I am writing to say Thank You to you for all your support over this past year - your time, commitment, and money. Without your support, the work of our five Churches in our communities across our Benefice simply could not happen. We are blessed with amazing buildings that inspire with their history and architecture and very powerfully remind us of the context of life within which we find ourselves. It is within this context of everyday life that ministry takes place, a responsibility shared by priest and people together - reaching out to one another in our regular congregations, our wider village communities and beyond - sharing the love of God in a myriad of ways. Behind the scenes, much of the administrative work is undertaken by our erstwhile Churchwardens and they in particular deserve a special thank you for the many untold hours that they give to ensure that our Churches function as efficiently and as effectively as possible. Like every house and family mini crises occur and, given the wide geography and disparate population that we serve, it often falls to our Churchwardens to resolve these issues as best and as quickly as they can. One change that has occurred in this past year has been the change in the nature of the job that our Administrator, Heather Ferguson now undertakes. In the past, Heather’s focus was mainly the production of the Weekly Sheet for St Mary’s and St Peter’s. Heather’s role has evolved so that she now has responsibility for managing all the fees that are paid to all the Churches across the Benefice for weddings, funerals, and burials. This is quite a task but with Heather taking on this role it does mean that as Parish Priest I am freed from this day-to-day administrative task and can focus more on other, more strategic tasks. This past year has seen changes in the Ministry Team. After many years of service, a number of folks decided to step back from active roles with both Barry Price (Cottered) and Norman Plumb (Benington) sensibly deciding that it was time to downsize and relocate to other areas of the country. Paul Cobb (Benington) is similarly in the process of preparing to move house and others, including Anne Hudson (Benington) Steve Mason (Walkern) and Revd Mervyn Terrett (Ardeley) have stepped back from their roles. The Team is now much reduced in size, and this means that it is harder, and sometimes not possible, to provide for Services in the way in which we have done in the past. The future is likely to mean fewer Services around some of our major festivals and when I am away on leave, with churches in the north and south of the Benefice having to work more closely together. Ideally, we could do with six volunteers willing to train as Worship Leaders to ease the strain. If you think you would like to be involved in leading a Service of Morning Prayer please get in touch. I am grateful to Colin Bailey (Benington), Laurie & Maggie Hawkins (Walkern), Revd Canon Mike Leverton and Wendy Waygood (Ardeley) for their continued support in facilitating our life as a worshipping community. These past twelve months have also seen a re-balancing of our work with all three Schools within the Benefice. We are blessed with two Church of England Primary Schools, Ardeley (Voluntary Aided) and Benington (Voluntary Controlled) and a State Primary School at Walkern with whom we have an equally good and fruitful relationship. A School-Church Curriculum has been introduced which means that each year group, across all three Schools, now partakes in using their local Church as a learning environment. I teach lessons on a range of subjects including RE, art and history which involves all children becoming more familiar with their Church. It has been a particular pleasure this year to introduce children to our amazing collection of gargoyles and grotesques at St Peter’s. It was the first time that children from Ardeley and Walkern Schools had visited St Peter’s. Great fun was had designing and naming their own grotesques! All of this work goes on alongside the more familiar Collective Acts of Worship (School Assemblies) and the more traditional School Visits for Nativity Plays etc. Our historic property portfolio is a significant responsibility. I sometimes joke that if our Churches were being managed by the National Trust then we would have a whole department dedicated solely to caring for our five Churches. Such a department does not exist! However, this year we have reviewed the committee structures responsible for the care and maintenance of our buildings. Each Church now has a Fabric Committee in place and every Church has a strategy in place for moving forwards. There are some exciting projects being developed for each Church though obviously this is tied to funding. Bringing such projects to fruition is always undertaken in consultation with our architects and with the Diocesan Advisory Committee. The latter is the equivalent of a local planning authority and operates with very clear guidelines and high standards expected when caring for any aspect of national heritage. Our property portfolio includes both Benington and Ardeley Village Halls and these too have structures and plans in place for moving works forward. Legislation around the subject of marriage is constantly evolving as societal norms shift and change. After consultation with all of our Parochial Church Councils, it was agreed that we should apply to the Bishop of St Albans for a Section 23 Order which would allow any couple who resides within the Benefice or who has a qualifying connection to marry in any of our five Churches rather than just their own local Parish Church. This Order has now been issued and allows for greater flexibility with regard to the venue for those wishing to marry in Church. Our Churches are also available for anyone wishing to have their marriage blessed either subsequently after being married elsewhere (overseas or local wedding venue) or to celebrate a special anniversary. If you think the Church can be of any help to you, don’t hesitate to be in touch! God Bless, Mark
The Revd Writes… “Doubt thou the stars are fire; Doubt that the sun doth move; Doubt truth to be a liar; But never doubt I love.” William Shakespeare A new year dawns and with it the opportunity, by God’s grace, to continue to love and even perhaps, to find a new love. For those wishing to marry in church within our Benefice, there is now the possibility to marry in any one of our five churches. Up until now, couples have been limited to marrying within their own Parish Church or a church with which they have a qualifying connection but not the option of being able to choose to marry within any church that falls under the jurisdiction of their Vicar. In recent months our Parochial Church Councils had all agreed to apply to the Bishop of St Albans for what is known as a Section 23 Order, which has now been granted. In practice, this means that a couple’s banns may now be called in any of the churches, though usually in the church where they are to be married, as well as offering more choice regarding the venue for the big day. We are blessed with five stunningly beautiful churches, all of architectural merit within their right, including St Lawrence’s, Ardeley, St