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| Visit to Methodist insurance - we were in Manchester so thank you for the brollies |
Manchester and Stockport is a neighbour, and I was already familiar with some of it. It was
good to go into the city and meet with two important administrative groups that
serve the Church well, Methodist Insurance and TMCP. Little sung heroes, they
play a vital role in protecting us from the ill-advised actions of others and
ourselves. And in the latter case, invest our money for us. It was good to know
that some of the staff who previously worked for Resourcing Mission have been
integrated into the team, though sad to meet the ever dwindling remaining staff
from that office – all will be gone in a very short time. Their loyalty to
Methodism through difficult years has been immense. Thank you.
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| Staff of TMCP |
We stayed on the premises for lunch with a group of district
lay workers who are enabling Fresh Expressions, and had a useful conversation
before going downstairs to the Nexus Art café. Here’s a very creative fresh
expression of church, well worth a visit. Local artists work there and display
their art, and there is a very
spiritual feel to it all.
We managed to fit
in a quick visit to the John Rylands Museum, where the tiny, awe-inspiring
oldest fragment of John’s Gospel is now on display amongst many other ancient
documents. Do go!
That evening, it
being Ascension Day, we travelled to the village of Mellor where Leo was to preach at an ecumenical
service was held in the Anglican church of St Thomas The church is situated within the boundary of an Iron Age Fort and is a
fascinating place to visit. It has stupendous
views over Cheshire.
Friday was a day
for touring projects: starting with a cup of coffee at The Mustard Seed in
Chapel-en-le Frith, then on to find Grace Murray’s grave (see Leo’s blog) then
to Buxton where Deacon janet heads up a team that has bought a Spar shop and is
in the process of converting it to ‘The Hub’ community centre. These two
projects are fragile, but attempting important work. Then lunch in Buxton at the
Dome, a walk to fill up our bottles at the local tap supplying Buxton Spring
water (free) before visiting the MHA at Bowdon, and then to Hale to see the
almost completed new build which incorporates chapel and housing accommodation.
Quite an adventure for the congregation.
Well, we weren’t
tired at all after all this, so completed the day with an evening speaking and
listening to circuit leadership teams.
And a buffet supper!
Saturday was the
day for interactive Bible study at Poynton Methodist Church, which was an
energetic morning, and I was back there the next day for their morning worship,
thereby being excused from participating in the Manchester 10K Run which a
number of colleagues were doing!
The visit closed
with a District service at Cheadle Hulme which was a fitting climax to the very
full and interesting visit. Thank you to all!
London highlights and
other celebrations.
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| Susanna Wesley's grave |
London has some opportunities that other districts just
don’t have, and two of these have been special during May. The Wesley Day (24th),
commemorations of John’s conversion, start with choral evensong in St Paul’s
Cathedral (we sang ‘And can it be’) and then there is a pilgrimage beginning at
JW’s statue in the grounds of St Pauls, where a liturgy includes the laying of
a wreath and the singing of the ‘Daughters of Susanna Wesley’ choir; moving on
to the Flame in Adersgate St (another wreath, more singing and praying; then to Bunhill Fields Burial ground where
Susanna lies – incredibly moving to sing and pray here, and then into Wesley’s
Chapel for a service which culminates with a procession to the graveyard and a
final ceremony at John’ grave. (we sang And can it be.) I think that it should
be compulsory for every Methodist to do this once in their life time – it is
just the most marvellous experience. Thank you Leslie and Jennifer for this
treasure. I forgot to say that prior to that I had witnessed the hanging of the
John Wesley nameplate from a high speed train power car on the wall at
Methodist Church House. It had been rescued from a scrap yard!
A once in a lifetime opportunity for me on the last day of
May was to sit next to the Archbishop of Canterbury firstly at evening prayer
in the crypt at Lambeth Palace and then next to him for a meal and conversation
on the relations between our two churches (with another nine people I hasten to
add!). That was a special privilege which will certainly stay in the memory.
Between these two days in London, I enjoyed some ‘me time’
at the annual Methodists for World Mission Conference, which this year focussed
on Africa. As you might imagine, it was
joyful, colourful and informative, for we celebrated the energy and creativity
of Africans whilst acknowledging the pain of so many of them suffering illness
and poverty. Organisers: you did a wonderful job!
