GRAPEVINE
No 120 Spring 2020 THE MAGAZINE OF THE DIOCESE OF BRECHIN
Greetings from Bishop Andrew: and the wider SEC for all their years of service. The Diocese To all my brothers and sisters in the Diocese of Brechin: as is working to support these I write to you these are worrying times for Scotland and charges through vacancy and many, many countries in the world. The Coronavirus, towards new appointments of COVID-19, is a problem that is developing and threatening to successors in the future. In the destablise the economic and social life of millions of people Diocesan Centre there is worldwide. In the Scottish Episcopal Church we are another change: Mrs Sharon Louden is retiring as the continuing to gather for worship (in early March 2020) but we Bishop’s PA and administrator. have already decided to stop sharing the common cup and Sharon also leaves with the sharing the peace, all to try and minimise the risk of gratitude of so many in Brechin vulnerable people becoming affected by this potentially for all the help and support she deadly virus. The life of church communities goes on, but has has given. A new PA and to reflect the threats that can exist in the world. Please keep administrator will be starting in prayer all those affected by COVID-19 and all who are later in March, Mr Elliott Scarfe. working to contain and mitigate the effects of this disease. This is the season of Lent, a The life of our diocese has priests leave with the gratitude time when we deliberately continued despite this very real of their charges, the Diocese adopt a sparse and reflective situation around us. The tone in the life of our Diocesan Synod took churches. At a global place in early March with level the fear of an updating of the pandemic viruses and at Diocesan constitution a local level anxiety over and reviews and reports change in our churches on our finances, mission can be a challenge for us and many other aspects to face. But the Lenten of our church life. New journey is one when we representatives have learn that we can trust in volunteered for Diocesan God as followers of Council and for the Jesus Christ. In all Provincial General situations of challenges, Synod. It is very this message of comfort encouraging that the life and hope is one that we of the Diocese continues can truly rely upon. to develop and change, even as we hold on to the Have a blessed and safe values and worshipping Lent and Holy Week: and traditions that make us a joyful Easter! the SEC in this part of Scotland. Changes continue to take place in our charges, with the Rev’d David Shepherd and Fr Andrew, Clive Clapson both Bishop of Brechin retiring in 2020. Both 1 Brechin’s Loss is Haddington’s Gain In advance of his impending Starting as a Curate in a small my help in His mission to the least, retirement later this year Fr Clive southern Ontario town, I moved to the last, and the lost around here. reviews his past ministry, noting my first parish that consisted of The St Salvador’s Food that in Scotland he has gradually three low-church rural charges in Cupboard started on the very first moved south and this will the back of beyond. Then I went to Sunday after I arrived, and, continue. a suburban Anglo-Catholic despite its growth and evolution, mission station near San Diego. has always been a simple I was ordained Priest in St. Returning to the UK, I was an response to need. Katie and I George’s Cathedral, Kingston, have had so much help and Ontario, on 25 March, 1980, support from many of our the festival of Our Lady Mary’s Episcopalian congregations, “yes” to God: the as well as from our friends in Annunciation. Back then, I several other denominations. was at the minimum age for We are very grateful to all of ordination. Forty years on, you. We are also appreciative here I am on the verge of of the help we have received retirement from active from so many when we took ministry. the step some years ago to Fortieth anniversaries of forego part of my stipend so ordination are fairly rare that the work of the ministry nowadays, as most could continue here in a local, candidates offer themselves assistant in Farnborough that had focussed way. later on in life than I did. I look an extremely active children’s I’m mindful today of how forward to sharing this important ministry in an Anglo-Catholic inadequate my ministrations have life-event with our people at St. context. Then we came to sometimes been, how damaged I Salvador’s and other friends Scotland, serving in a small am, and how dependent I have before Katie and I retire at the end congregation in Invergordon, been on God’s grace. Sometimes of May. where I was also responsible for the only thing keeping me going It’s been an interesting ride for the training of clergy in the has been the unshakeable forty years. Sometimes it’s been diocese. Next, I was in charge of a conviction that for some reason joyful, sometimes disappointing, large middle-of-the-road city God called me and has drawn me sometimes frustrating, and always church in prosperous Aberdeen. to wherever I have found myself challenging. I’ve been encouraged Having sensed a call to serve in a ministering, and that once, when I by strangers and betrayed by more challenging neighbourhood, was only young – as Our Lady friends. I’ve lost count of the finally we came here to our Mary was when God called her – I number of times my heart has beautiful church in the Hilltown. and she said “yes” to Him. been broken by the depths of For the last fifteen years I’ve tried Fr Clive Clapson human sin, folly, and suffering. to let God do the best He can with St Salvador’s Dundee
Election to Fellowship The Lord Lyon, The Rev’d public benefit throughout Canon Dr Joseph Morrow CBE, Scotland. It was established in QC, LLD, DL is among his many 1783 and since then has drawn roles an honorary Canon of the upon the considerable strengths cathedral in Dundee, Chancellor and varied expertise of its of Moray Diocese and a Fellows, of which there are long-serving priest in the currently around 1600, who are Scottish Episcopal Church. He based in Scotland, the rest of has been elected a Fellow of the UK and beyond. The the Royal Society of Edinburgh Fellowship includes people from (RSE). a wide range of disciplines – The RSE is an educational science & technology, arts, charity, registered in Scotland, humanities, social science, operating on a wholly business and public service – a independent and non-party- breadth of expertise that is political basis and providing unique in the UK.
