards social change. Full and part-time staff (both paid and voluntary) are needed. One Village also needs further financial help to provide working capital to producers' organisations.
The news of the Decade
to the funds which could be expended if they were available. At Oxford University we have established a scheme for bringing over theological students who have been deprived of essential teaching in their own countries; and, of course, many other countries will also be involved in similar enterprises. Among many other needs are: training courses for Christians who wish to do hospital or psychiatric work, the establishment of Christian printing presses with modern equipment, and helping untrained teachers to introduce moral and Christian values into the curricula of public schools and universities. Head teachers are crying out for such guidance, but there is literally no-one with the experience - though
some clergy, already overworked, are doing their very best. It is clear, among this welter of need and opportunity, that detailed study undergirding prayer, as well as close contact with Soviet believers in a situation of great complexity, is of essential importance and will continue to be for the foreseeable future. Canon Michael Bordeaux is the founder and director of Keston Research (33a Canal Street, Oxford, 0X2 6BQ) which urgently needs the support of the Diocese to develop this work, which it began in Kent over 20 years ago. Canon Bordeaux recentI published a book on the Church in Soviet Union, Gorbachev, Glasnost and the Gospel (Hodder & Stoughton, ÂŁ8.99).
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4 The Door, October 1991
At the sign of the Fish This month The Fish Good Neighbour Scheme, which organises teams of volunteers to help the housebound, elderly and sick, celebrates its 30th anniversary with a thanksgiving service at St Andrew's Church, Old Headington - where it all began on 15 October 1961. The scheme was started by the parishioners of St Andrew's, together with the late Canon Derek Eastman, then Rector of Headington, and a local doctor, Donald Richards. They set up the reservoir of emergency of volunteer helpers on standby to give neighbourly help in times of great need.
The fish is the sign of St Andrew, the patron saint of Headington Church, who was a fisherman. It is also one of the most ancient graffiti signs found in the catacombs of Rome to show that Christians had been there. Since the scheme started in 1961 about 20 schemes are up and running in and around Oxford and a few elsewhere in the country. They aim to fill gaps that statutory bodies cannot fill, often at very short notice. Posters with local contact numbers are placed in health centres, churches, libraries and community centres. Shopping and fetching prescriptions for house-
The Revd William Pryor, Chairman of Oxford Central Fish Scheme, and Mrs Elizabeth Pryor, coordinator, delivery meals on wheels to an elderly resident in Summertown. ferences," explains the Revd William Pryor, Chairman of Oxford Central Fish which supports the local schemes. If you would like to volunteer please telephone Elizabeth Pryor, coordinator. 0865 515102. The thanksgiving service "Fish work is the sort of is at 3pm on Sunday Octowork all Christiafls are con- ber 13 at St Andrew's tinually being inspired to Church, Old Headington. do, whatever their and will be followed by a denominational dif- birthday tea party.
bound people, cooking occasional meals, providing transport, visiting, caring for the sick and convalescent, and looking after pets or gardening for disabled or elderly people are just some of the things Fish volunteers undertake.
Schools notice board Wardington C E (Aided) Primary School finally lost the fight to remain open, after its school roll fell to nine. In 1986 there was a successful bid to avoid closure, and since then the school has been informally amalgamated with Cropedy School. However, the numbers finally became so small that the governors, in consultation with the Diocesan Board of Education and Oxfordshire County Council, agreed that the remaining pupils should transfer to Cropedy at the start of this term. However, the school is closing on a celebratory note and, on October 12 at 2pm there will be a thanksgiving service in the parish church, followed by a buffet tea. Anyone who would like to come will be
I
most welcome, but please notify Cropedy School. • Heads of Church schools from all over the Oxford Diocese will come together on October 3 for a Eucharist at Christ Church Cathedral. • Chesterton School has converted a house originally built for a teacher into a new accommodation for the school. The official opening is on October 4. • Princess Margaret is expected to open a new environment area at The Princess Margaret Royal Free School in Windsor on October 10. The school is one of only three Church of England secondary schools in the Diocese.
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Bishop Eric Wild For more years than seemed humanly possible, Eric Knell was vicar of the vast parish of Christ Church, Reading and Archdeacon of Berkshire and Bishop Suffragan of Reading. But at last he was liberated. First, he sadly relinquished his parish. Next, in 1967 the bishop was able to shed the archdeaconry. So a new archdeacon was needed, and Eric Wild was invited to succeed the other Eric, living at Milton, near Didcot. And so began Eric Wild's relationship with the Diocese of Oxford, which continued unbroken until his death in August. Eric's robust and traditional churchmanship derived from Lancashire: Manchester Grammar School, two Merseyside curacies, and a vicar of St George's, Wigan from 1946 to 1952. I can picture him striding in a cope through the cobbled streets, flanked by servers and preceded by the Salvation Army band for the annual Whit walk - and loving every moment of it. It was quite a change to switch to education administration, first in the Diocese of Peterborough and later in London with the National Society and as Secretary to the Board of Education. Five years in Church House, Westminster, did not endear Eric to the bureaucracy of the Church of England, which he thought too expensive. (He invariably used only second-class post.) When I was Diocesan Director of Ordinands, he often expressed his strong distaste of ACCM and its machinery for selecting candidates for the ordained ministry. And, as Bishop of Reading (he left Milton and moved, as bishop, into The Well House in 1972), he had no qualms about urging the Diocesan Bishop to overrule selectors' decisions not to recommend someone of whose vocation Eric was totally convinced. He had taken a lot of trouble to know the person concerned, had made abundant enquiries and was in no way deterred by the verdict of an ad hoc committee of selectors.
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I do not think Eric had cause to regret his advice in Father Martin Smith writes: these crucial judgements, and there are several priests I shed tears when I heard of of ability serving in this and the death of Bishop Eric. other dioceses who owe their For many of us priests, Eric present ministries largely to was truly a Father: he cared Eric's importunity. He saw about our welfare, spiritual this work as a vital part of and otherwise; he chastised his pastoral responsibilities us firmly when we went (he had made a conscious astray; he congratulated us decision to concentrate on and shared in our joy when the pastoral work of a bishop things went well. And, like and declined to pursue his a Father, retirement did not education interests on boards diminish this caring relationand councils) and he was .ship. conspicuously successful in During a fairly long interwinning the affection and regnum at S. Giles' Reading, loyalty of Berkshire clergy hardly a week went by and their families. without that stentorian voice When Bishop Kenneth on the phone - "Is everyWoollcombe retired in 1978, thing alright Martin? Do Bishop Eric Wild, who as you need any help?" the senior area bishop was Two reminiscences of to hold the fort with aplomb during the interregnum, said Bishop Eric at services at S. at the diocesan synod that Giles: working with Kenneth had On enthroning a Relic of been "such fun", and much the True Cross obtained the same tribute could be from the Patriarch of Jeruspaid to Bishop Eric. His alem at a request from conversation was, in turn, Bishop Eric: "It matters not devastating, cynical, amus- to me if someone can prove ing, and never dull. Passion- that this Relic is not authenate anti-smokers came to tic, but do not pay too tolerate his pipe, and the much attention to Protestant young priest who was in full chemists." spate of a long-winded but At the end of his Jubilee perfectly valid speech at Mass, after presenting Synod did not bear a grudge when the chairman cried Moyra with a bouquet of 50 out "Oh, shut up John". roses, he started to get a He, like everyone, had come little weepy. I said quietly to respect and to love this to him: "Let's get this service outspoken Lancastrian over, and then we can have a drink." As we returned Anglo-Catholic even when for the blessing he said they disagreed strongly with loudly: "As Father Smith his views, which were, I has just remarked, Let's get suspect, more in line with He then added quietthe notorious 1987 ly: "That'll teach you, Crockford Preface than with (I hazard a guess) the July Smith." conference in York of the God bless you dear Eric, Affirmation of Catholicism and please continue to pray group. for your priests.
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I shall long remember Eric's joyful jubilee in St Giles', Reading in 1988, and give thanks for a friendship which fOr me began in Whalley Abbey, in Lancashire back in 1963. We are grateful to Moyra, who must have spent many lonely evenings while Eric was miles away in Maidenhead or Marcham. Our love to her and the two children. Wilfrid Browning Canon Browning is the former Diocesan Director of ordinands.
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6 The Door, October 1991
A sense of vo; cation
Christopher Hewetson, the new Diocesan Vocations Adviser talks to the Editor vocation they might have, and to consider full-time ministry as an option open to th m. ome parish priests seem to have a gift foe encouraging vocations. Do you think that other priests have be 1n neglectful in this area? / I suppose that many of us have tended t think that'God will supply the Church *ith what it needs, and that we don't really have to do very much. But this emphasis has changed. The members of the network will be organising Saturday and evening 'ministry enquiry days' so that the parish clergy can be more open and say to people: "We think this is an event you might like to come to." Some of these
With 80 unfilled places in the country's theological colleges, the Church's ministry as we know it today is under threat. Yet the Church has never before offered such a variety of opportunities to men and women. Vocation is a much overused word. What does the Church mean by it and what is the function of a Diocesan Vocations Adviser? The general understanding of the word vocation is a call to full-time ministry, whether ordained or lay ministry. For earlier generations it meant, exclusively, ordination to the priesthood. But now the Church offers men and women many different types of ministry. This Diocese, like most others, has appointed a Diocesan Vocations Adviser and a network of 16 every square mile can continue. The traditional response to someone offering hemselves for ministry has been one of, caution and under-enthusiasm. But now the Church of England is deliberately taking up a more positive policy towards encouraging men and women to come forward. In fact, the current thinking in the Advisory Board for Ministry (the new term for the old ACCM) is that parishes could say to individuals: "We think you have it in you to be a good parish priest," or: "We think that you should offer yourself for ministry. You've got the gifts." There are career talks in schools about say how to be a bank manager. Will you and your advisers be going into schools to actively canvass for potential priests?