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| The original building at Woodhouse Grove |
I then made a visit to Woodhouse Grove School which is
celebrating 200 years in operation. It now has two sites, catering for the
learning needs of children from 3 to 18, with a most impressive suite of
premises, curriculum and ethos. I was shown round by the Head Girl, and had a
stimulating lunch time session with some sixth-formers. They were articulate
and thoughtful, and it seems likely that they will make worthwhile
contributions to society.
The following weekend it was the annual Cliff College
celebrations, which despite the weather were also joyful, colourful and informative!
So much happens now in marquees that the weather was only a spoiler on a
minority of events, which people could still enjoy if suitably dressed! It was
good to be back at a place where I had enjoyed my postgrad study.
The Irish Conference
What exactly is a ‘Peace Wall’? Apparently not what I
thought. In Belfast it’s what still keeps apart some of the Protestant and
Catholic areas of the city and is a huge and horrible symbol of the disease
which still marks certain parts of the city. Under the guidance of Revd
Inderjit Bhogal Sylvia (my PA) and I visited places with names infamous for
atrocities of bigotry and hatred. We walked through a gateway on the
Springfield Road from the desolate looking Catholic side to the neat housing
estate on the protestant side and we gasped -it was like going into a totally
different world. Nearby is Springfield Road Methodist Church, whose front
entrance is in the Catholic area, back door in the Protestant. It is the base
for a community project working for community integration but sadly the
worshipping community, after years of faithful witness which included having
the inside destroyed by a bomb and rebuilt, has now ceased to meet there. It’s
hard to comprehend the sacrifice of that kind of witness.
From Belfast, we travelled to the Corrymeela Community in
Ballycastle, where Inderjit is Leader. The contrast couldn’t be greater.
Perched on a cliff top, with peaceful, magnificent views to the Western Isles,
Corrymeela provides programmes about peace and reconciliation. A party of
school children from Enniskillen (site of an atrocity on Remembrance Day in 1987)
had just arrived; it is an integrated school, unlike the majority of schools in
Northern Ireland which are ‘faith’ based (yes, protestant and catholic).
Volunteers from all over the world come to spend time here, and the sense of
the peace of God pervades the whole site. See
www.corrymeela.org for more info.
We made a quick sightseeing trip to Giants Causeway, a world
heritage site, and an incredible geological experience. And how strangely warm
those basalt rocks are! Then, we made our way to Enniskillen for the Irish Conference.
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| Enniskillen War Memorial |
Enniskillen is really an island surrounded by water. Also
lots of water continually comes from the sky! But the people are warm and
friendly and we are made very welcome. And in stark contrast to what we saw in
Belfast, the ecumenical relationships are good too. The installation of the
incoming President, the ordination service and all meals are held in the nearby
Cathedral, St. Macartins, whilst all business sessions are in the Methodist
Church. Observers from a variety of denominations including Orthodox and Roman
greet us, and the Bible Study is led by a Benedictine, Dom Mark. A brave (his
word – audacious) invitation in a town where Catholic- protestant relationships
for some people are still fragile. But the church must be prophetic.
The business passes quickly – our own conference could learn
from it – much trust is shown in the decisions presented and there is no
attempt at micro-management. Trust in those who present the business is immense.
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| Enniskillen Methodist Church |
Sunday morning, and I take the service at Ballinamallard MC.
It doesn’t start till 11.30 so no wonder people don’t hang around afterwards
(or didn’t they want to tell the preacher what they thought of the service?).
Then back to the Conference ‘business’ associated with affirming people, which
included a tribute to those ministers who are ‘sitting down’ as well as
reception into full connexion of the ordinands. Then the most amazing service
in the cathedral where the ordinations took place, each ordinand giving an
inspiring testimony as to their call. I think the roof might need to be
examined for safety after the singing of more than 600 Methodists nearly raised
it. What a great way to end the Conference.
Thank you North Harrow,
and all the other people who have made my journey so rewarding during these
past twelve months. To those who have organised, given me transport and
hospitality, arranged visits, provided meals, shared in leading worship,
written notes of encouragement and, essentially, prayed for me, I give my heartfelt
thanks. Together we look forward to a year led by Mark and Mike, and will pray
for them and all the ways they will enrich, and be enriched by, the people
called Methodist. May we all know God’s continued blessing.
