The press deadlines for the village publications all fall on the 18th of the month, which means that I have to start writing my pieces about a week earlier – to gather my thoughts and put them into a sensible order. This month, I managed to start writing a full week before – on 11th September. The date is a significant one for me, and this article will be connected with that.
I know that for most people, 11th September will forever be associated with the Twin Towers tragedy of 2001 but my connection with the date is a much happier one. It is with 11th September 2006, 20 years ago, when I was formally licensed as the Priest in Charge of the United Benefice of Hunsdon with Widford and Wareside. Sometimes, it doesn’t seem possible that 20 years have passed since I arrived here with my young family, but it can’t be denied – my daughters are all adults now, and I am a grandfather – time has definitely passed!
Other things have changed, too. Eleven years ago, the Bishop of St Albans invited me to take on the role, first of Assistant Rural Dean and then later, Rural Dean. My involvement with strategic and oversight ministries then grew further as I was elected as Chair of the Diocesan Evangelical Fellowship. I am no longer the person who came here in 2006. Over the years, I have seen and learned things about the church’s life and the needs of the world as well as things about my own skills and passions, and as a result of this, my ministry and outlook have changed.
Events and circumstances over the last few years have compelled me to reflect upon the possibility that God’s call on my life was changing as I was changing. After prayer and reflection, I began to sense that God had a use elsewhere for my experience and skills. It was time for me to move to a new post. You may have heard this on the village grapevine already. I can confirm it is true – I shall remain in post here until Christmas, but in January, I will be taking up a new role in the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham.
I have loved living here and I and my family have made many friends in the villages and beyond. Hunsdon has been my home longer than anywhere else in my life, and I am sure that there will always be part of my heart here. But a new adventure awaits me. And a new adventure awaits the parishes I leave behind. It will be a struggle to find anyone whose name is quite so apposite as mine has been (unless there’s a vicar called Holly Trinity wondering about the post of vicar of Holy Trinity, Wareside!), but I am certain that whoever God is calling to be my successor will be a blessing to you in ways I could not.
May the God of grace go before us all into the journey ahead.