locally-based Advisers to encourage vocations of men and women to serve in the Church in a variety of ways. We are not only helping the Director of Ordinands and the Adviser for Lay Ministry in the early work of interviewing and assessing candidates who feel they have a vocation, but we are also helping the parish clergy to understand their role. Surely a vocation is something between God and the person concerned. If a young man has wanted to become a priest he has generally gone to his own priest or spiritual adviser. Do you really think you can offer a better approach than this? We have got to be more 'up front' in this area of the Church's life. This September, there are 80 vacancies in the country's theological colleges, or about eight or nine per college. This will lead to such a dire shortage of men and women in the ministry, that we really wonder whether the present system of parish clergy covering
Diocesan Vocations Advisers Chairman: The Revd Christopher Hewetson. Archdeaconry of Oxford: The Revd Christopher Hewetson (0865 62931 Holy Trinity, Headington Quarry, Oxford OX 8NU. (Deaneries of Oxford, Cowley and Oxford University). The Revd Martin Gorick (0865 244566) Diocesan Church House, Oxford 0X2 ONB. (Oxford, Cowley and Oxford University). The Revd John Samways (0865 243434) 60 Abingdon Road, Oxford OXI 1SN. (Oxford, Cowley and Oxford University). The Revd Ron Lloyd (0993 845954) Shilton Vicarage, Oxford OX8 4AE. (Witney, Chipping Norton). The Revd John Furness (0491 641249) Swyncombc Rectory, Henley-on-Thames RG9 6EA. (Henley, Aston and Cuddesdon). DSS Ann Shukman (086 983 761) Old School House, Tackley, Oxon OXS 3AH. (Bicester, Islip and Woodstock). The Revd David Thompson (0295 264003) St Paul's Vicarage, Prescott Avenue, Bretch Hill, Banbury OX16 OLR. (Deddington). Archdeaconry of Berkshire: The Revd Ailsa Beech (0865 863224) 2 Ashcroft Close, Boticy, Oxford 0X2 9FF. (Abingdon, Vale of White Horse, Wantage). The Revd Tony Coulson (062 882 2000) White Waltham Vicarage, Maidenhead SL6 3JD. (Bracknell, Sonning, Windsor & Maidenhead). The Revd Ray Smith (0734 427234) St Mary Magdalen's Vicarage, 270 Kentwood Hill, Tilehurst, Reading RG3 6DR. (Reading). The Revd Valerie Hicks (0635 72004) 28 Masefield Road, Thatcham, Newbury RG13 4AS. (Newbury, Bradfield, Wallingford).
We will be aiming at all levels and ages within our communities. So, in our work we will be going not only to deanery chapters and synods but also to schools and universities. And the suggestion has already been made within the network that there should be opportunities for our late teenagers who have enjoyed being members of their parish church to recognise any
are already in place and have been very productive, because they enable men and women to explore and share their own sense of a call with others and to hear from men and women already serving the Church. If a young man or woman feels a call to the priesthood or reader ministry or any other ministry in the Church, what is the first thing they should do? They should talk to their parish priest or a priest they know well, who will send their name forward to either one of the Directors for Ordinands or to the Adviser for Lay Ministry. Their name will then be sent to one of us in the network and a The Revd Christopher Hewetson meeting will be arranged in informal surroundings so that the candidate can begin to talk about his/her calling to the ministry. Next, the Adviser will send a report to the Director of Ordinands who, if that is thought right, will interview the candidate him/herself. It then goes to the area bishop and, if everyone agrees, a recommendation for a selection conference will be made. For lay ministry the set up is shorter but similar. The Church is not the prestigious institution it once was, and the life of a parish priest can be an uphill struggle with diminishing returns. What can the Church offer anyone with a vocation today? There is great joy in being a parish priest, tremendous variety and fulfilment and no two days are the same. I've been thinking about my own ministry and I suppose the greatest joy and privilege is in leading people in the worship of God and in bringing people to Him. Whether it's an old man who suddenly comes forward to make a new commitment, or a young couple coming back to church after the birth of a first child because they suddenly realise life has deeper questions and meanings. Then there's the fellowship of the Church, where many people find the atmosphere of acceptance, care and trust which they need. There are also wonderful opportunities for creative work in the community and in the important work of teaching and visiting and most important of all in the work of prayer, let alone looking after a church building and the opportunities that brings.
Archdeaconry of Buckingham: Mrs Hilary Unwin (0494 725228) Moreton, Chilton Road, Chesham Bois HP6 5PH. (Burnham, Amersham, Wycombe). The Revd Peter Lockyer (0494 672750) St Thomas House, Holtspur, Beaconsfield HP9 1UF. (Burnham, Amersham, Wycombe). The Revd Stephen Weston (090 855 221) The Rectory, Stoke Goldington, Newport Pgnell MK16 8LL. (Newport, Milton Keynes, Buckingham). Sister Jean Harris C A (0908 613161) Il Thames Drive, Newport Panell MKI6 9DS. (Newport, Milton Keynes, Buckingham). The Revd Stephen Rowe and the Revd Christine Rowe (0296 432677) St Peter's House, 18 Bronte Close, Haydon Hill, Aylesbury HPI9 3QB. (Mursley, Aylesbury, Wendover, Claydon).
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The Door, October 1991 7
God in his 'naughty world' Preparing for ordination on the Oxford Ministry Course It looked like hell. The dusk was lit up by homemade incendiary bombs bursting in the street, lighting up swiftly moving figures who darted from telephone boxes, kiosks and doorways to hurl bricks at the police lined up at the end of the street. The noise was deafening, and the ordinariness of the street made the battle going on below us seem even more horrific. The police moved forward behind their riot shields One man burst into flames as an incendiary exploded at his feet, quickly put out by his colleagues. A sergeant fell, either hit by a brick or twisting his ankle on a broken bottle, and was taken out of the fight by a medic. And then the police horses charged. The crowd fled and the exercise was over.
nity leaders of Christian and other faiths who shared with us how they are attempting to build what the new Chief Rabbi calls "a community of communities" through the patient process of inter-faith dialogue. "We are concerned for people not for protecting traditions," said one of the leaders.
Pastoral practice
For those being ordained at Michaelmas, the experience provided a dramatic finale to a training that has included three years of academic hard grind, wrestling with the Bible, its interpretation and presentation in today's world, attempting to discern the nature of the Church, gaining skills in pastoral practice. All this has been a necessary backcloth to the active task of exploring how the Bible and tradition helps Restoring peace us to discern what God is Members of the Oxford up to NOW in what the old Ministry Course on their Prayer Book called "this Summer Residence had been naughty world." The ordinands from the watching a simulated riot at the Public Order Training Oxford Ministry Course have Centre in Hounslow, where a rich experience of that police are trained to restore world in a variety of capacitthe 'Queen's peace' when it ies. One of their final assignhas broken down. Coming ments was to produce a as it did only two weeks theological reflection on before the horrifying disturb- some aspect of the world of ances in some of our cities work. Richard Fordham, on - including the Blackbird his experience as a manager Leys Estate in Oxford - in industry, Christine Pratt this experience emphasised on social education in the the importance of providing framework of the new opportunity for those train- National Curriculum and ing for ordination to reflect Philip Ringer on the changon issues underlying commu- ing nature of police work in nity life in Britain today, the community, all offered and to gain a greater under- us a chance to reflect on standing of how society at- ethical issues and values in a changing society. tempts to deal with it. How can a 'ministry of During the earlier part of the same day the course presence' at work be was in Southall - an area developed after ordination of London with a 70% and how can the ordained Asian/Afro-Caribbean popu- minister in secular employlation. Following a Eucharist ment bring back to the celebrated by an ex-Brahmin parish issues that light up Indian Christian priest of the expression of our faith Canadian nationality, we at work? Perhaps one danger is were introduced to commu-
that the expectations of what an ordained person does (based on a parochial ministry) may overlay new insights and opportunites that a variety of ministries may offer in our changing world. The variety of ministries of those being presented for ordination at Michaelmas includes also Tom Shortland in a rural ministry and Audrey Phillips at Princes Risborough - both as assistant curates in parochial ministry. Nancy Taylor is Assistant Chaplain at Stoke Mandeville Hospital and Beth Monk will continue to work on the Ministry Course, bringing her scientific expertise to the staff team, while gaining pastoral and parochial experience in the United States.
Just two weeks before the disturbances at Blackbird Leys, the Oxford housing estate, members of the Oxford Ministry Course were taken to watch police in training cope with a realistic simulated riot at the Public Order Training Centre at Hounslow (pictured above).
Introducing the ordinands
God in the world Theology is not simply an academic discipline. It is done by reflecting on our experience of God in the world - but doing so in the light of the Christian Gospel and tradition that is part of our heritage. It is both (as St John suggests in his letter) what we have heard, but also what we have seen and our hands have handled concerning the word of life; and the work of theology is to help us gather from both the tradition and our experience, so that they may form a unity in our life and in our message. Because of their experience and their training those being ordained this Michaelmas have a special opportunity on behalf of us all, to focus the ministry of discernment of what God is up to in His naughty world: which, we do well to remember, is the choice place of His love.
Vincent Strudwick Canon Strudwick is Principal of the Oxford Ministry Course.
Audrey Phillips: A grandmother and mother of six and a Reader, Audrey studied for a degree in nursing in the USA before returning to Buckinghamshire. (Princes Risborough).
Tom Shortland: Yorkshire born and bred, Tom moved to this Diocese in 1970 and since his retirement from a career with a foods company has continued to exercise his Reader ministry.
Christine Pratt: Christine has worked with young people for many years, and also teaches at John Mason School, Abingdon, where she coordinates the social education programme.
