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I stayed at a house recently in the course of my duties, and was amazed to see a beautifully appointed downstairs cloakroom, with a Victorian water closet.  It was made by the famous Thomas Crapper, and clearly he had great taste and respect for the better classes, as he had named this particular toilet water closet: The Venerable!   It was with some pride, and honour that my stay was made so comfortable!  Now, when people ask me why the Archdeacon has been given the title Venerable – I can show them one picture, that clearly paints a thousand words – or more!

A recent lunch with one of our colleagues from the Diocesan Board of Education led to a very interesting conversation around the relationships between our church schools and our parishes. 

For many years, new clergy appointments to a parish would not even include a visit to the school, let alone ask the Head Teacher or Chair of Governors to be part of the interview process.  Now, of course, the Parish Profile for the new priest will include details of schools, and the interview process most often includes a visit to the school, some interface with the staff and pupils, and some informal interview with the school Head or Governors.

Our conversation came around to the appointment of school chaplains, in particular to the new Academies.  Full time school chaplains are a luxury, and indeed, with a decreasing number of stipendiary clergy, would there be a sufficient pool of potential clergy to meet these new appointments?  I pushed the boundaries a little further.  I was certain that these school chaplain appointments could not successfully be part time appointments with dual roles including a parish priest role – the management of the boundaries does prove a challenge.  I had been a part-time chaplain to a joint Anglican-Catholic Secondary School, and it was hugely fulfilling, but also a huge frustration, and the scope for developing the role could not happen whilst I was still expected to be in the parish five days a week.

So – do we need to continue to look for parish clergy who are able to offer some chaplaincy role to the school?  Or, if you consider the development of our school age children between 5-18 years to be the urgent priority for our faith community, do we need to look for clergy who are full time school chaplains, based in our primary and secondary schools, who can offer a couple of  days a week to be chaplains to our congregations? 

What difference would it make if we trained all our clergy to be school chaplains, as the norm, and then let them use their spare time at evenings, weekends and school holidays for work in the parish, developing teams of lay ministers and ordained assistant ministers to be the church presence throughout the parish during the day?

What difference would it make …?  Where do you stand …?

My day started at 0530 with a quick shave and packing my towel and swim shorts, and then a colleague polled up at 0630, we picked up another colleague and then headed down to Portland.  We arrived at 0800 and then waited for the others to arrive. We went and had a briefing about the day’s activities, and then were issued with kit: wetsuit, with hood; boots, fins [never called flippers!] belt with weights, face mask, gloves, BCD [buoyancy control device - a jacket with connection for the air tank, which inflates and deflates the vest which aids buoyancy whilst diving] and air tank [10 litres, which should last around 30 mins, depending how fast you breathe and how deep you dive.
 
We then were supposed to go to a local swimming pool for our practice and test exercises - but when we arrived, the pool claimed not to have the booking, and so we were turned away.  We were advised that we would try out in the shallow parts of the harbour, so we got kitted up, walked across the main road to Portland in our kit [great photo opportunity!] and then we were paired with a buddy and an instructor.  We went into the water, and then ducked underneath, taking our first gulp of compressed air, and then breathing out.  It didn’t seem too bad, but the water was mucky and we stirred up sand from the harbour floor, and we were then given tasks.  I went first, and had to remove my regulator [air supply] and continue to breathe out slowly, and then put the regulator back, blowing out the water with more compressed air.  Then we had to lift the face mask, and allow water to rise up to below our eyes, replace the mask, and blow out the water, using compressed air blown through our nose.  That was more difficult. 

We then left the harbour and walked back to the centre for lunch – the kit was heavy, very heavy, and of course whilst in the water seemed less so, but again out of the water it was really heavy.  After lunch, quiche and sandwiches, we were kitted up again, and informed we would head out to a wrecked dredger, just outside the harbour wall.  We headed out to a jetty where we loaded our kit and ourselves onto the RIB [rigid inflatable boat] and headed out like Special Forces heading into battle.
 
We moored up at the site, and then had to get kitted up in the boat – more difficult than on dry land.  Two colleagues who have dived before showed us how to roll backwards off the boat.  An instructor went next, and then it was my turn.  I was told to go, and did a perfect backwards summersault into the water.  I met up with the instructor and with hand signals indicated all was well, and repeated same to the dive master in the boat.  Every metre down in the water, you just have to “equalise” i.e. make sure the pressure in your ears “pops” like it does in an aircraft.  I found this difficult, and as I went deeper, the pain in my ears increased, but I could not release the pressure.  I indicated this to my instructor, and he tried to get me to do the exercises, but to no avail.  I headed slowly back to the surface, we chatted, and we tried again.
 