2 COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
On 13 March the Primus, the 1. Advice issued last night by the in the case of illness, does not Most Rev’d Mark Strange, wrote:– Scottish Government is to the mean that ministry and pastoral “This is a difficult time for many effect that church services should care must cease. Contact and people, some are fearful for cease. Consequently, the Bishops communication can still be themselves or their relatives, while ask that all gatherings for worship, maintained over the telephone, by others want to know how to help including small gatherings such as email or other electronic means. house groups, should be stem the spread of the virus. Our 5. The taking of funerals may give discontinued until further notice. guidance is given not just to rise to specific concerns. It may address medical concerns but 2. Church buildings can be kept simply not be possible for family also with pastoral concern being open as a place for people to relatives or friends of the uppermost in our hearts and come and pray. However, if a deceased's to be able to attend a minds, particularly the care of the church is open for private prayer, funeral service as usual. However, vulnerable in our congregations notices should be clearly clergy can still take a funeral at the and communities. Please pray for displayed asking that visitors wash graveside or crematorium, even if all those who are unwell at this their hands on entry to the church. those present are limited to clergy time, for the fearful and for the 3. The province is working on and funeral directors. lonely and for those who work in plans to make worship available 6. In the light of the public health the health service as they do their online. The bishops encourage recommendation that non- best to respond to the heavy participation in the broader essential travel should not be demands at this time.” Eucharistic life of the church in this undertaken, it is clearly Most infections will occur way and emphasise the such inappropriate to continue with through personal contact so care online involvement is a form of meetings which would draw should be taken to avoid potential participation in the Eucharistic people from a wider area – such transmission. However, the virus community, even though as regional gatherings. can remain active on other participants cannot physically Institutions, licensings etc. will surfaces such as books and door partake of the bread or wine. need to be dealt with differently handles for up to possible 5 days 4. Clergy and lay leaders must feel from normal. depending on environmental free to self-isolate themselves 7. In some cases, where local factors, so care should be when that is appropriate either to income is dependent on regular exercised in what people touch safeguard their own health or the giving through the weekly and regular cleaning with health of others. Again, however, collection or giving envelopes, it is disinfectant carried out. any member of clergy or lay leader possible that congregations might The College of Bishops issued needing to self-isolate is asked to encounter difficulties with cash the following updated guidance on discuss the matter with the flow. Churches are encouraged to 17 March. In a rapidly changing diocesan Bishop. Where a consider alerting congregations to situation, this must be regarded as decision to self-isolate is taken, such potential difficulties and subject to any public health the bishops expect congregations encouraging alternative ways of guidance or direction, which must to be understanding and giving, for example by standing take precedence. supportive. Self-isolation, except order.