Pictured (above and right): The seven ordinands from The Oxford Ministry Course, and (below left) the four non-Course ordinands.
It's Oxford, 2 Kidlington 2! Vaughan Roberts: It's a long way from Hampshire where Vaughan was brought up, to the University of Witswaterrand in South Africa, but that is where Vaughan went after completing a degree in law and theology at Cambridge. He says he was in his late teens when he first heard the Gospel clearly presented and began to follow Christ. He became president of his University Christian Union (besides playing lots of sport), and worked for the Christian Union as a Bible teacher at Witswaterrand before deciding to return to England to train for the ministry in Oxford at Wycliffe Hall Theological College. Vaughan will serve his title at St Ebbe's in central Oxford.
Barbara Doubtfire: Many DOOR readers will know Barbara already. Since 1988 she has been Diocesan Parish Development Officer for Oxfordshire, and she will continue in that role while serving her title in Kidlington. Not everyone knows, however, that after reading science at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford before moving into research and teaching, she joined the Wantage Sisters. "While primarily giving expressions to a life-long interest in Christian Spirituality, my time with the Community also opened up opportunities to work in the fields of alcohol and drug addiction in a range of parish ministries, and in chaplaincy work with undergraduates," she says.
Will Stileman: Will was brought in a Christian home, and had planned to follow in his father's footsteps and become a soldier. However, while reading archaeology and anthropology at Cambridge he had "a fresh realisation of the wonder of the Gospel" which made him consider full-time Christian work. So, instead of joining the army he taught for two years before going to Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, to train for the ministry. He met Rebecca at university and married her in 1988 and they have one small daughter. He will serve at St Andrew's, North Oxford, and if time allows, may play the odd game for Oxford igby Football Club.
John Longuet-Higgins: Some would say John has the perfect background for a vicar-to-be because before he trained at St John's Theological College, Leeds, he worked not only as a church lay worker but also as an accountant and in a restaurant! He was brought up in Cambridge and went on to study international history in Leeds. He is married to Diana, a former nurse and they have two small children, Philip (3) and Joanna (11 months). The Longuet-Higgins' are a lively family who enjoy outdoor activities, music and meeting new people, and they are looking forward to their new life and ministry at St Mary's Kidlington.
up
Nancy Taylor: Nancy trained as a midwife, married a consultant surgeon, and after having four children, became Assistant Chaplain at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. (Weston Turville).
Richard Fordham: A former engineering officer in the Merchant Navy, Richard is now Purchasing Director for a valve distribution company and a licensed Reader. (Cookham).
Elizabeth Monk: After Reading University Beth worked as an electronics engineer for Plessey Communications before moving to America with her husband and two children.
Philip Ringer: Philip joined the 'Met' as a constable in 1967, and is now a Chief Inspector at New Scotland Yard where he hopes to exercise 'a ministry of presence'. (Chalfont St Giles).
8 The Door, October 1991
COMMENT Be troubled Media coverage of the riots in Blackbird Leys ranged from sensationalism, to articles so laudatory about the estate and its facilities that reading them was like being sedated. Riot police on an estate where hanging baskets remain un-vandalised, and not all shops have graffitiridden steel shutters: a social enigma. People sought explanations, wanted answers. Comfortable answers abound. "A spoilt generation, criminal minority", etc. It is comforting to blame parents, teachers, politicians. It is comfortable, in the familiarity of one's own geographical and intellectual environment, to consume the news, weep and pontificate. Yet the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, who leads us into all truth, tears through set inclinations and preconceptions with wind and fire. The spiritual, and ultimately effective, response to trouble is to Let oneself
be troubled. To listen, however uncomfortable or seemingly incomprehensible the words we hear ("Others, mocking said: They are filled with new wine"); to open the closed doors of reactive analysis and instant judgement, and embark on the adventure of witness, compassion, and service. The rioting in Blackbird Leys was a sign of, and to, a society segmented into desirable and bad areas, which seeks through material prosper-14 ity and the leisure industry to cope with a fundamental disjunction: between an ideal of suburban security and comfort on the one hand, and on the other, the basic human need for danger, excitement, adventure (what used to be called glory). We have far to go in showing forth, in our lives, the glory of God, sharing the Good News that in Christ we find both ultimate security, stability, and peace, and at the same time a richness and intensity of life approachable otherwise only through a moral excitement and conflict.
James Ramsay The Revd James Ramsay is Priest-in-Charge of the Church of the Holy Family, Blackbird Leys, a Local Ecumenical Project.
Feet firmly on the ground John Bone, the Bishop of Reading, looks back on his walk round the Berkshire Archdeaconry which took him from Greenham Common to the Rutherford Laboratory, from an encounter with shoppers in a Reading supermarket to a conversation with tourists outside Windsor Castle The razorwire-topped fence around Greenham Common airbase is a potent symbol. For years it has safeguarded the Cruise missiles, and excluded the Peace Women camped around the perimeter. The missiles have gone now: recent Soviet visitors came to ensure that the weapons they saw destroyed in the USA were indeed from Greenham. They had stood - as I did - in the concrete vaults so recently occupied by those deadly missiles targeted on their country. Now empty, the silos have the acoustics of a cathedral, but the atmosphere is still menacing. At Greenham the crew from TVS, making a programme for the 'Human Factor' series, had begun the day with me at the primary school. To spend a day making a film and trying to keep to a previously arranged programme is an experience. "Can we do that again?" the producer said a dozen times. "Be patient, Bishop," I said to myself each time. "They have a job to do as well as ±youY And others had to be patient, too; among them a large party assembled at Donnington Castle to walk with me in the afternoon. When asked whether my walk achieved what I had hoped, I reflect on that day in the Newbury Deanery. There were three objectives in my mind when, with the help of the ten Berkshire deaneries, we planned the programme. First, to cross boundaries; second, to bring to the parishes a fresh sense of belonging together; third, to achieve good publicity for the Church - local and diocesan. These three were set in the context of the Decade of Evangelism. The bishop is a highprofile, symbolic figure: what he does is seen by others to be the Church doing it. It seemed a simple idea, this walk around the Archdeaconry of Berkshire - anyone might do it. Yet I knew that the signals it
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Nearly home! A welcome rest for the Bishop of Reading on July 14, as he takes a break in Tilehurst's Arthur Newbery Park on the last day of his six-week trek round the Berkshire Archdeaconry. Photo: Courtesy Reading Newspaper Co Ltd. gave out would be received differently, because it was a bishop on foot. We know - at least we keep saying it - that the Church is not confined to what happens in its buildings. It is also God's People living their daily lives - at home, at work and as they have their fun; in factories and offices, in hospitals and prisons, in schools and supermarkets, in leisure centres and clubs. However, this is not what most people understand by the Church. To the majority it is a club for people who enjoy worship a place where Christians meet, and where others may go at the crisis moments in their lives. For a bishop to meet people in their place of work, for a bishop to be seen in the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory or the Berkshire
College of Agriculture, for Bible reading; and just walka bishop to meet shoppers ing and talking with groups. in the supermarket or tourIndeed, one of the lovely ists outside Windsor Castle things was the genuine pleas- all says something in a pictorial way about the ure people derived from Church being there, about coming and meeting their bishop, and walking along the Church caring, about the Church being involved with him for a while. The in everyday life. It speaks simple act of walking from one parish to another helped of God's involvement in his forge links, and in some world. The wire mesh barway brought home the messrier, topped with razorwire, age that we are with others is crossed. in this business of The effectiveness of the discipleship. The same was Christian presence in daily true of deanery gatherings. life depends largely on the The lesson for the Church vitality of our life together is clear. We have a message as disciples in the local which people will attend to. Church. There were many heartening experiences for The way of drawing attention me as I made my way from to it may be as simple as a place to place - great but we have walkabout picnic gatherings; open-air to prepare the ground, speak services; prayer with two or the language of the world, three in a country church; and be prepared to work confirmations and united hard. worship; informal prayer and How are your feet? Mine are fine.
The DOOR is published 10 times a year by the Diocese of Oxford
Time for thought I was thinking. . . about time. Time is a funny thing. It's a bit like the wind, which you can't catch. But at least the wind can be felt and heard, while the only time we hear 'time' is by the ticking of a clock - and that's man-made. We say odd things about time, as if it were a solid object. We 'make time', 'find time', 'lose time', and so on and so on. What do we really mean by 'time'? Is it what happens between two major events - our birth and our death - and all the things that happen in between? Sometimes, 'time' seems to fly by, when we are happy and enjoying ourselves, but when we are miserable or bored it just drags along. Some people seem to have 'all the time in the world' (how much is that?) while others say they have no time at all for something or somebody they don't like. Yet we all have the same 24 hours in a day. Some people seem able to 'make time' - is this possible? Or are they just better organisers than others? Someone has 'the time of their life' at a party or on holiday, while others less fortunate, or perhaps less wise, may have to 'do time'. Whatever we choose to do with it, time is part of our lives: in fact, it is our span of life. Some have only a short time, others a long, long time. People sometimes say: "If only I had my time over again meaning, sadly, that they would have used it differently. We can only make the most of the time we have, and if we lose it or waste it, we can at least try to find it or make it for the things and people that are really important to us. And there's no time like the present for doing that!
Diana Good
Space for Prayer
Editor: Christine Zwart, Sub-editor: Ian smith. Distribution Manager: Tim Russian. Editorial Support Group: Jane Bugg (Brill), Frank Blackwell (Dorchester). John Crowe (Chairman), Richard Hughes (Whitchurch-on-Thames), John Morrison (Aylesbury). William Purcell (Botley), Tim Russian (Long Crendon), Richard Thomas (Communications Officer), John Winnington-Ingram (Cottisford), David Winter (Parish Resources). Editorial address: Diocesan Church House, North Hinksey, Oxford OXI ONB. Telephone: 0865 244566. Advertising: Goodhead Publishing Ltd, 33 Witney Road, Eynsham, Oxford 0X8 1PJ. Telephone: 0865 880505. The DOOR is published by Oxford Diocesan Publications Limited (Secretary - T. C. Landsbert) whose registered office is Diocesan Church House, North Hinksey, Oxford OXI ONB. The copy deadline for the November issue is October 11 for features and letters and October 18 for What's On, news and advertising.
