FROM THE BISHOP OF EBBSFLEET

Dear parishioners and friends,

It is a real sadness for a parish when a priest of twenty-two years standing comes to retire. After all. Twenty-two years is nearly a generation. I am sure that, like all priests who have had long incumbencies. Fr John has had the experience of marrying those whom he baptized as children. A long incumbency shows for a real depth of ministry. I have now had several opportunities to see the quality of this ministry at first hand. I have arrived to find full churches, expectant confirmands and committed faithful people. Quality and depth have been the hall marks of Fr John’s ministry. On your behalf of the whole church, I thank him and Mrs Fairweather for all they have done at St Andrew’s and for Exwick.

An interregnum is a time of uncertainty. What happens next? You will not be surprised to hear that letters and phone calls and e-mails and meetings have already begun. All of us want the very best for St Andrew’s. Some interregna are a shambles! People are disheartened and leaderless and the life of the parish becomes listless. Communicants drop away. Children stay in bed. Adults wash the car or pop to B & Q instead of going to church. The best interregna – and I am glad to say there are quite a few of these! – see real co-operation and enthusiasm amongst the laity. Numbers hold up and even increase as parishes are determined to show that they are lively places, full of faith. Here then is a real challenge and a real opportunity for St Andrew’s.

Please be assured of my prayers at this time. Please be assured too that I shall be doing everything I can to assure the future of St Andrew’s.

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