Worship Broadcasts A group of communications The planned weekly broadcasts Aidan Strange, the Provincial workers within the Scottish will commence on Sunday 22 Digital Communications Co-ordin- Episcopal Church is working on March and will be made available ator, has intimated that further the imminent introduction of as widely as possible to as many details of this project would be regular broadcasts of worship, to members as possible, with special published before 22 March and be made available to those in our considerations made to try to anyone who is interested in congregations across the country reach and include in some way participating in such a service who have decided to self-isolate or those who are unable to access should contact him by email at: who are otherwise unable to the internet and those with
CLUES ACROSS: 14 Give support to increasing 5 Mark, for example, ship’s storage space (6) acceleration on a fresh 17 Economic Policy Institute Name ...... slope (6) (3) 8 Eastern relation perhaps (8) 19 Pale cognac (3) 9 Prohibits disturbance of 20 Building for a father Address...... birds (7) embracing a deity? (6) 10 Stage entrances? (5) 23 Plead during hospital 11 What MPs do as a member investigation for aerosol hasn’t turned up yet (9) (5,3) ...... 13 Intimidate the Mad Hatter in 26 Modern sapper altered daily French (8) communication (9)
Retirement Moving On The Rev’d David Shepherd, having built up and maintained Rector of St Mary Magdalene’s this worshipping community and Mrs Sharon Louden, the Dundee, will formally demit office their building in the heart of Personal Assistant to the and retire after Easter Day, 12 Dundee through four decades: an Bishop and Diocesan April 2020. David has been the extraordinary achievement! David administrator, is moving on to Rector of this charge since 1979, has also been an active and a new post elsewhere in involved member of the wider Dundee in early April. Sharon Diocese of Brechin in all this time, has been the PA and serving on boards and administrator for the Diocese committees. The present bishop is since 2016 and greatly helped the sixth that David has seen both Bishops Nigel and whilst serving as a rector in Andrew at the end and start of Brechin Diocese, Bishop Ted their respective ministries as Luscombe having instituted him in well as working through the 1979. Episcopal Vacancy from 2017-2018. She has also run There will be a celebration the Diocesan Office and musical service for David and supported the running of Patricia on Easter Day, 12 April at Synods and other Diocesan 6.30 p.m. in St Mary Magdalene’s business. to which all are warmly invited. 4 New Diocesan Brechin Explorers
Chancellor The Explorers’ Club is an Maisondieu Primary School. The Sheriff George Way of Plean interdenominational Group for day will include crafts, games, accepted the Bishop’s offer of primary children in Brechin. It is teaching on the theme of ‘looking appointment as the Chancellor of organised by a dedicated team of after God’s world and of course, the Diocese of Brechin in January adults from the main churches 2020. Educated at the Universities within the City, including several of Edinburgh and Oxford, the from St Andrew’s Episcopal Chancellor has been Sheriff in the Church. The aim is to teach the Sheriffdom of Tayside, Central children about Jesus and Christian and Fife since 2009 and presently values in a fun and caring there will be music. The day will sits in Dundee. He is an Officer of environment. run from 9.00 a.m to 3.00 p.m. and Arms in the Lyon Court with the Each year several all-day will finish with a concert at about workshops are held, attracting 2.15 in St Andrew’s Church, led by over a hundred young people. A Fischy Music. Holiday Club is organised in July and last November a weekly after-school group was launched. Although some funding has been received from the Diocese, further funds were required so in February a Valentine’s Pop-Up shop was organised in Brechin High Street. Parents and friends contributed goods to sell, including a large range of books, toys, clothing and baby gear. Some of title ‘Carrick Pursuivant’, the title of the older children helped out in the which pursuivancy is derived from shop alongside the adults. It was a that of the Earl of Carrick, once week of hard work but lots of fun held by King Robert the Bruce and we all agreed it was a great before his accession. He was way to recycle things and raise the appointed Solicitor Advocate 2003 profile of the Group. and was President of the Society All children in the Brechin of Solicitors In the Supreme Cluster will receive application Courts 2002-2005 and Procurator forms as usual but if anyone else Fiscal to the Lyon Court wishes to attend / help or bring a 2003-2009. He became an Officer child / children along, please of the Venerable Order of St John contact me on in 2018.