Lord Jesus Christ, at times we are like strangers upon this earth, disconcerted by all the violence and harsh oppositions. Like a gentle breeze you breathe on us the Spirit of Peace. Transfigure the desert of our doubts, and so prepare us to be bearers of reconciliation wherever you place us, until the hope of peace arises in our community. This prayer appeared in the newsletter of Maranatha, an ecumenical community committed to healings and reconciliation. This month your prayers are asked for:
The clergy and community of Blackbird Leys in Oxford, and all who work for peace there including the police. The Most Revd John Drury, who is being installed as Dean of Christ Church Cathedral on October 12. The new ordinands and their families (page 7) One World Week (October 20-27)
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The Door, October 1991 9
Much ado about Synod I was surprised and shocked that this Synod, more than by your editorial on the the other two I have attendGeneral Synod (Sept ed, did feel rooted in prayer. DOOR). This seems to me We had some very good It is indeed very encouraing to be an example of journal- worship time together which to read about the activities ism at its worst were well attended, and of the Mothers' Union in provacative, flippant, inac- spent the first part of two the Diocese, and I would curate and superficial - mornings doing bible study support them in every way. But the moral decline you and unworthy of a quality in small groups. newspaper such as the The Revd Dr Susan M. Cole- speak of will only be halted DOOR. King (General Synod member) by a new vision of God at It would be good if DOOR Burcot, Oxon work in His world. The three issues from the Genecould give more room for a ral Synod July agenda that serious discussion of some you picked out as a waste of the issues which were of time are all of deep discussed, such as the causes concern to many folk both of family breakdown, the within and without the Gospel and culture, as well as what the real issues are How right the Editor was to Church today. The significance of Infant in the topics you dismiss as draw her readers' attention irrelevant. to the latest absurdities per- Baptism is highly relevant For example, the con- petrated by the General when many of the fastestfusions in the C of E about synod (Sept DOOR). How growing churches in England the meaning and practice of courageous too, for she will reject Infant Baptism comBaptism, Communion for almost certainly have put pletely. How to pray to God as the unconfirmed, and Con- herself in bad odour with firmation, have led to serious the more trendy elements in Father in a world that seems problems for clergy and peo- the Diocesan Establishment. to be out of control is of ple, and have major implicaTypically, there. was the concern to all. While many tions for the Church's usual intolerant reaction are 'quite happy', as you outreach and evangelism. from a General Synod mem- put it, to say 'Our Father', Belief and practice on Chris- ber, who pronounced the there are others who are tian initiation, and admission editorial to be both "extra- not. to Communion before Con- ordinary and bizarre" (Oxfirmation determine our exclusiveness or inclusiveness, and our identity as Christ's body. Unlike you, I believe God is probably very concerned about our exclusive attitudes and welcomed our discussion. Not discussing contentious issues seems to be what you are advocating in your com(i ments about the feminist theology debate - which, incidentally, is only marginally about feminist language for God. Again, a serious discussion in your pages on what feminist theology ford Mail August 31). Quite As to the Nestle boycott, actually is might lay this frankly, the only thing we this is an issue that people ghost. I would simply point find extraordinary and bi- are concerned about when out that the scriptures them- zarre about this matter is they know the facts. I had selves as well as the Christian that anyone should seek to hoped that The DOOR tradition have always affirm- justify an organisation which would have dealt with this ed that God is like a mother is not only a costly bureau- major news item, since two as well as a father, so why cracy, remote from the ordi- General Synod members nary churchgoer (which will from this Diocese have been do you find it so absurd? Lastly, the Nescafè debate cost our parish £1,500 this quoted as speaking in the which you dismiss with such year), but seems to harbour debate - John Madeley scorn . . . Many people I most of the Church of Eng- and Susan Cole-King. You have spoken to outside the land's more eccentric press- say that it is of no interest Church have applauded the ure groups. to the average churchgoer. We are at the sharp end Well, at a recent service fact that the stuffy old C of E, with its conventional im- of a parish committed to before I left the pulpit after age of the Tory party at bringing Christ to those out- mentioning the Nestle deprayer, should for once have side the Church. We can bate in my sermon, I had taken a radical decision in assure Mrs Zwart that her the only question from the support of the children of views have the support of pew that I can remember in the Third World. That the many of those in the pews. 39 years of preaching! Synod is not, seen this time Our only criticism of her The General Synod may to be 'contemplating its ec- editorial is that she has not not always make the right clesiastical navel', but is gone far enough; she ought decision, but I think you deeply concerned about the to have advocated scrapping are way off beam if you terrible consequences to the whole synodical system. think these three issues are child health of bottle feeding Jane Bale, not important. in developing countries, and John Browning, Canon Bill Whiffen the contribution of infant Churchwardens food manufacturers to this, St Andrews (General Synod member 19801990) is surely to be welcomed. Old Headinglon Beaconsfield, Bucks Finally, I would mention Oxford
Moral decline
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Except for the injunction to join the Mothers' Union, which does not quite fit my position, may. I say how much I enjoyed, and how much I agree with, your editorial in the September DOOR - especially the bit about abolishing the Synod. What a wonderful breath of fresh air! I agree that God must have, and certainly needs, a somewhat quizzical sense of humour; but why must the jokes which we offer for His delectation always be in such bad taste? I do hope that you will not be drummed out of the Brownies - that would be a joke in very bad taste. After the plug you have given the Mothers' Union, you should be safe there. Russell Spencer Maidenhead
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No fun Many of your readers will have seen the advertising on TV for the International Air Tattoo. Held in our Diocese, at RAF Fairford, this was called a 'family fun' weekend. The 'fun' included a fly-past by B52 bombers. My wife and I were woken in the early hours of many cold January mornings by the heavy drone of the B52s. We knew.they were returning from their bombruns in the Gulf War as they flew over Wantage. We were told that the Iraqi troops, ever deep in their concrete bunkers, would be totally demoralised, if not killed. I saw no reason to salute the B52s, nor to celebrate the waste of human skills, technology and resources which characterised the Air Tattoo. We prayed. We gave out leaflets. We fixed posters to the fence. But the crowds lining the grass verges, with their expensive cameras, binoculars and radios, did not want to make the connection between aerobatics and the death of the innocent. When can all this wonderful human energy and accomplishment be used for the benefit of the hungry, homeless and refugees we pray for so often? The Revd David Platt Wanlage, Oxon
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The Door, October 1991 11
YOUNG DOOR
lona of . my heart THE first time I heard of Iona it was comprehensively described as 'amazing'. Many visitors seemed most touched by its stillness. Iona is a small island, and its serenity and tranquility has certainly not been uninterrupted over history. St Columba arrived on lona in 563, establishing monastries and settlements. The monks had little opportunity to live a secluded life, due to invasions by Vikings and Norse
pirates who killed many of the monks. My first glimpse of lona revealed green hills dotted with small houses, and an abbey standing clearly out against a silver grey sky. Even the drizzle and wind could not dampen my eagerness for setting foot on the island. I arrived full of expectations and hope that it would provide the peace, relaxation and self-discovery I had been told it would. I could see people running
Saints march in From organising a Hallowe'en party years ago, to totally banning Hallowe'en, we are now planning another Hallowe'en and All Saints' Party after such a success last year. It is almost a case of: "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!" - but not quite. There is no doubt that young children in our village, and the occasional teenager, love dressing up as baddies, ghoulies and ghosties. I can hardly resist a treat for a tiny grinning vampire, or a grizzly witch with large innocent eyes, but I hate what they are trying to impersonate, and the sinister blackmail in a lightly tossed "trick or treat?". I find it intimidating, annoying (who wants to wash blue flour off the front doorstep?) and disturbing. I already loath Hallowe'en, and do not need stories of occult threats to convince me that it is not helpful to the Kingdom of God. In addition, some elderly people and people living on their own are at best disturbed and at worst frightened. However, the children (and some mums!) didn't share my feelings, so last year all the children in the village were sent a bright red invitation to a party in fancy dress - goodie or baddie, saint or sinner (but if a baddie or sinner "you must wear white underneath!"), at 5.30pm in the village hall, with tricks and treats and supper. Each child had to pay £13 the tricks
were provided by a conjuror, supper was hot dogs, green fizzy drink and bob-apples and treats were party games, grizzly cheapy sweets and a red balloon for All Saints! Enthusiasm, excitement, energy and exuberance were in excess at 7 o'clock and I was about to panic when the Headteacher stepped in to exercise some control. After a parade of the wild and wonderful, young teenagers organised games, and mums served the food. At 7.30pm all the lights were switched off, some costumes discarded, and after a few seconds the lights came on again with a shower of red balloons. As we sang "0 when the Saints come marching in", we marched and were finally gathered up by waiting mums and dads. All that remained in the hall was the odd fang and false fingernail, a witch's cloak and a half-bitten apple. From the dark and evil symbolism of our costumes. The whole evening was well received in and outside the village hall. There were only a couple of children knocking on doors earlier in the evening and they eventually turned up at the Party. Evil had been overcome, at least for one evening! Jane Bugg Jane is married to the vicar of Brill where she runs the Children's Church. (Hallowe'en, always on 31st October, is the eve of All Hallows, or All Saints, always on 1st November).
