From the Vicar…
Dear Friends,
A new page has been turned in the story of the Diocese of Christchurch, with the installation yesterday of the Rt Revd Victoria Matthews as our eighth Bishop. As I write this, the Mass and installation ceremony has not yet happened, but I am sure that on Sunday I shall be able to report on it with enthusiasm. Very soon Bishop Victoria will come to visit us, and we shall see and hear more of her as she settles into Christchurch and the other places that are part of the Diocese.
We are honoured that one of the guests to the installation is our preacher at this morning’s Masses. Bishop Terry Brown was brought up in New England, USA, and then served in the Diocese of Fredericton, Canada, before going in 1976 to work in the Pacific and Asia. Twelve years ago he became Bishop of Malaita in the Solomon Islands, and has been through some of the turbulent times that that young nation state has suffered, including the martyrdom of seven Melanesian brothers who served in the Diocese. Bishop Terry is a train enthusiast and so I shall be taking him to Greymouth and back tomorrow on the TranzAlpine Express.
Next Thursday evening the Diocesan Synod will begin with a Mass at 7:00 pm in the Cathedral. During the two days of this meeting some of us will have the opportunity to get to know our new Bishop better.
Next Sunday another overseas visitor will be with us and will preach at the morning Masses. This is Brother Wayne of the Little Brothers of Francis, a small religious community of hermits in remote northern New South Wales.
On Sunday 14 September at 4:30 pm we shall host Dr Edric Baker, who will speak and join us for a light meal before Evensong. Dr Baker founded and continues to oversee a medical clinic for the poorest of the poor in central Bangladesh. He also trains local people in basic medical procedures so that their communities can be a little more self-reliant when fully qualified doctors and nurses are simply not available. I consider Dr Baker to be one of today’s saints, for his life of Christian sacrifice and service. He is supported by a group of Taizé brothers, also living among the very poor in a neighbouring town. The Vestry will give him a donation for his work, and invite parishioners to add to this as they are able. Please put gifts in an envelope marked ‘Dr Edric Baker’.
The east window in the church is at last back after its restoration. This will return the interior to its fine appearance and proportion. We have found among the parish records (which are kept in the Diocesan Archives) a comprehensive folder of correspondence between the parish and the London maker and designer of the window. There was some fuss over the removal of the previous window, and Bishop Julius wrote along the margin of the faculty document that he hoped another place could be found for it in the church. The four remaining lights of that window are in fact now in the choir of the Chapel of the Community of the Sacred Name.
May God bless you all.
Peter Williams