The same happened, and as I went deeper, we were aiming for 9 metres, so I knew it would be no good, but the instructor reached forward and took my head hood and opened it, which did the trick and I indicated an OK and we carried on down.  Reaching the seabed, I was asked to kneel down and ensure the buoyancy was OK, and I realised my face mask was filling up with water.  Beards are not always the best option! Snorting seawater is not good, and I tried the clearing exercise, with the instructor watching.  I tried again and again, but to no good, and with the water rising I knew that I had to go back to the surface and fail, or sort it.  A large gulp from the air tank, and then a large blow from my nose, with eyes shut, and the mask was dry and clear.  The instructor looked back at me with large eyes, and mimicked applause.  I was down, and breathing and stable.  All was well.  I met up with a colleague, and realised it was just us two.  We looked over the wreck carefully – but it is really just a lot of odd metal shapes and sea plant growth.  We then swam along the seabed looking at fish and crabs, lobster pots, and small items.  I realised that my perspective was all odd, things I tried to touch were further away in reality.  Our instructor at one point put a hand on my air tank, and one on my colleague’s and we towed him along to show that we could pilot ourselves.  It is all about trust, respect, and being able to relax – to breathe, to make decisions and carry them out.  Not easy, but when you are down there it is a different world – you are deaf, partially blind, totally reliant on the tank of air on your back, and the support of another human, a stranger.
 
After a while, we were joined by the second instructor, and my colleague went up with the first, and I then stayed with the second.  Coming up, even from 9 metres takes care, and we had to follow a line to the boat, stopping and letting air out of our BCD, which seems counter to what we expect – letting air out makes you rise?  In time I felt the surface of the water break, and we were a few metres from the boat, so we swam on our backs, and then had to get into the boat.  First you take off your weights, and then the BCD with air tank, and finally, leaving your fins on, you propel yourself up onto the side, bring your feet up, and someone grabs you and pulls you in.  Easy!  But hard! 

In the boat we swapped stories, enjoyed bars of chocolate and hot Ribena, to help cope with the taste of seawater and compressed air. We tidied the boat and headed back telling more stories and experiences.  We unpacked the boat at the jetty, took the kit back, changed and then enjoyed a mug of hot chocolate.  I realised that my ears were pretty odd, and although they are clearing, the pressure changes have affected them.  I was relieved to hear an experienced colleague tell me his are exactly the same.
 
We gave our thanks, received our certificates, and headed home.  I was tired – a long day from 0530, and the demands on my body, my mind, a drive of 100 miles, and as it says in the brochure, diving changes your life.  I want to go back, I want to experience all that again, prove to myself that I can face the challenges, and see more of God’s world and the fragile beauty that it contains.

This Petertide, we celebrate lots of new ministries.  You’ll have read about my 20th anniversary.  Straight after our delicious lunch in Poole, I scuttled back to Salisbury to attend the licensing of around 25 new lay workers, who in just three months time will be ordained deacon in Salisbury Cathedral.  We license them as lay workers [and pay those who are stipendiary too!] in order for them to learn about the people and places, the liturgy and the locale, before they are launched into public and professional ministry.

Last Sunday the licensing took place in Bishop David’s garden at South Canonry.  They are such fun, with a relaxed and informal atmosphere, tea and cakes, and a really good piece of teaching  from the Bishop.  Sitting upon a garden swing hung below a huge tree, which offered both shade and a cathedral type roof over our heads, the Bishop explained the shaping of the day for ministers by using the passages from Luke which bind us into the incarnation.  The Benedictus [Luke 1:68-79] for morning prayer – with John the Baptist’s father Zechariah extolling how the world will be  impacted by the coming of the Messiah; the Angelus [Luke 1:28, Luke 1:42] at midday – with Mary saying “Yes” to the invitation of the angel to bear the Christ into our world; the Magnificat [Luke 1:46-55] at evening prayer – with Mary’s song predicting how the Messiah will turn the world’s values upside down as the coming Kingdom changes our lives; and finally the Nunc Dimittus [Luke 2:29-32] at night prayer – reminding us that we will have seen God at work in the world, and now we rest in his peace and security as we await  the new dawn.