around on the jetty and felt relieved my arrival had not been forgotten by my friends who had travelled up the day before. I eagerly disembarked to greet my friends, only to discover that the people I had seen were tourists awaiting the return ferry. A little disheartened, as I looked for the sign to the centre where I was staying, I became aware of the calm unrushed stillness of the place. I trudged up to the centre along a windy track. On the way I passed a craft shop, nunnery, the MaClean Cross and, most important, the coffee shop. I was late arriving for the Youth Week, but everyone was very friendly, already at ease with each other. I was soon caught up in the hustle and bustle of the Rammy çnoise). The group I was meant to travel with had come on a pilgrimage from Oxford, havin& met at Springboard, a Christian weekend, earlier in the year. The whole week at lona was packed with scheduled and non-scheduled activity. We met in small groups each day for discussion on ourselves and how we affect each other by the way we live. There were workshops
each day, some funny, some serious, including drama, music and discussion.-all of which left us with things to think about. The pilgrimage made us appreciate the history, and provided a chance to meet new people and form new friendships. Evenings were occupied by discos, ceilidhs, barbecues and concerts. The days' activities began with worship in the Abbey and at 9pm there were services of healing and commitment and other special services. The hardest part was leaving. To say goodbye to such peace and tranquility and re-enter the world of violence, suffering and pain, made us determined to strive for smiling, happy faces and peace within our own lives. The dates of next year's Rammy (18-25 July) were firmly imprinted in our minds as we said goodbye to new-found friends, promising to meet at the same place next year. For, as St Columba said: "Iona of my heart Iona of my love Instead of monks' voices Shall be the lowing of cattle But ere the world come to an end Iona shall be as it was." Alison Jenkins Alison is a member of the Springboard Planning Group, and comes from North Stukeley.
Work experience fuels ministry ambition Micheal Tucker is a student at Sandhurst School, who is an avid supporter of Liverpool FC and a keen angler. At a time when the number of young men wanting to become priests is falling, it is perhaps surprising to learn that he also wants to enter the Ministry one day - his ambition has led to his being chosen for a pioneering Work Experience project. His parents are not church-goers, but they haven't been discouraging, and his teachers have given him lots of support. His music teacher, for instance, encouraged him to join the choir at the Royal Military
Academy and as a result he has developed a great love of choral music. Next year Micheal (yes he does spell it like that) takes his GCSEs, and he has begun to think more seriously about his future. As a result he was chosen to be the first person in the Oxford Diocese to take part in an arduous two-week Work Experience programme in the parish of Easthampstead to show him what life as a priest can be like. Some of his days were so hectic that he had to leave home at 630am. He spent the first day with Father David Tonkinson, an Indus-
When Howard Nason (16) couldn't decide what to make for his Craft, Design and Technology GCSE, his grandfather reminded him that they needed a lectern at St John's Church, Hempton, in the parish of Deddington. Howard had been a server there for two years, so he jumped at the suggestion - and his teacher at the Warriner School, Bloxham also liked the idea. The project took more than a year to complete, but it was worth it in the end. The lectern, which was dedicated by the Vicar of Deddington, Kenneth Reeves, at Harvest Evensong on September 22, is not only in regular use, it also earned Howard an 'A' in his GCSE. Photo: Frank Blackwell trial Chaplain who took him to visit Bracknell's Council Offices, the waste disposal depot, the Manpower Services offices and a local dairy. Apart from time spent with the rest of the clergy staff— Father Oliver Simon, Father Gerald Shaw and Canon Margaret Clarke Micheal also attended numerous church services (including 7am Communion), visited a hostel for disabled people, sat in on a wedding preparation meeting and an adult Confirmation Group. A visit to a church fete, a Communion
service for elderly people and even the Deanery Synod were also built into his two weeks, and so was a day with John Howard, who has recently been ordained a priest. Micheal wants to do missionary work in the Third World after his A levels, before going onto theological college. The strenuous twoweek programme at Easthamstead hasn't put him off at all. In fact, he says he thoroughly enjoyed it and now has a much better idea of the life of an anglican minister than he did before.
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For detailed brochure please contact: Mrs G. T. Knight, SRN, OHN: The Jems (Residential Care) Home, Wises Firs Road SLXLHAMSTEAD, Berkshire RG7 4EH. Tel: (0734) 832863
QUALIFIED CHIROPODIST The Nursing Agency which provides a caring, flexible service for all your nursing requirements. Please telephone Madie Bills, on 0753 662298 or 0494 677118 Licensed by Bucks County Council
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE We are a Registered Nursing Home, specialising in the tranquilliser-free care of patients with Alzheimer's disease. We have qualified and experienced staff, large gardens and grounds, and beautiful views. If you are interested in long term, or respite Care, contact George Tuthill, who will be pleased to show you around. Wardington House Nursing Home near Banbury, Oxon 0X17 1SD.
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Long/short stay accomrnodt,on and Day Care facilities are available, with superb food and special diets prepared by our excellent chef for further details please contact:
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THE
RING FOR AN APPOINTMENT CONTACT US IF YOU HAVE A QUERY
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TRACY NURSING HOME MEMBER REGISTERED NURSING HOME ASSOCIATION GENERAL MEDICAL & CONVALESCENT IN A HOMELY, CARING ATMOSPHERE
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INTERBROOK NURSING HOME For the ultimate in good quality nursing care. A Professional Home with a Home from Home Atmosphere.
WinterbrOOk Is a purpose built nursing home providing luxury accommodation for the elderly in need of nursing care. It provides tastefully decorated bedrooms with TV, telephone socket for private telephone line and nurse call system. Double bedrooms are available for couples. Other features of this lovely home Include a passenger lift and many thoughtful touches to make moving about as easy as possible for the elderly. The guiding philosophy at Wlnterbrook Is to offer a friendly, home-from-home environment that Is not in the least institutional and which gives residents a sense of warmth, dignity, and self-respect. It Is a place where you are very much enabled to do what you wish, with a minimum of restriction. Many outings and activities are arranged for the pleasure of the residents, A State Registered Nurse is on duty 24 hours a day. and there is a close connection with the local health I centre and its doctors. A chiropodist, a hair(resser and other caring professionals call regularly too. The one-acre grounds are stunning, and a great source of pleasure and recreation to all at the house. The food is excellent, thanks to two imaginative chefs, who provide a varied and nutritious menu. It could be Just what you've been looking for. I
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PURPOSE BUILT NURSING HOME FOR VERY CONFUSED ELDERLY PEOPLE, ROOMS AVAILABLE NOW, FOR DETAILS CALL 0296 747463 Brendoncare homes at Exeter, Tooting SW London, Winchester and near Hunger-ford also have occasional vacancies. Call 0962 852133 for details, Brendoncare Foundation is a Charity operating on a non-profit making basis. All Homes have fully qualified Staff and provide high quality professional, but personal care
Brendon, Park Road, Winchester, Hampshire S023 7BE Telephone: 0962 852133 Reg. Charity No. 326508
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ST LUKES NURSING HOME Latimer Road, Headington, Oxford 0X3 7PF
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St Luke's Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Centre is situated in a quiet residential part of l-leadington. It is purpose built, homely and has many modern facilities, including X-ray, hydrotherapy pool and a well equipped physiotherapy department. Many of the comfortable rooms have en suite facilities and televisions, and all rooms have their own telephone. There are spacious lounges and dining rooms and all the food is home made. Full nursing care is provided and St Luke's has its own medical officer. For further information contact the Admissions Secretary on
(0865) 750220.
The Door, October 1991 13
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14 The Door, October 1991 esi4
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DAVID WASLEY M.A. ATC AMGP ARTIST IN STAINED GLASS. CONSERVATOR and FERRAMENTA specialist. Tel: 0494 23978. Somerset House, 145 London Rd, High Wycombe, Bucks HPI1 1BT.
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Tel: OXFORD 340463 NEW DAY INTRODUCTIONS We east to introduce you to that someone special, whether you are single, widowed, or divorced. We are offering you a Professional Introduction Service run by caring Christians. exclusively for Christ tans WRITE FOR DETAILS iENCLOSING A LARGE S.A.E.) TO.. NEW DAY INTRODUCTIONS (Dept TD) S. Vale Terrace, Waterfooi, Rocoendale. La,tcashtre, Be94 SJQ
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Towards a world ethic When one reads in Hans Kung's Global Responsibility (SCM, £12.95) that he has set out the programme he will be pursuing for the rest of his life, one is bound to take the book seriously. The book addresses adherents of the world faiths. It postulates that, if the human race is to survive, the world needs one ethic expressed in shared principles on which we can all agree. What is required is not a uniform world religion or ideology, but some binding norms, values, ideals and goals. As is to be expected, Kung argues his case closely and cogently. Three major sections cover why there is no survival without a world ethic, no world peace without religious peace, and no religious peace without religious dialogue. Many Christians will perhaps be startled or even shocked, when Kung does not develop an apocalyptic scenario to demonstrate human arrogance about our capabilities, and proceed to incorporate the Christian religion, or even Christian churches, as saviours from all ills; in this context, the word 'Gospel' is not to be found here. However, a theological openness to other religions demands neither that Christians give up the essential elements of their
BOOK STALL
own religion, nor deny the truth of God in Jesus Christ. Rather, an essential tenet of. Kung's argument is that the virtue of capacity for religious dialogue needs the virtue of steadfastness; both virtues belong together. The final goal of all our efforts, he writes, cannot be a unitary religion, but an authentic peacemaking between religions. Kung draws us, therefore, to think hard about our faith and the nature of inter-religious dialogue in the postmodern period. His views will challenge those who cling to an exclusivist mediaeval Roman or Protestant fundamentalism, or an enlightened modern relativism which makes all truths, values and criteria a matter of indifference, and precisely in so doing passes over the reality of human life. That this book is only a beginning on the complex questions of an ethic which would bring together world religions, Kung acknowledges. Brian Blackshaw Brian Blackshaw is Assistant Curate (NSM) at St Mary's, Amersham.
