The Vicar's Letter - January 2010
Dear Friends,
Ten years ago, we were all making a big fuss about what a new millennium would hold: the ‘Twin Towers’ were still standing…the term ‘global warming’ had hardly been coined…and the prospect of ‘nul point’ Norway winning the Eurovision Song Contest would have seemed an absurdity! The most important concern seemed to be the ‘millennium bug’ (that hidden ‘time-bomb’) which would disrupt life ‘as we knew it’ on the stroke of midnight 1999!
Although we are still here, life ‘as we knew it’ has indeed altered a great deal over the intervening years. Internet technology has moved on apace. In its’ application, it has been both a blessing and a curse; but like it or not, it has changed the way a new generation co-exists. The world has become a smaller place as satellites and fibre optic cable have linked people and continents as never before.
Attitudes to matters of faith have changed with it. In addition, the political extremism that fostered ‘9/11’ has sometimes become confused in peoples’ minds with religious fundamentalism; and – as a result – any religious activity (of whatever faith) is now questioned much more than it was.
Christians in the United Kingdom are not used to having their motives examined in this way. ‘Church-going’ has always been seen as – at worst - a benign activity for those who ‘like that sort of thing’; but - because the Church of England has been interwoven with the nation’s political and social history - it is undoubtedly a disturbing change that makes us feel uncomfortable.
It challenges all Christians however. Our denominational diversity does not foster sympathy either, as it can be hard for people to see what is distinctively ‘Christian’ in churches that manifestly find it hard to mix even with each other. This is one reason why activities such as this month’s ‘Week of Prayer for Christian Unity’ should not just be seen as something for a precious ‘few’ to get keen about…as it sometimes is. (See Pgs 3 & 4)
The knee-jerk reaction to ‘change’ is to get defensive and stubborn. Sadly, this is what people sometimes see when they look at the Church. Issues which society has long ago accepted as fresh opportunity, the Church can often seem slow to accept; and the result is that we are not always our best advert.
In the past 10 years, the world (let alone the United Kingdom) has become much more of a cosmopolitan community. The pace of change may seem especially frightening as we get older; but change itself is not going to go away, nor is it something that we should necessarily fear.
At its heart, Christmas and Epiphany are seasons that preach not just the possibility but rather the necessity of change. We ‘Christians’ would do well to re-kindle our vocation as ‘shepherds’…and lead by example.
With best wishes,
About the Vicar ...
Jeremy was born in January 1951 in Putney, London. Educated at Wellington School, Somerset, he left in 1969 to become articled to a City firm of Chartered Accountants. Soon after qualifying, he felt that he wanted to test his vocation to the ordained ministry. Upon being selected for training, he attended Westcott House, Cambridge for three years before being ordained in 1978. Whilst there, he obtained the University's Certificate in Theology having been affiliated to Fitzwilliam College.
His first curacy was in the parish of St Denys, Evington on the outskirts of Leicester. Having managed a long interregnum there, he moved in 1981 to Ringwood in Hampshire to be curate in charge of St John the Baptist, Poulner as well as assistant curate to the parish as a whole. In 1984 he returned to Leicester to become priest in charge of the parish of Christ Church, Thurnby Lodge - a large estate just within the city boundaries. In 1989 he came to Poole to become Team Vicar of the newly opened church of St Paul's, Canford Heath which itself was part of the Oakdale Team Ministry - the largest parish in the diocese of Salisbury.
In 1995 he was asked to become Vicar of the parish of Canford Cliffs and Sandbanks.
Jeremy has served on various committees, most notably on the Boards of Finance of both Leicester and Salisbury diocese, the latter of which he chaired for six years up to 2006. He is a non-residentiary Canon of Salisbury cathedral.
Jeremy is married to Alison who is a Registered Nurse at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital. She is also Archdeaconry Chairman of the Mothers Union in Dorset. They have two children Helen and Tom. Jeremy also has two children from his former marriage, Sarah and David...not to mention his first grandson, Oliver John born recently to Sarah and Aaron!
