Henry Akingbemisilu was born in Nigeria, coming to the UK to study mathematics and computer network engineering. His journey to ordination started in 2008, but it was only in 2015 that he finally started the official discernment process with Southwark Diocese. In the years that preceded this, he was involved in his church – in the choir, in prayer ministry groups and as Church Warden for eight years but felt a ‘calling’ to do more.“You know, when God is calling, you just won’t be at peace with yourself until you give in,” he explained. “It took me so many years.“I asked myself is this God or is it me making things up?“I was fighting it!” he laughed. “I held it to myself for so long, then I began to speak to the people around me – my family, my vicar.“I also knew a priest who had trained in my church. He was a government lawyer and a priest. He encouraged me, you don’t have to drop your job, he told me.“That was when I got the confirmation that I could continue doing what I was doing.”Henry (see photo) has continued working in Data Science and reading the latest in artificial intelligence.“I don’t plan to give up my job, I plan to be self-supporting all my life,” he said. Looking ahead, Henry added: “My long-term goal is to be a part of the people God will use to transform unjust structures of our society.“My immediate concern for the future as Deacon, is to see the needs of my community and attend to that. What do they need?"Where can I step in?” Henry reflected: “We can make plans all we like but it’s all in God’s hands.”
The Church of England’s national assembly approved a Leeds Diocesan Motion calling on all political parties to adopt an ‘explicit policy’ of reducing the gap between rich and poor. Synod members further voted to redouble efforts by the Church of England both at national and local level to respond to need through social action and to tackle ‘unjust structures’ that contribute to the wealth gap.Speaking to the General Synod, Father Paul Cartwright, from the Diocese of Leeds, said living costs were rising and real terms disposable income decreasing for the poorest families. “We cannot expect to be able to write social or fiscal policy on behalf of Her Majesty’s Government, or even eradicate the wealth gap,” he said.“But what we can be is that genuine voice which speaks about the injustice of such a gap, a gap that leads to reduced opportunity for so many in our country.”“We can hold up the mirror to those who maybe can’t see what’s staring them in the face.”Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York, told the Synod: “We make no apology for having a big vision of the worth of every human being. “We make no apology for holding ourselves and others to account for this scandal which I now see so clearly in the communities I am privileged to serve.” Revd Alex Frost, a priest in Burnley, Lancashire, whose work raising awareness of food poverty received widespread publicity last year, told Synod members that it was the job of Christians to ‘tell the story’ of those living in poverty.“It is our job to bring the voice of the homeless and those in poverty to people who don’t know,” he said.The Leeds Diocesan Motion was approved by 342 members with three recorded abstentions and two objections.
Sally’s funeral will take place next Monday, November 22. There will be a family-only funeral at Guildford Crematorium followed by a service of thanksgiving for Sally’s life at Dunsfold Church at noon. All are welcome. After this service David invites everyone in attendance to join him and his family at the Winn Hall for a reception.We will be operating a park and ride service from the Winn Hall from 11.15am to reduce the number of cars parking at church. For those of you unable to attend in person, arrangements are being made to broadcast the service via livestream - https://schmittat.uk/live/2021-11-22-sr/ This link will also remain open for viewing. In lieu of flowers, should you wish to make a charity donation, David suggests either Parkinson’s UK or the World Cancer Research Fund, both of which held significance to Sally – you will find a Tribute page at -https://sallyrivett.muchloved.comSally wanted her ashes interred at Kiltearn in Scotland. The family plan to have a memorial event around the middle of next year and will share further details in due course. David said: “Thank you to those of you who have sent messages of condolence in recent days - your kind words are very much appreciated at this difficult time and I/we will acknowledge them appropriately in due course.”