An inspiring afternoon, and thank you Bishop David for all you’ve given candidates for ordination for the past 17 years.

We’ve been so busy, busy, busy, being happy clergy with good ministry opportunities that I’ve not had the time to blog – but some interesting blogs are to be posted in the coming days.  This week I have celebrated being a priest for 20 years.  We normally don;t need much excuse for a party in our world, and on that basis I asked the Rector of St Peter’s Parkstone, in Poole, if I could come back to the church where it all happened to celebrate.  I was pleased to be asked to preach, and my wife and younger daughter accompanied me last Sunday.

It is always slightly odd going back to places where significant things have occurred – a real cocktail of emotions.  I had four challenging and very fruitful years in Parkstone – with some great colleagues, opportunities for some cutting edge ministry, as well as learning all the necessary parish activities and management – I always think back and thank God for all that I was given in those important first years.  But the people of Parkstone were just lovely, as many familiar faces hove into view, and reassuringly, some new faces too.  The service was a delight, well taken, and dignified use of incense, a great choir, and lovely cake and coffee afterwards.  They presented me with a card and bottle of something to drink, and then we retired to some friends’ garden for a delicious lunch.  Thanks to you all for a great day of memories and celebrations.

Trinity Sunday found me back in the parishes where I’ve been enjoying a parish pastoral visit.  Today was the turn at St Francis’ Church, on Castle Road.  It was a real mixed bag, eye opener, and privilege to be able to spend the morning there.

At 0800, we had a traditional Prayer Book Communion service, which was led by a retired priest.  Mike took such care over the whole service, and offered a helpful reflection after the Gospel.  Small number in the congregation, but very much appreciated by all.

At 0930, we had Morning prayer.  Here we had a robed choir and organ accompaniment, and a Daily Prayer style of liturgy.  An innovation was a set of responses and tones for the psalms which had been written by a former organist and a Franciscan brother.  They were very good, and the congregation and choir belted out the hymns and psalms.  I did notice that the reasonably sized congreation was very much older and female in composition, probably down to widowhood or non-church attending men. I preached a sermon on the Trinity, suggesting that community and living in the presence of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit would bring the church as a credible and sought out place to be in today’s society.  More coffee!

At 1100, we had an informal worship, with a baptism.  The service was led by Paul, the Vicar, and accompanied by the music group that I met at the Awakenings! event blogged previously.  This service was much more in the style of worship songs, informal prayer, and full of families.  It was well taken by Paul, and he has a great style for interviewing guests [me!] and inviting people to participate.  We had a moving and inspiring testimony from a young man.  The sermon slot was me again, but I must admit that getting into the notes, I felt that the delivery needed to be much more focused on those actually here in church – so I abandoned the notes and tried to engage the congregation more appropriately.  Not sure what I did achieve!!  Then more coffee, and some great conversations with the congregation, who contained some potential ordinands, and some who have started training.

The pastoral visit events will go on, but do check out their website [http://www.st-francischurch.org.uk/] to see events such as the Picnic in the Park [3 July] Rockey’s Plaice Holiday club [24-27 August] and many other great events.  I’m looking forward to toddler worship next on my visit programme.  Thanks to you all.

This week I was privileged to put on my Royal Army Chaplains Department combats, and travel out to one of the Army Cadet Force detachments to give a presentation on the six core values of the British Army.  I first had to get into the Garrison, and I was saluted politely as I passed the reception/guardroom.  I saluted back, as I was sitting in the roofless MGF, but was not quite sure whether officers are supposed to salute whilst driving!  I probably have broken some military protocol, or civilian driving regulation.  Someone will tell me – just hope it is not contained within some kind of summons!

The Army Cadet Force (ACF) is one of the UK’s oldest, largest and most successful youth organisations. With over 47,000 cadets in around 1,700 local detachments across the country. At the heart of the ACF are our 8,500 adult volunteers who inspire youngsters to achieve.

It was a hot night, and the 20 cadets were trying sooo hard to concentrate on my presentation, which I spiced up with some leadership, and team exercises.  At the end, rather than assess their knowledge of the content of the presentation, I asked them to assess my presentation – what was good about it, what main points will they remember, and how might I improve the presentation next time?  Under the circumstances, I think I did well – they certainly helped me to polish the presentation for next time, and I found out what they had learned.  