Peter’s, Benington, St John the Baptist, Cottered, Holy Trinity, Throcking and St Mary the Virgin, Walkern. For those who choose to marry in exotic places overseas or grand hotels closer to home, there is also the option of having your marriage blessed locally in church. This often means being able to invite folks whom you may not have been able to include on the day of your wedding. A Service of Blessing is also available for those who wish to renew their marriage vows around the time of special anniversaries – though every wedding anniversary is special! Post-Covid, further changes are afoot regarding the possibility of being able to be married outside. The experience of needing to meet in fresh air during the pandemic has enabled a re-think when it comes to where you can be married, currently limited to licensed buildings. The law is now set to change which will allow weddings to take place in outdoor spaces such as botanical gardens etc and more likely than not will also include churchyards. This will be a first and I’m sure will be popular with many couples. At present marriage in Church of England churches is limited to heterosexual couples. The debate on same sex marriage however is beginning to shift with some senior bishops now calling for the Church to become more inclusive and aligned with the norms in everyday society. Over 1000 clergy, including myself, have now stated publicly that they would be willing to marry same sex couples in church once this becomes legal. I’m hopeful that this day now draws nearer. If you would like any further information on any of the above, please don’t hesitate to be in touch. God Bless Mark
The Revd Writes… “Sometimes I feel lost,” said the boy. “Me too,” said the mole. “But we love you, and love brings you home. I think everyone is just trying to get home,” said the mole. I’m grateful to a friend who bought me a copy of ‘The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse’ by Charlie Mackesy last year. A simple book, beautifully illustrated with words of wisdom that reach out and speak to all ages. I’m pleased to see that it is predicted to be a top seller for this Christmas. It comes recommended by yours truly. I wonder how many children will be waking up on Christmas morning and be thrilled to bits to know that they are now the proud owner of a Jiggly Pets Noodle Pink Pup? The said Pup is predicted to be this year’s top toy. It walks, barks, and wags its tail whilst playing a tune, which at £12 will be music to every parent’s ears. Last year’s top toy, Barbie Day to Night Dreamhouse weighed in at nearly £200 eclipsing this year’s supermarket hopeful, Hot Wheels Garage Exclusive – includes twenty cars – at £124.99 Every parent wants their child to have the best possible Christmas. Many will have poured hours into overtime at work to help try and balance the books so that they are able to make this Christmas extra special. The cost of giving can be a high price to pay though many will agree it is all worth it to bring a smile to a much-loved child’s face. Yet Christmas toys come with a little caveat. My father once bought me a Hornby train set. He was extremely excited about it and couldn’t wait to get it all set up. To be honest, I wasn’t that bothered. I much preferred the matchbox cars, which delighted me all the way through my childhood. It just goes to show that children have the right to choose, and it might just be that the most expensive gift this year doesn’t quite make it to the top of the list when it comes to personal preference in your household. Take comfort in the knowledge that a child’s right to choose is a key step on the way to developing confidence and independence. There’s always next year for you to get it right! The exorbitant cost of children’s toys contrasts with the simpler things that make for a special Christmas. As Mole says, “love brings you home.” A young couple with not very much to their name, manage to create a safe warm place for their newborn baby. This is the start and the heart of the Christmas story. Creating a loving home which invites friends and family to come together brings cheer to the soul. A simple gift given with love is priceless and one to be treasured. Opportunities to share with others this festive season are to be made the most of – love in a home cannot be measured by any retail price index. And for that, we must all be grateful. Happy Christmas. God Bless Mark
The Revd Writes… The latest review by the Church of England into historic cases of abuse (Past Cases Review 2) has brought to light again how inept human institutions can be when looking after the frail and vulnerable. So often the expectation that those in authority will conduct themselves appropriately and implement good practices effectively has resulted in catastrophic trauma and disappointment. Shockingly, institutions which have promoted themselves as bastions of sanctuary for those in need have sometimes found individuals within their own ranks using such cover to create opportunities to manipulate and exploit their victims. Similarly, those charged with maintaining discipline and holding boundaries have often colluded with harmful and damaging behaviour rather than face the consequences of ‘rocking the boat.’ Having worked for many years in adult psychotherapy and having run a diocesan counselling service for clergy and their families, I’m all too aware of the psychological damage that results from abuse. Such trauma crushes the human spirit, arrests development, and destroys life chances, trapping many children, women, and men in a ceaseless pattern, consciously and unconsciously, of victimisation. Clergy and others who have perpetrated such abuse over the years have caused untold damage to the reputation of the Church, tarnished the reputation of the profession of ‘Vicar’ and made the task of pastoral ministry so much harder on the street and in our parishes. I too feel anger and dismay at colleagues who have failed miserably to uphold the standards of behaviour expected of them. Suspicion and a lack of respect for the Church will linger in the hearts and minds of many for years to come. No amount of apology from Archbishops and Bishops will take away the dark stain of what has happened. Thankfully, ‘Safeguarding’ is now well and truly part of a healthier culture within our local churches. In the past, there was an understanding that the Church was there for everyone and that anyone could become part of the ‘church family’ without question. That is no longer the case. Anyone now whose behaviour is a cause for concern is rightly challenged and if necessary is prohibited from taking part in church life. Priority is given to those who are vulnerable, and policies are strictly adhered to in order to ensure that a culture of flourishing is engendered. Walking away from a past that has been so damaging in so many ways will take time. For those who have been directly affected the shadow of trauma is never far away – the path from victim to survivor is long and painful. For those of us working in ministry, the cost of the damage and its aftermath is high. But I believe we will turn this corner. Light will triumph over the darkness and what is good and true will be restored. God Bless. Mark