The Salvation Army
RED SHIELD SERVICES CAMBRIA HOUSE IS a 60 bed hotel situated in Central London close to Kings Cross/St Pancras and Euston stations. We offer the following accommodation £15 per night Single Room £25 per sight TwiteDouble room £35 per night Double (private bathroom) All inclusive of VAT and full English breakfast
For reservations write to:Captain Anthony Smyth Manager, (D), Cambria House 37 Hunter Sired, London WC111 111J or Tel: 1171-837 9160 / FAX 1171-837 1229 Please not, 'No smoking allowed in the Hotel CAMBRIA HOUSE - The Red SHIELD Hotel in London
UNEMPLOYED EXECUTIVES Support, advice and encouragement offered by an experienced, qualified, ex-senior manager/director. One-to-one consultations, help with job search, preparation and production of CV's, interview techniques and personal presentation. Reasonable terms. First hours' consultation free with no obligation. Please telephone
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Gerda tells her story The publication of Gerda Erika Baker's Shadow of War (Lion £3.99), about family life in wartime Germany, coincides with the most momentous changes in the constitution of modern Germany since the Second World War. For me, it also filled in some of the blanks I'd experienced in my attitude to what I ashamedly still thought of subconsciously as the former enemy. This is the sensitively told story of a young German girlgrowing up from carefree childhood days in the late thirties, through to the defeat and degradation of 1945. The chaos, the utter annihilation of parts of Germany and the seemingly hopelessness of the situation is graphically told. Then comes the blossoming of a new life - as she meets and eventually marries Frank, a British serviceman. The story is told without sentimentality or sensationalism, just as it must have happened. Raised in a Chris-
tian family, where her mother, in particular, held to her beliefs through thick and thin, one of the main threads of the story is Gerda's spiritual struggle. Caught up in the enthusiasm for Hitler's 'New Age' and the mass euphoria that eventually swept her country to disaster, Gerda's anxiety about her beloved father - missing for a time on the Russian front - almost breaks her. She (and later her mother) eventually find happiness and spiritual peace when she settles in England. This is a book I could not put down. Sadly, after I was asked to write this review, Gerda Erika Baker, known to her friends as Peta, died on 11 August 1991 at Burrswood, where for some years she and Frank, her husband were involved in the Ministry of Healing and Wholeness. Heather L Harris. Heather Harris is the Area Organiser of the Media A wareness Project.
HOLIDAY HOUSE in Cotswold village Sleeps six plus cot. Loving care available for disabled. L1C') per week. Tel: Davenport 0608 7300-14.
WITHOUT THIS ATTRACTION YOU MIGHT NOT SEE THE OTHERS
BLUE ALTER frontal, bur3cm and veil. Pulpit, lectern falls, stole ,inni offertory bags. Phone: 0296 63004.
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AUTHORS Your book published All subjects including Memoirs. Religion, Poetry, Children's Stories and Fiction. New authors welcome. Write for details to: ADELPHI PRESS (Dept A24),4/6 Effie Road, London SWO ITO
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Visitors Centre with Exhibition Spectacular new Audio-Visupl Show Hallett's Panorama of Bath OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Admission Price (Discounts; seniors, children, groups) Self-service Cafeteria with Riverside Terrace Function Room and Evening Carvery for pre-booked groups' icil 4438 Well stocked book and souvenir shop. Riverside Walkways and Picnic Area. Round Barrier Cruises Ample Car Parking. FREE COACH PARK Regular boats from Westminster. Tower and Greenwich Piers Train to Charlton THAMES BARRIER VISITORS CENTRE 081-854 1373 The - Unity Way. Woolwich, London SE18 5NJ
O
An everyday faith
Arnold Peters is better known by his voice than his face. As Jack Woolley in 'The Archers' he kept us all on tenterhooks while he wooed his bride-to-be, and in tears as he mourned his beloved dog, Captain. Now, he and other members of 'The Archers' cast and production team have helped to produce Faith in the Countryside-Parish Study Pack, four sessions for house groups and parish discussion groups. It includes local publicity material, leader's notes, and a sound cassette which includes some familiar Archers voices. The pack is available for £5 plus £1 p and p from ACORA Publishing, The Arthur Rank Centre, National Agricultural Centre, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire CV8 2LZ.
Badge of faith A new Diocesan badge has been commissioned by the Diocesan branch of the Guild of Vergers, designed by Martin Partridge, a graphic designer and non-stipendiary priest in Wargrave. The first badge was presented to the Bishop of Oxford who has agreed for it to be worn not only on verger's gowns but also on readers' and choristers' cassocks, on scarves and on blazer pockets. Pilgrims through the ages have worn symbols proclaiming their faith, like the shells worn by pilgrims to Compostela, says John Lazenbury, the branch secretary. "Today we are in the Decade of Evangelism and one way we can express our Christian commitment to our faith is through wearing our own Diocesan badge" he says. The vergers' original plan was that it should be based on the more complicated Diocesan coat of arms. However, when this was replaced by a new modern emblem it was decided that the badge should also be updated. The badge shows a black cross over a gold circle on a cream field, all enclosed within a gold circle. It symbolises the resurrection over the cross but the '0' represents not only the stone at the entrance to the tomb but also for the '0' in Oxford. It is hoped that churchwardens, beliringers, Mothers' Union members and anyone connected with the Church in the Diocese will wear it. The new badge is £5 including postage from John Lazenbury, 16 Broadmead Walk, Nythe Swindon, Wiltshire SN3 3PD.
AUCTION SALE SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2nd, 1991 at 93Oam UNIT 1, MANTON ROAD, RUSHDEN, NORTHANTS VIEWING FRIDAY 1st NOVEMBER from 9am-6pm Contents of School Workshops (From Yorkshire, Coventry, Birmingham) and By Order ot the Official Receiver and County Courts. 100 Advertising Signs (enamel & wood). Qty of Old Railway Signs Etc. City of Antique Furniture, Bridgeport Milling Machines, 10 Woodtuming Lathes, 20 Bench Grinders, 10 Pillar Drills, Startrite Universal Woodworker, Kity Universal Woodworker, Oty Steam Models, Contents of Model Engineers Workshop, Wadkin Bandsaw, Planer Thicknesser, DeWalt Cross Cut Saw, 20 Engineering Lathes, Boxtords & Mytords, Multico Chisel Morticer, 2 Bench Milling Machines, 4 Dust Extractors, Forklift Truck, Panel Saw, 200 Sash Cramps, Inspection Equipment, Qty timber, Disc & Belt Linisher, 4 Compressors, Chain & Chisel Morticer, City Sheet Metal Machines. Collection of Bassett Lowke Models, 2 Taylor Hobson Engraving Machines, 30 Various Record Hand Planes, Qty of Electric Power Tools, Contents of Tool Hire Shop, Contents of Bankrupt Stoke on Trent Cash & Carry, Royal Doulton, Bull In A China Shop, Brass & Copper Ware, Pictures Etc. Under Instructions From County Court Qty of Safety Footwear, Toyota Hylux 4 x 4 Diesel Pick-Up, Morgan Plus 8. Approximately 800 Lots. For Auction Catalogue send 6in x 9in SAE to: Warner Auctions, 45 Allen Road, lrthlingborough, Northants NN9 50X or fax 0933 411044. For enquiries phone 0831 339334.
The Door, October 1991 15
The DOOR opens on
California
The world is its church fmk4k141 Ten years ago on September 8, the Feast of Our Lady's birthday, the late Bishop Eric Wild added the name of St Mary to California's original dedication to St John "because the parish has gone through much travail." And the way of the cross which the two saints followed is the road that California has chosen to follow ever since. For there is no church in the Diocese quite like St Mary and St John, California which has decided to do without its own church building. The resulting freedom gives the congregation an air of excitement and mission which is reminiscent of the New Testament Church. The parish was a response to new housing and a rising population. Around 1,700 houses have been built since 1981. The electoral roll is growing, too, and is now 166. There are many more on the fringe, and the Sunday morning congregation totals up to 200. The purpose-built vicarage was dedicated by the Bishop of Reading last year. It is unique because the Church Commissioners agreed that a parish use should be built into it, and also because of
its unusual situation. You approach it through a council estate where there is considerable deprivation. In fact, some questioned its location, but, says churchwarden, Anne McKay, the choice was deliberate and is part of the church's outreach. The visitor feels immediately a special atmosphere. With no traditional building to maintain, the congregation can channel its energies into mission and ministering to the community, rather than into roofs and drains. The parish has a close relationship with Gorse Ride junior school, where Sunday services are held. The church has twice extended the school hall as the congregation grows, and a sanctuary and vestibule have also been added. Although the Diocese help financially with the sanctuary, the congregation paid for the vestibule. "Because the school is a daily factor in people's lives, the church itself is accepted as part of everyday life and those who are not naturally church attenders find it easier to make their way in," says Canon Ken Humphreys,
Wednesday morning Communion at the Vicarage.
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Ten year olds help celebrate at California's Tenth Birthday Service by lighting prayer candles at the beginning of the service. Vicar of California. "It has to be worked at, though. Gorse Ride is not a church school. We are not there by right, we are there by virtue of the relationship." The' familiar school building means that children from the local estate often venture into services which they might not otherwise attend. They also drop in to see Hilda, Ken's wife, at the Vicarage. Toddlers' services are sometimes held in the nearby old people's home, and older people are involved in setting up the vicarage room for the midweek Communion, making them active members of the church community. Pastoral care is significantly high on the California agenda, and Ken Humphreys was recently appointed a Canon of Christ Church Cathedral in recognition of his pastoral and counselling work. Some of the congregation with relevant skills and experience form a counselling team, and thereare courses in befriending. "Everyone is encouraged in the pastoral role but obvi-
ously some are more involved than others," Anne McKay explains. As a result, California has become centre for pastoral counselling. Their team offers help not only locally but also to clergy under stress from other parts of the Diocese. They also offer training in pastoral care under the Berkshire Christian Training Scheme. As one might expect, this church without a building can more easily look outwards towards the concerns of the world. There is a very active World Concern group, each of whose members is responsible for specific interests. The group meets once a month for Bible study and reflection, and concerns are then presented to the congregation for prayer and action. "There are all sorts of concerns for the world," says Ken, "not just far away but here as well. Caritas (a recently launched housing association to help the young homeless) arose from World Concern." So, too, did the activity groups run during school holidays.