Bee Aware Hard to swallow! Crossword Winner A little girl was talking to her Unfortunately there were 3 teacher about whales. The incorrect entries to last month’s teacher said it was physically crossword, but the winner was impossible for a whale to swallow John Parry of Invergowrie. a human because even though it Congratulations to him. The was a very large mammal its correct solution was: throat was very small. Please remember Bishop Andrew’s Lent The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale. Appeal to raise money Irritated, the teacher reiterated for Bishop Ellinah’s that a whale could not swallow a project to establish human; it was physically impossible. bee colonies in the wattle forest in The little girl said, 'When I get Swaziland. Get your to heaven I will ask Jonah'. contrbutions to your The teacher asked, 'What if church treasurer even Jonah went to hell?' Better luck this time – especially though services are the self-isolated! The little girl replied, 'Then currently suspended. you ask him'. 7 Child Poverty Fund The Scottish Episcopal Church “Either working with the range programme directly improving (SEC) is launching a fund of talent that members of a the circumstances of children targeting child poverty in Scotland. congregation have or through and families, and/or indirectly The SEC will provide grants of up partnership working with others, through education and to £5,000 for a pilot period of one we can invite people to live Jesus’ campaigning. year for congregational promise, ‘I have come that they Probability of the proposers programmes specifically focussed may have life, and have it in all its on the alleviation of the effects of fullness’ [John 10:10].” being able to deliver the work child poverty. envisaged. The Fund will be managed Development of community The initiative follows discussion through the Church in Society links, fostering engagement on child poverty at General Synod Committee of the SEC, on behalf with the broader community. 2018. The church recognises that of the Mission Board. The Acting child poverty is a wide-ranging Convener of the Church in Society Must be led by an SEC and complex issue and Committee, the Rev’d Elaine congregation or diocese. encourages its congregations to Garman, said of the Fund: “We work with other partners whether are encouraging a diversity of Partnerships with other ecumenically, with other faiths or initiatives to seek funding. We churches and/or community with secular groups/agencies. wish to aid those who are in need, groups are encouraged. The Right Rev’d Ian Paton, enabling them to access Applications for the Child Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld resources and opportunities, and Poverty Fund are available on the and Dunblane and member of the empowering them to use their Scottish Episcopal Church website Mission Board, said: “I am skills and gifts.” or from General Synod Office. delighted to be announcing the launch of this Fund. This is an The criteria for selection are: For further information contact Miriam Weibye, Church Relations important way for the SEC to put Identification of a real need in Officer, at: faith into action. Churches are in a the community. good position to know the needs
Edward Luscombe and Stuart Donald Bishop Thomas Rattray: scholar and liturgist Over the last years, Bishop Ted Rattray from Craighall in Thanks largely to Bishop Luscombe and Stuart Donald, Perthshire lived and worked in Rattray the Scottish Episcopal honorary archivist of Diocese of what were ‘the hidden years’ of Church has held to its tradition of Aberdeen & Orkney, have the Scottish Episcopal Church, a liturgical worship in forms rather produced a remarkable series of time when the national church of different from those of the Church booklets on the history of the Scotland had become Pres- of England. This beautifully clear churches of the Brechin Diocese. byterian and severe restrictions and well illustrated booklet may Now they are turning their were placed on the Episcopalians. well open our eyes to something attention to the outstanding figures At this time when the Scottish precious in our Church history. in the history of the Scottish Episcopal Church was riven with Rev’d Dr A.M. Shukman Episcopal Church. The first in the squabbles, Rattray believed new series is devoted to bishop passionately that the church Thomas Rattray (1684-1743). needed a heightened sense of worship, and a restored Eucharistic rite through which all could be brought together in unity. For him the Liturgy was all important in church life and Rattray worked tirelessly through ancient manuscripts to discover what he believed was the most genuine and most ancient of the Eucharistic rites – he used the word ‘primitive’, which was a term of praise, meaning the closest to the early apostolic Church. 