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Well, these past few days have been a whirl of social activities and festivities, as we come together and celebrate good things around the Area. 

Friday evening most of the Team were in Burbage to toast the very successful Pilgrims in Mission week in the Pewsey Deanery.  I was at another social event in the south of the County, as part of the Friends of Wiltshire Churches initiative, which seeks to provide a new source of funding for the Wiltshire Historic Churches Trust, of which I am Chairman.  We met at a beautiful house just north of Salisbury in the Woodford Valley, and raised a good sum of money which the Trustees will allocate to churches seeking to maintain and enhance their church fabric.  Check out the site at: http://www.wiltshirehistoricchurches.org.uk/Home.html We are looking for new members, and it’s very cheap to join, and we get so much fun from being a member – think about it?

Saturday morning, I attended the Salisbury Cathedral Open Day, and at 1000 hrs when the cathedral opened its Great West Doors, there were 400 people waiting to go in.  There was a real carnival atmosphere as people saw various exhibitions of the life of the cathedral and diocese, and tried their hands at various workshops.  The museums were open and free too – a great day out.

Saturday evening, we in the Learning for Discipleship and Ministry Team, gathered at our home in Bemerton to celebrate the mid-year and to enjoy one another’s company.  It was a good party, a little cold for outside dining, but a few braved it, and the conversation and laughter went on well into the night.  As I was preparing the outside tables a candle, in a large glass container caught the tablecloth which had been whipped up in the wind – just turn your back for a moment, and the cloth, and table supporting it, was an inferno!  I flipped the cloth onto the ground and smothered the flames – but it is true what the advertisements say – don’t leave naked lights unattended – even for a minute!

Sunday morning and I was attending a service in Pitton school, for both the church and school communities, who were gathering to say farewell to David Morgan, the Headteacher.  The service was quite superb – with a lay member of the church, leading a wonderful act of worship.  We had a dramatic reading of a passage of scripture, which helped us all understand how meeting Jesus transforms people’s lives.  We heard about Jairus, his daughter, an unclean woman, and one of the disciples – brilliant!  We also heard from three members of the Bristol University Christian Union, who were supported by the parish of Pitton last year.  Their witness and testimony of their work within the university and the city of Bristol was truly inspiring.

Back home and after Sunday lunch, the Bemerton Community Group Open Gardens event started, with yes, our home and garden taking part.  We had a steady stream of around 100 people come through – many of whom enjoyed a cup of tea  with us, and walked around the garden, and many good conversations were held.

Late afternoon, and I was back in the cathedral for Vespers, and a service of thanksgiving for the work of our  Foundation School Governors.  Tea with the Dean afterwards, and I came home, fully alive, and full of a weekend’s experiences of saying thank you, and raising both the profile and some money for important aspects of our common life here in this part of Wiltshire.

Well the last day dawned for the band of happy pilgrims, and the Team scattered ourselves throughout the parishes for Sunday worship in the morning.  I was detailed to go to East Grafton Church, St Nicholas, another first for me.  It is the most enchanting church, a little miniature copy of St Mary and Nicholas, Wilton, as you can see from the photo. 

I preached, and Rodney Harrison – the Team Vicar presided at a Common Worship service.  It was good to see people from the area there, and I was starting to catch names and faces that I’ve been encountering during the week.  In fact I preached on the subject of encounter, and that when we encounter Jesus, then he joins us on our journey, and then he changes us, and we join him on his journey – or at least I think I said something like that!

After bidding farewell at the door, I took myself over to Chute Causeway, and joined John and Rachel at the Tedworth Downland Ride and BBQ.  There were loads of horses, riders, and happy watchers, as the competitors took themselves along a ten mile fun ride course, and enjoyed the most beautiful scenery.  We stayed behind of course, and chatted and ate, and enjoyed the atmosphere of country people, enjoying country rides.  I was fortunate to gain a seat on a horse, and I think Rachel has some photos.  I used to ride around my country parishes, and it was so nice to be back in the saddle.  I enjoyed myself very much, and will certainly try and get a ride or two from time to time, and in honour of this, I was presented with a bright green rosette – which later confused people who thought I was a green party candidate!  I was certainly hungry, and we consumed, I think between us, one of everything from the BBQ and bar!

Moving on, we team went our separate ways, me to my host and hostess to pack up, say a huge thank you for the marvellous hospitality and generous giving of time and accommodation for this past week.  People are so open and welcoming to pilgrims I find.

Finally, we all gathered at the Crofton Beam Engine site for our closing act of worship – a Songs of Praise, and celebration of our week, with the reading of the winning entries in the poetry competition.  Music was provided by the Phoenix Brass Band, and Rodney compered the worship.  Bishop Stephen gave the final blessing, and as we shared the Peace, the heavens opened and were blessed by a heavy shower which encouraged people to continue their own pilgrimage journey. 