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Diocesan wall planners will be delivered with the December issue and we hope that one will eventually reach every incumbent! These have been produced at no cost to the Diocese and will run from December 1 1991 to December 1 1992. Major feast days, Diocesan Synods and DOOR deliver days have been included. Pet Transport and Courier Service An invaluable service for elderly, invalid or non-driving pet owners, I will deliver with care and safety to vets, kennels, grooming, salon and house moves. Pauline Child Beaconsfield (0494) 611737
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Life Assurance may be required an which the lender will have a charge. Written Quotations available on request.
Monica Parsons is a freelance journalist who lives in Wokingham.
December DOOR We are planning a Christmas issue with more popular appeal. We hope that it will be of interest to non-Church goers as well as more committed Christians and that some parishes will consider putting a copy through every door along with details of Christmas services. If you would like to order extra copies please contact the distribution manager, Tim Russian by November 16 on 0844 208605.
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For most of us, a parish without a church building is difficult to imagine. However, it is clear that Ken and his congregation would not have it otherwise. "We are blessed in not having a building. Once a year we have a bazaar for our own coffers, but everything else goes elsewhere. Ninety-nine per cent of our time is for outreach and mission," he says. Monica Parsons
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Unorthodox as it is, Ken believes that his parish with no church building of its own, could well become a model for future developments. There are risks, he admits, in handing so much over to the congregation, but he doesn't want any other clergy staff. "The mission of the church should not depend on my being here. The trauma would be far greater if some of the core people moved," he says. In any case, says Anne McKay, "a lot of people I meet would find working in Ken's way very difficult."
HISTORY: The parish, near Wokingham, was formed in January 1981 as St John's, California. Services have for most of the time been held in Gorse Ride Junior School. In September, 1981, the church was given an additional dedication to St Mary. The vicarage is unique because the Church Commissioners agreed that it should have a parish use built into it. Clergy: The Revd Canon Ken Humphreys. Church Wardens: Anne McKay and Bernard Lingham. Sunday Services: 8am - Communion once a month; 945am - Parish Communion; Evening services at 6pm or 630pm vary, and include Prayer and Praise and a Healing Service. Weekday Service: lOam Communion service on Wednesdays at the Vicarage. Weekly mothers and toddlers service. Hymn Books: Mission Praise; New Standard Ancient and Modern. Choir: Informal choir and a music group. Sunday School: Uses school classrooms. Pool of 26 teachers plus helpers work in pairs with about 60 children of all ages, divided into groups. Youth Club: Riders Group for young teenagers and a youth group for older ones. Other activities: Groups include Bible study, meditation, intercession, pastoral care and World Concern Group. A Decade of Evangelism enquiry group is being launched. The parish offers counselling to clergy under stress, and training in pastoral care under the Berkshire Christian Training Scheme. Close relationships with the Gorse Ride School and with an adjoining parish, St James', Barkham. Without whose cooperation the parish would be disabled. Weddings are celebrated at Barkham and many are baptised there.
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N7FJ Dt WHAT'S ON
OCTOBER Sat 5 BURNHAM. Grace Notes' a lively and varied programme of words and music - voice, organ and piano - with Stephen Armstrong & Mike Woods. Includes works by Debussy and Bach. 730pm St Peter's Church, Burnham. Bucks. £6 (4 for parties) or £5 in advance from St Peter's Cornerstone, or send a cheque (PCC Burnham) to Mrs L Ford, St Peter's Cornerstone office, Church St, Burnham, Slough, Berks SLI 7HX. Thurs 10 MAPLEDURHAM, nr Reading. Andrew Cronshaw, on his 'Splendid Venues' Tour plays Chinese gong & flutes, silver steelpans, zither, concertina, whistles & little synthesiser. St Margaret's Church. To book & check time phone 0734 477444. Fri 11-Sat 19 OXFORD. Leon Week events for Oxford's twin town in Nicaragua. Programme includes details of the Rio Chiquito project from Lorna Edwards on 0865 252581.
Who's Who in the Diocese The BISHOP of OXFORD The Rt Revd Richard Harries Diocesan Church House, North Hinksey, Oxford 0X2 ONB. Tel: Oxford (0865) 244566. AREA BISHOPS AND
ARCHDEACONS: BUCKINGHAMSHIRE: The Rt Revd Simon Burrows, Bishop of Buckingham, Sheridans. Grimms Hill, Great Missenden, Bucks, HPI6 913D. Tel: 024 062173. Archdeacon: The Ven John Morrison, 60 Wendover Road, Aylesbury, Bucks HP2I 9LW. Tel: 0296 23269. OXFORDSHIRE: The Rt Revd Anthony Russell, Bishop of Dorchester, Holmhy House, Sihford Ferris, Banbury, Oxon OXIS 5RG. Archdeacon; The Ven Frank Weston, Christ Church, Oxford, OX! IDP. Tel: 0865 276185. BERKSHIRE: The Rt Revd John Bone, Bishop of Reading. Greenbanks, Old Bath Road, Sonning, Reading RGI OSY. Tel: 0734 692187. Archdeacon: The Ven David Griffiths, 21 Wilderness Road, Earley, Reading, RG6 2RU. Tel; 0734 663459..
Sat 13 WARDINCTON. A celebration/thanksgiving service for Wardington CE Aided School which is in the process of closure after 150 years. 2pm in Wardington Church followed by a buffet tea. Anyone who has had an association with the school throughout its life or has a particular fondness for it, is welcome to attend. Please telephone the head teacher Joe Pitt 0295 750210. Sun 13 WITNEY. Deanery Festival of Evangelism. The Revd John Stott preaching. 6pm St Mary's Church. Details: 0993 701517. Tues 15 OXFORD. Pusey House. The Oxford University C S Lewis Society. Meetings during the 8 weeks of each Full Term, usually Tues, but with one Wed., 30 Oct. 815pm in the flood Room. More details from David Llewellyn Dodds 0865 67689. Wed 16 WANTAGE. St Peter & St Paul's Church. Healing Service. 800pm. Enquiries 02357 2829. Thurs 17 OXFORD. Your parish, CMS & the World Church. Gill Poole Secretary Oxford CMS Assoc. presents representatives of local churches. 730pm for coffee to begin at 8pm at St Andrew's, Linton Road. Details: 0865 245509. Sat 19 AMERSHAM ON THE HILL. Oxford Diocese branch of the Movement for the Ordination of Women Annual General Meeting. 1045am at St Michael & All Angels. The Revd Cathy Milford, Moderator of MOW, will speak about the role of MOW following the Diocesan Synod votes on the issue & the preparation for the General Synod vote in 1992. Bring a picnic lunch, coffee & tea provided. Details: 0993 772413. Sat 19 OXFORD, Summertown. Coffee morning and B & B at 122 Banbury Rd. 10.30-12.00. Proceeds to Intercontinental Church Society. Enquiries Marion Boult 0865 511636. Sat 19 FARINGDON, All Saints Church. Isis Chamber Orchestra. 730pm. Details Judith Heathcoat 0361 241468. Sat 19 HAVERSHAM, St Mary's Church. 'As I Went By The Way'. An entertainment in words and music. 800pm. Details from John Foakes 0908 510698. Sat 19 STEVENTON, St Michael's Autumn Fair in Village Hall. 25pm. Charities invited to take a table for £5. Details from Mary Thompson 0235 832077. Sat 19-Sun 20 HITCHAM, near Burnham. Flower Festival at St Mary's Church arranged by 3rd year City and Guilds Flower Arrangement Course students from Windsor and Maidenhead College, 10am-6pm. Also on Saturday 'Ode to Autumn' at 730pm, an entertainment by the Hitcham Players. Sunday services 8am Communion (BCP), 1030am Parish Communion (Rite 'A'), 630pm Evensong (BCP). All welcome and for morning coffee, afternoon teas. Sun 20-Sat 26, BANBURY. One World Week programme includes: Oct 20 United Nations Association service at St John's Church, 630pm; Oct 22 Canon Christopher Hall will lead a discussion on 'A Matter of
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Interest', the Third World debt crisis, 730pm, Friends Meeting House; Oct 26 All day One World Fair at Marlborough Rd Church. Wed 23 NORTH CRAWLEY, St Firmin's Church. 'As I Went By The Way'. 800pm. See Haversham above. Sat 26 CASTLETHORPE, St Simon & St Jude's Church. 'As I Went By The Way'. 800pm. See Haversham above. Sat 26 OXFORD, St John's Home, St Mary's Rd. Autumn Fayre. 230pm. Sat 26 LITTLE COMPTON, St Deny's Church. Concert by Banbury Salvation Army Band and Chipping Norton Male Voice Choir, 730pm. Tickets £5 at the door or in advance from Bob Ford 060874 217. Sat 26 OXFORD, St Giles' Church. 'Farnaby's Knot' early music for voices and instruments. 800pm. Tickets at door. Sat 26-Wed 30 BIRMINGHAM. World Urban Missions Convention. An international meeting to tackle cities' social problems hosted by the Birmingham City Mission. The theme is 'A new vision for the 90s'. Open to anyone interestedin extending the outreach to needy people in urban areas of the UK. Details: Edwin Orton, Birmingham City Mission, 126 Arden Road, Acocks Green, Birmingham B27 6AG, 012707 9422.