8 Sychar – midway between Galilee and Jerusalem Deep in the heart of the West As you enter, hundreds of lovely good repute. She is nameless; he Bank stands a stone church icons greet the eye, but one is Christ, the Son of God. guarded by a thin, wizened, stands out from the others. It is But in Jesus’ domain, she is Orthodox Christian priest with a simple and plain in comparison to somebody worth noticing; long white beard. He has been the golden saints that gather somebody worth saving. He there for decades, despite living everywhere the eye can see, but invites her into conversation, takes under the constant threat of death. no less lovely for its simplicity. Sixtten times has he escaped a This particular icon depicts a death plot. A crumbling chunk of man and a woman in the wall bears witness to the time conversation, their gaze someone threw a hand grenade at interlocked. She listens intently him. This priest, who spends his as he gestures confidently with days writing icons, lived in the assurance and authority. He church for 14 years whilst points to the heavens with one surrounded by a hostile army, hand, perhaps to her town with refusing to abandon the treasure the other, as if to declare that he guards. He once refused a $1 there is an inherent tension million grant from Yasser Arafat to between the two directions. Or continue construction of the perhaps he sends her to repeat church because he did not want what he has shared in any political strings attached to his conversation. Either way, the mission to keep the church open tension is evident in her body to people of all walks of faith. This turned toward him even as she priest is the protector of a treasure appears to take a step away. She of the three Abrahamic faiths, and remains poised on the edge, he fights with his simple, quiet almost as if she can barely presence to keep the site open to believe what she has heard, yet Christians, Jews, and Muslims. He yearning for it to be true. her seriously, and lodges in her is the guardian of the treasure that village. He cares deeply about her sits deep at the very heart of the This icon is key to the Christian welfare and about her community. church. tradition about the site, and perhaps is why the priest guards This is not just a tale about an this treasure so intently. The priest individual. The story plays on a is the guardian of Be’er Ya’akov, geopolitical front as well. Jesus Jacob’s Well at Sychar, a holy site approaches the nations, not just open to people of all nations and individuals. He describes her faiths. The priest is the guardian of personal story, but also her a deep tradition of radical nation’s story. The gods, hospitality to the “other,” the traditions, and holy sites hallmark of Jesus’ life and worshipped in the past are not ministry. This is the site where legitimate. Legitimacy comes of traditionally Jesus overcame all worshipping the one God in spirit social mores and boundaries to and truth. encounter a woman in a deep, This is Good News, but also life-changing moment. challenging news for the Jews and Samaritans of Jesus’ time, just as God in Jesus makes a radical it is for Jews, Christians, and statement in his meeting with the Muslims today. We often prefer to woman at the well. She is “other” leave out the nobodies, but Jesus in every way to Jesus. She is a does not do that. Samaritan: considered heathen and apostate; he is a Jew: The example of the priest at considered devout and Chosen. Be’er Ya’akov may show us what She is a woman: of low status in a it means to worship God in spirit man’s world, undeserving of and in truth. Drinking deeply of the notice; he is a man: respected as living water of God means having a teacher, noticed by crowds of compassion for the other. Jesus people. She has a shameful past reminds us this is at the heart of that distances her from her what it means to live out the community (she comes alone at Gospel. “There is no greater love noon instead of in the morning, as than this, that one lay down one’s women usually would); he is of life for one’s friends”. 9 To Love is to Live This is part of a sermon chamois-leather cover. For Love is must be adventurers, and we preached by the Rev’d Alistair coal, is wood, is water, is bread, is cannot lose." The justice of these MacLean in 1918, during the air, is light, is sunshine. It is the words strikes at every pretence closing months of the Great War one element that you can't do that is in me as with a smiting and when the pandemic Spanish without. It is the breath of your whip. I feel how small I am. I feel Flu struck in the spring and being. It is the breath of your how great I may be. I see the returned worse still in the autumn. brother's and sister’s being; for mountain loom before rne, steep with it and by its power you and I and stiff to climb. Lovers and The idea that love is some move forward to what God means thinkers—if there were twelve, if shining virtue you keep in a box our life to be. there were six, if there were three and trot out in the form of sacrifice And that is the vision, clearer genuine lovers of others and when King and country need you, and surer, of course, than you and strong vital thinkers as to what the or when your son gets into trouble I can ever have, that lies behind true values of life are, I dare to say and you have to pay up for him, or those intensely solemn words of that within