This is not the end of a week’s pilgrimage, but merely the start of another stage of a journey in the parishes and communities that make up the Pewsey Deanery.  Thanks to you all, and may God bless you, and may Jesus be your constant companion and guide, and may the Holy Spirit empower and direct you to serve him, and those with whom you share your lives.

One of the responsibilities of Archdeacons is the support and advice to Churchwardens and clergy concerning the care and maintenance of Churchyards.  It is an important public place where communities can come and remember and pay respects to the friends and families of past generations.  Churchyards, and especially graves are sensitive pastoral areas of our common lives, and it is with great care that regulations are created to preserve that pastoral sensitivity.

I visited a churchyard recently as was very taken by the number of small items that had been left on certain graves.  Recent burials are always emotionally charged, with flowers and cards and tokens of love and remembrance.  I was particularly drawn to one grave, which was not marked by any stone yet, but the family had left a Christmas present, partially unwrapped, and some packets of sweets.  It was no doubt the favourite confectioneryof the child, and the toy a gift, perhaps that had been left unopened.  I was reminded of the death rituals for the Ancient Egyptians, who would bury the deceased with all kinds of effects, and food to see them into the afterlife.  As Christians, we pray that those who die, journey with Christ, who died and rose again, that we might have eternal life.  It is an aspect of our humanity that we struggle to make sense about life, as we also struggle with the inevitability about death.  Even Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early on the third day, bringing with her spices, intended to annoint the body of Jesus.

Death is nothing at all?  Oh yes, death is certainly something, something we all have to attend to in our own way.  Our message of hope and love depends on us knowing that death is certainly not any easier, but our faith offers us strength and comfort, and that makes the something bearable.

Sunday saw me driving out [in the newly coated MG] to Melksham, where the Melksham Team Ministry were bidding thank you, farewell and God speed to Canon Derek and Sue Smith, who were leaving after some eleven years as Team Rector.

It was a special service, with crowds of people from the three churches of St Michael [Melksham town] St Andrew [Forest] and St Barnabas [Beanacre], and many others from the town, other churches and staff from the Board of Education.  As a Thanksgiving Eucharist, there were opportunities for people to say thank you to Derek and Sue, Derek preached his last sermon, and as a final act, I was asked to commission Derek and Sue for their new ministry in Cyprus, and the congregation as they work together to maintain and grow the mission and ministry over the next few years.

God bless you Derek, and Sue, for all your ministry in the diocese since 1976, in Dorset, Wiltshire, as a parish priest and hospital chaplain, as Rural Dean and Canon of Salisbury Cathedral.  And God bless you both as you continue his work on new shores.

to Carol Davies as she retires from her post in the Upper Kennet Benefice.  Carol has done a marvellous job in building links with young families and children, both through the local school and through the monthly benefice family service.  Very best wishes to Carol and Howard as they move to France.

to Anthony and Jane Fletcher as Anthony retires from Lyneham and Bradenstoke.  In the last three years they have both become valued not only in Lyneham and Bradenstoke, but also for their contributions to the life of Calne Deanery.

He slipped so quietly we almost missed his going – not at all like Harold Stephens.  Harold has just begun his new ministry as Team Rector of Dorchester (that’s the Dorset one) having served the last 8 years in the growing benefice of The Lavingtons south of Devizes.  Harold came to Market Lavington and Easterton in 1999 – and has built a team of parishes encompassing West Lavington and the Cheverells.  We will also miss his wide experience of supporting and building links with schools.  We do wish Harold well as he moves south.

A really busy week has kept me away from the blog – so my apologies for that. I’ve found since last Sunday, we’ve been away on Bishop’s Council residential, a meeting with the Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches  [DAC] meeting with Diocesan Architects and Surveyors, MOT for the MG, a trip to York and back taking my youngest daughter back to university and the preparation for, and the occasion of the re-licensing of our Lay Readers as Licensed Lay Ministers.  So – a few blogs to catch up on then!

 But before all that – we must record the long and fruitful ministries of two of our priests – who last weekend moved into their retirement ministries.

Canon Michael Ward, Team Rector of the Clarendon Team, has ministered in many parishes throughout the Diocese – including Bridport, Pewsey and Swanborough, Wexcombe, Southbroom and Clarendon.  Michael and Katherine have also supported and encouraged the ministry of Wholeness and Healing, and many people gathered to send them off with much love, thanks, and best wishes for a happy retirement [just outside the Diocese!]

Canon Bede Cooper, with his wife Susan, also ministered in many parishes in the Diocese – Weymouth, Broad Town, Wootton Bassett, and Wilton with Netherhampton and Fugglestone, as well as holding many other responsibilities.  Again many people gathered to send them off with much love, and gratitude for their ministry – again retiring just outside the Diocese!  Thanks Michael and Katherine, and Bede and Susan, we shall miss you, and we shall continue to give thanks for all your faithful and fruitful ministry among us.