NOVEMBER Sat 2 STANTONBURY, Milton Keynes. Sharpen the Focus Mission in the Decade. 10am-3.30pm at Christ Church. An invitation to all concerned in the worldwide mission of the church, missionary society representatives and supporters to take part in a day of discovery including seminars and workshops. To book and for details: Miss Glenys Williams, 11 Priory Court, Harlow, Essex CM18 7AX. Sat 2 BUTLERS CROSS. Village Hall, Autumn Sale in aid of The Children's Society. Sales tables for other charities. 10am-12.30pm. Details: Elinor Mills 0296 623573. Sat 2-Sun 10 COWLEY, Oxford. St James' Church, special services for All Saints and All Souls Festival. Flower festival with favourite hymns theme, Old Cowley photographs, concerts, sponsored 'Hymn Binge' on Sat 9. Church open daily. All in aid of restoration appeal. Details: Gwen Ranklin on 0865 779742. Tues 5 CHESHAM. St Mary's Church Rooms, Church St. 'Lunchbreak' (affiliated to Christian Viewpoint) welcomes Sarah Smith at 1230pm, who will talk about her work in the orphanage she has opened in Venezuela. Details: 0494 785896. Fri 8-Sat 9 ABINGDON, St Helen's Church. 24 hour Sponsored Musical Happening in aid of 'Painted Ceiling Fund'. Helpers required and willing participants please to Ceridwen & Robin Rees 0235 577905.
Sat 9 WANTAGE. Day Seminar. Ministry: Tony Pearce MA. Messianic Testimony. The Church - Israel, the people and the land - in this Decade of Evangelism. 11am230pm. The Guildry, St Mary's Convent, Denchworth Rd. Sat 9 MERTON. Cohn Dexter unravels the Mystery of Inspector Morse at the Village Hall at 8pm. Tickets £5, in advance, in aid of St Swithin's Church from Diana Procter on.086733 294. Sat 23 OXFORD, St Giles' Church. Paul Alexander reads selection from The Psalms. 800pm. Enquiries Margaret Williamson 08675 2498.
NOTICES LONDON BIBLE COLLEGE. Evening Classes. 'The Gospel of St Mark & Communications' from 30 Sept, 'Nehemiah' from 3 Oct. 7.45-9.30. First lecture free. Ring Michael Thornton 09274 26061. NCEC, National Christian Education Council will be visiting Banbury. Swindon, Oxford and Reading between November 11 and 14 to offer training, consultations and resources. More information from Simon Oxley 0737 822411. PRISONERS WEEK - is November 17-23. Events include an exhibition of Prisoners' Art and Craft work called 'Art Inside' at Reading Central Library. See also page 3. TIME AND EXISTENCE. Two talks by Professor Russell Stannard, Head of Physics, Open University and lay reader at St Barnabas, Linslade. The first talk will deal with the mystery of time and why some scientists regard the future as already existing. The second talk examines the grounds for believing in God and how this compares with our belief about the existence of physical and mental realities. 8930pm, St Barnabas Church Hall, Linslade, Wed 20 and 27 November. £5 book by November 13. Details: The Revd Judy Rees, Cottesloe Christian Training Programme, 15 Weston Road, Horwood, Bucks MK17 813P, tel 029671 3603. READING THE BIBLE TODAY. An autumn lecture series at University Church of St Mary the Virgin, Oxford. Oct 28: 'The Early Genesis Stories' by the Revd Prof John Barton; Nov 24: 'Understanding & Using the Psalms' by Dr Sue Gillingham; Nov 11: 'Understanding the Character of St Paul' by the Revd Dr Tom Wright; Nov 18: 'Making Sense of St John's Gospel' by the Revd Canon John Fenton, Christ Church; Nov 25: 'Wrestling with Abomination of Desolation - a look at the first three gospels' by the Revd Prof Christopher Rowlands, Dean Ireland Professor of Exegesis of Holy Scripture All start at 8pm in the Old Library. Details: 0865 243806. A NEW CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU is operating fortnightly in St Mary's Church, Datchet, on alternate Wednesdays (i.e. Oct 2, 16, 30 etc) from llam- lpm.
The Cloister and the Corridor I was recently asked by a radio interviewer how I could possibly reconcile the 'peace of heart', to which Christians aspire, with the active involvement in the world to which we are called. It was a good question, to which I gave a somewhat stumbling answer. So perhaps I could attempt an answer in print. There are striking examples in history of Christians who have found ways of combining peace in the presence of God with demanding activity in the world. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1143) yielded to no one in his devotion to the monastic ideal, but at the same time (as his letters reveal) was deeply involved in the ecclesiastical and secular politics of his day. He even found time to preach a crusade. Teresa of Avila (1515-82) was undoubtedly a mystic, but at the same time an energetic founder and organiser of numerous monastic houses. Nearer to our own time, William Wilberforce (17591833) was up to his neck in politics as member of Parliament for Hull and was persistently in the public eye as a tireless advocate of the emancipation of the slaves, who yet treasured and nurtured a personal relationship with God as the constant accompaniment of his work in the world. So it is possible to pray: "Drop thy still dews of quietness till all our striving cease; take from our souls the strain and stress and let our ordered lives confess the beauty of thy peace" (Whittier's hymn), and at the same time to he fiercely engaged in the political and social issues of the day. Indeed, the Christian's contribution may be all the more effective in the world, if it proceeds out of an inner, unflustered calm. The cloister and the corridors of power are, and are intended to be, interconnected. And the secret, common to prophets and mystics, is at all costs to put God first. God first, Wilberforce, for example could well have said the slaves second, myself last. That remains the secret of the Godly man, who is at the same time effective and valued in the world. Stuart Blanch Lord Blanch is the former Archbishop of York and the author of many books. He lives near Banbury. -
The Cross above all Building work at Diocesan Church House at North Hinskey, Oxford is well on the way to completion ahead of schedule. At the topping out ceremony on September 6, John Prodger (pictured centre right), Chairman of the Diocesan Board of Finance added a cross to the cupola housing a stairwell for the new extension. With him (left to right) were David Rathbone, the architect, Stephen Pound, the site manager and Tim Oseman, the contracts manager. The work will provide a small conference hail and much needed office accomodation, and will enable the Schools Department to move into Church House from temporary accommodation in Forest Hill. "The work has progressed with minimum disruption to staff, and should be almost complete by the end of the year," said John Prodger. "I feel strongly that topping our building with a cross is a symbol of the work that goes on at Church House, which isn't just about finance and administration but about strengthening Christ's ministry in the Diocese."
Photo: Frank Blackwell
THE WORLD IN THEIR HEART. A course of lectures organised by Bracknell New Town Studies in Christian theology. Oct 7: 'Sent empty Away - the Rich or Poor' by Canon Christopher Hall, Coordinator Christian Concern for One World; Oct 21: 'Global consumerism - Christians in the Market Place' by Phil Wells, New Consumer magazine; Nov 4: 'God's Creation -Our Responsibility' by John Madeley, journalist and broadcaster; Nov 18: 'The Health of the Nations Political Morality' by the Revd Robert Can de Weyer, writer, broadcaster and economist; Dec 2: 'Icons of Christ around the World' by Dr Janet Hodgson, area USPG secretary; Dec 16: 'Ethics of Third World Debt' by Anne Kesterton, International Development Centre, University of Oxford. All Monday evenings, 8pm in the Langley Hall,
Bracknell. £12 for all six or £3 each. Full details: Maureen Beadsley, 6 Greenham Wood, North Lake, Bracknell, Berks RG12 4WJ, tel 0344 56201. NATIONS ASSOCIATION. To coincide with One World and United Nations Association weeks and United Nations Day (October 24) presents: Oct 22 -public ecumenical service at Jericho Synagogue. 8pm Oct 24 UNAIUNICEF Flag Day and a public meeting at Oxford Town Hall with political leaders from the Oxford giving their views on "The UN: The hope for the future," 730pm. Details 0865-59610.
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steward of Gods Creation rec o gn is ng my Christia call ng t o I, and bounty, being aware 0 the ne'ds of he poo and the Opp essed n the Irld, d acknowledging that I live gage i apro ss of o rayer, study and action, pledg myse..f to within a society of un st str acture sificlyto: justic and com.assion, so that I may 1. Seek to come closr to Goo and to o eepen my understandin of God come nearer to se:ing the orld a God sees it, and so co uit myse f more a d more o God s Kingdom; 2. Learn more about the caus s of wor d poverty and the structu es that and Christian fait relate . the si Iuation to-day;
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3. Press Governmen to act a ropria Iely. Current priDrities re (a) airer tr de with, and debt telief for, poor :ountries (b) ncrease 4 f offic al aid to tO.7% of our Gro s Nation 1 Produ I i.lement tion 0 policies which protect he envi .nment; (C)
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4. Give 1% of my net ta e home 'I ay, to develop ent agencies workin overse s and t a the support of developngdo as a ign of my cornmitme ment education in the 6 ited I,'
I undertake, in support of thi economic and political systems fellow Christians.
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change that is required in our I .ss .of development issues among my
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I understand that I will be supported in this by Christian Concern for One World (CCOW). These four pages of The IYX)R were corrpiled and the lay-out designed by the Revd Christopher Hall, Co-Ordinator of Christian Concern for One World
The ONE WORLD COMMITMENT has been endorsed by the Oxford Diocesan Synod, and ccnrrencd to all Christians by the Bishop of Oxford, the first Patron of c . c.0 .W., who has been joined as Patron by the Ecumenical Moderator of Milton Keynes and the Pman catholic Bishop of Portsmouth.
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