What had they learned? The six core values, which all ranks must receive teaching on every year, are: Courage, Discipline, Loyalty, Integrity, Selfless Commitment, Respect for Others.  On the handout I asked them to take away, was a grid, with the six core values printed out.  I asked them to think about who they know who models the values; what challenges are facing the cadet at present; and then what might they do to try and overcome that challege, using the core values to measure their options and response.

Today saw Anita and I out at the delightful parish church of St Lawrence at Stratford sub Castle, where I was to preach and preside at the Parish Communion.  I was greeted by the equally delightful Gale, the curate, suitably wearing a Pentecost red clerical shirt [no I'm not that fashionable!]  It was a good service, even though I say so myself!  Beautiful weather, a comfortable number of worshippers, and the sermon seemed to hit the right note for many of the flock. 

What really came home to me during the service, was the sight of people’s hands.  At the Altar rail, I was struck by the careful way people held open their hands to receive the sacrament; and hands old and new, worn and ready for work, tanned and playful, 50 year old wedding band hands, and engagement ring hands shiny and bright - all open and expectant, and receiving the bread of life.  A powerful image, and I trust that people felt empowered by word and sacrament to put their hands to work, and their hearts set to love their neighbours and friends enough to share the good news that Jesus is alive, and his spirit is moving within us and through us, changing the world.

Those of you who know me, I hope, realise that whilst I’m not a slave to fashion, my image and appearance do take a little of my time each morning.  On Saturday, usually my day off, I had to make a couple of engagements as DDO [Diocesan Director of Ordinands].  My first was a breakfast meeting with our students studying for ministry on the STETS [Southern Theological Education Training Scheme] course here in Salisbury. I pulled on a pair of faded jeans, canvas shoes, and a black clerical shirt and summer jacket – smart, clerical, but relaxed and informal was the look I was hoping to achieve.  Well of  course, early breakfast, students in training – I expected no comments from them!  In fact they were spending the weekend exploring ministry to the young and youth.

I then moved back to the Diocesan Office, where I and a colleague spent some time with potential ordinands, reviewing presentations and group discussions – very good they were too!  I made a comment about my less than usual slick professional appearance, and I received some delightful feedback from one of them:

ps fashion tips: you might shoot me for saying this but you sounded a bit unconfident about your jeans for doing “youf” work – if so, you should get some nice boot-cut dark navy ones (from jeans shop), they’re the ‘in’ colour at the moment, navy would really suit you, light blue is too light for you.  And if you’ve not got them already, finish off with Converse baseball boots in navy, nice and cheap, and look good on men at any age.  You see a lot of film directors in baseball boots.   I like your clerical shirt with the sleeves cropped at the elbow (short sleeve clerical shirts are a big no-no, they don’t look cool). The light brown jacket was fine.

Checked this out with my fashion conscious daughter - and she agreed, so I’m off down the town, and you’ll no doubt be watching this space.  Love it!!

Two different services of welcome, in two different churches, but the same warmth and commitment to serve Christ through his church.

On Tuesday evening the College of Canons met for a meeting, and then we gathered in the Cathedral for Evensong, with the admission of some new Non-residentiary Canons and Lay Canons.  I’ve known Salisbury Cathedral for over 30 years, and it never, ever, ceases to inspire, and draw me into it’s sole purpose; to praise Almighty God, in the stones, and glass and woodwork, as well as in song and music and prayer.  We robed, in full choir dress, we processed, the Canons made oaths, and were duly admitted and installed.  It was formal and dignified, and very proper, but we also smiled and sang, and savoured the collegiality and the commitment to serve together.

Wednesday evening, I was at St Michael’s Church, Bemerton Heath.  We gathered in this beautifully simple  building, built in 1957, to welcome and license the Rev Canon Dr Brian Meardon, as an Associate Priest to the parish.  Brian had retired to Salisbury and as often happens, God continues to call into new ministries – and Brian will be specifically an Evangelist with the ministry team in Bemerton.  Around thirty of us gathered in church, no robes, and simple choruses led us into worship.  I licensed Brian using the formal words, and then Simon gave a  reflection on the gifts of the Spirit.  We prayed over Brian and his wife Sue, and sang another chorus, and then enjoyed some tea and cake.

Two services of welcome – quite different, and yet the same – celebrating all that God does for us, and responding in serving him and the community, in any way that we can.