[Magdalen] Anyone Here?

[Roger Stokes]

On 05/07/2019 20:27, Michael Bishop wrote:
> I too am still here. I retired from full time ministry in September 
> 2017 and now live in retirement in Keyworth Nottinghamshire in the 
> Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham. I do take a few services - mostly 
> in a nearby group of parishes which is at present without a priest.One 
> of the churches has a major claim to fame - St John of Beverley, 
> Whatton is the church of the parish in which Thomas Cranmer was born, 
> baptised and worshipped as a child. His parents are buried in the 
> churchyard. Perhaps unsurprisingly the congrgation is very proud of 
> this and strictly adhere to the forms of service BCP of 1662 which is 
> largely as prepared by Cranmer.
Does that include praying "for all bishops and curates" at the Eucharist 
as well as the indifferent ministration of justice?
>
> Last week I celebrated the 47th anniversary of my being ordained 
> priest at Southwell Minster the cathedral of this diocese. It is 
> amazing how time has flown.
>
> Life is mostly very quiet, but one event which I especially enjoy is 
> the twice a year week of helping to lead "Time Travelling" in 
> Southwell Minster. This attracts around 500 per day schoolchildren of 
> infant and junior school age for a week. They spend their time being 
> taken around the Minster and learning about various aspects of the 
> Christian faith and of the history and life of the cathedral. For some 
> of the children it is their first time in a church. For all, it is an 
> amazing experience of being in the 900 year old church. Both teachers 
> and children clearly thoroughly the experience. The same goes for the 
> large band of volunteers (including me) who lead and join in the 
> activities.
>
> I am still trying to get used to the quiet of retirement - and of 
> course, having moved away from my former parishes. I could only return 
> to them by specific invitation of their current clergy. I was in my 
> last post for over 20 years, and it was a big thing for me to retire 
> from there.

Having retired in the same town and the next-door parish to my last post 
I sometimes see former parishioners when I am out and about. I am very 
particular about not saying anything that could be interpreted as 
remotely critical of my successor and had to be persuaded over my 
reluctance to accede to the request that I conduct the funeral of a 
congregation member during the vacancy before my successor arrived. I 
have known clergy who did not observe that courtesy of "leave means 
leave" and am determined not to fall into that trap.

Roger