a year they would turn when a member of your family Jesus, "Love one another." You each parish upside down, and gets dangerously ill—this idea is may praise brains and skill, you make them renowned in every hopelessly wrong, and one of the may cry up work finely done, you shire in Scotland. greatest hindrances to unity and may say that progress as you see progress and a good spirit that this it in the increase of comfort and What form must this love take? country of ours is facing at the the discoveries of science is an It must, I answer, take the form of present time. achievement that is ever growing disciplined thought—about your So he died for his faith. That is fine– from more to more. But when you own home and dear ones first of all, and then of your neighbour. I More than most of us do. have said your all, Love is at once the inspirer and cement of life. hold it to be an inescapable duty But stay, can you add to that line Love is life. Love is the heart of as disciples of Jesus to study our That he lived for it, too? happiness and the pillow of the neighbours—their character, their world. "This old world of ours," strength, their weakness, their In death he bore witness at last Lord Buckmaster remarked the needs, their heredity. I hold it our other day, "is in a bad way, and duty to blaze a trail into our As a martyr to truth. neighbour's heart and to bring him Did his life do the same in the past one asks despairingly, How can we ever get it right? I for one," he or her the resources of help and From the days of his youth? added, "have always thought that friendliness which God has given there is only one way. We must to you and me. And if you would It is easy to die. Men have died love and we must think." love your neighbour you must For a wish or a whim– maintain, at whatever cost, a And this brings me to the core standard of rightness in your own From bravado or passion or pride. of the business. Jesus turned to Iife. He must hear God's tones in Was it harder for him? these friends of His and said, your voice. He must see God's "Love one another." He said: You thought working through your But to live: every day to live out love your own homes, and your mind. He must feel God's wives, and families, and friends. All the truth that he dreamt, presence in your gentleness and You love your own ease and purity. While his friends met his conduct with well-being, and you are ready to doubt, do almost anything to secure their In this country at this hour you And the world with contempt– happiness and yours. But now and I are facing problems that are listen. You must step out of your dark and hard to unravel. There is Was it thus that he plodded ahead, own door. You must look beyond war. There is unemployment. your own garden. You must let There is the pull between duty and Never turning aside? your thought and your imagination pleasure. There is the desire for Then we’ll talk of the life that he led– go out to every life that is touching an ampler and more easeful way Never mind how he died. your own—at the next desk, round of living in a world where it seems Ernest Crosby the next corner, at the nearest we have all to work harder, think farm, and you must love them as deeper, and play little. And to us Searching words that stab the you love the wife that smiles into Jesus comes to-day and says, heart wide-awake. And words that your eyes or the child that plays at "Have no fear. Play the man. Be make us all feel pretty guilty. For your knee. the noble woman you really are. aren’t we all a bit inclined to think "We are not adventurers in the Front all your clouds and about love as something that is spirit of love," old Archbishop distresses in the spirit of My love, more for ornament than for use? Temple said in Westminster and you will win through and win But that is just what love is not. Abbey thirty years ago, "and your world to God." "I have but Love is not an ornament. Love is therefore we are not winning the one weapon," said Columba. "It is not a silver teapot to be kept in world to the way of Christ. We love. I love, and lo, I conquer." 10 The Rev’d Canon Steve Collis ‘Always there for you, never too as Assistant Curate at All Saints becoming Area Dean of Cyprus busy to help.’ ‘Hands on help, not and St Paul’s Crewe and St from 2005 to 2009 and giving orders from the sidelines.’ Bartholomew’s Wilmslow. From Archdeacon of Cyprus from 2006 ‘Made everyone feel special – 1986 to 1995, Steve joined the to 2009. huge empathy with people.’ Royal Air Force as a Chaplain. After ‘retirement’ from these ‘Excellent mentor, inspired overseas positions, Steve was enthusiasm, delightful sense of appointed part-time Rector of St humour.’ Just some of the many Mary and St Peter Montrose and tributes paid to Steve at his funeral St David Inverbervie, a position he at St Kentigern’s Church, held from 2009 to 2012 and, after Irthington, Cumbria, on Friday, 7 a ‘second retirement’, he held the February 2020. position of Interim Rector Holy Steve was born in Hanley, Rood Carnoustie from 2014 to Staffordshire on 2 September 2016. He also held Permissions to 1947. There were two things in Officiate in the Diocese of Brechin particular from his childhood that and the Diocese of Europe and he carried with him throughout his took on various temporary holiday life: his love of dogs and his cover positions in several faithful support for Port Vale countries. football club, to whom he was Steve died on 26 January 2020. Chaplain whilst in the area. He was certainly well-regarded as Steve’s first career was in On completing his term of office Priest and friend during his few industrial catering. It was during in the RAF, Steve initially returned years in our own Diocese. his time working in Pollock Halls in to parish ministry, first as Deputy This obituary started with some Edinburgh that he met Kath, his Rector of St Bartholomew’s of the tributes paid to Steve at his wife, who was from Brechin: he Wilmslow and then as funeral. It seems fitting to end with was her boss! Steve then worked Priest-in-Charge St Bertoline’s some more. ‘Immensely practical.’ as Bursar at St Aidan’s Durham Barthomley, from 1997 to 2000. ‘Set a wonderful Christian before moving to Sheffield, where He was also Diocesan Industrial example.’ ‘Devoted to Kath, his he took charge of the Halls of Mission Chaplain during this latter wife, and family.’ ‘Above all a Residence. period. lovely person who leaves behind a From his late teens Steve felt Ever seeking pastures new, in special legacy in everyone he an ever-deepening call to serve in 2000 he took the position of knew.’ In summary, Steve loved ministry. So he returned to the Chaplain in Abu Dhabi, and then his calling, his family, his dogs and University of Durham, to Cranmer moved in 2002 to Cyprus, where his football. Hall, to study theology and he took the position of Dean, St Rest in peace, dear friend. graduated in 1982. Steve served Paul’s Cathedral Nicosia, Peter Smart
REVIVAL Can you credit it? We prayed for wintry Kirkton, These enquiries come from actual correspondence received by the Family History Department, Salt Lake The snowy hills behind: City, Utah. We prayed where schools sprang up, 1) He and his daughter are listed as not being We prayed where terraces declined. born. We prayed upon the highest point, 2) I would like to find out if I have any living Where brambles choked the trees, relatives or dead relatives or ancestors in my We prayed with watery eyes and gave family. The wind our salted pleas. 3) We are sending you 5 children in a separate Two aging men, in open coats, envelope. Combined against the chill - 4) The wife of #22 could not be found. Somebody suggested that she might have been And asked of God no less a thing stillborn – what do you think? Than prayer might be His will. 5) Will you please send me the name of my first Bruce D. Gowans wife? I have forgotten her name. (praying with Kerry on prayer mountain situated in the 6) We lost our Grandmother, will you please middle of Kirkton with views to the Sidlaws) send us a copy?
11 An early Christian Chapel?
Mention the volcanic eruption of house was closed to the public in One answer could be that it was Vesuvius and most people will 1983, but after repair work it was carefully and even reverently think of the destruction of Pompeii reopened in late 2019. removed so as to hide the fact that on the edge of the Gulf of Naples. The upper storey has a large Christian worship was taking place That is where the majority of living room with several small in this house. We have ample tourists visit. But the town of servants’ cubicles. In one window- evidence that the Emperor Nero Herculaneum also suffered less cubicle, measuring about 10 unleashed a great persecution of desolation as bad, though it is less by 9 feet, some interesting items Christians in the year 64 A.D. and known. The eruption was later were found. On one wall was a the occupants of this house might documented by Pliny the Younger stucco panel measuring about 25 have therefore wanted to keep who was witness to the 79 A.D. high by 32 inches and within it a their Christian faith secret; and so event and whose uncle, also cross shaped cavity measuring 17 removed Christian symbols and named Pliny, perished in an by 14 inches. Near this panel artefacts. It is possible that the attempt to rescue friends. there are the rusty remains of a rusty nails or hooks had held few nails or hooks. Below there is lamps which were quickly a wooden cabinet carbonised by removed and the stucco panel the heat of the volcanic ash. This covered up by some piece of contained two crude lamps, a material. The cabinet, which might broken wooden pot and .a gaming have held other religious items, die. This cabinet has a rim around mght have had its use as an altar three sides of the top, making it easily disguised, and it was never unsuitable for use as an ordinary possible to reinstate it later. table, and there is a low footstool leaning against it. Maiuri interpreted what he had found as evidence that this had been a place of Christian worship The Bicentenary House which, because of the volcanic eruption had to be dated before 79 Only about 25 per cent of A.D. Others have agreed with his Herculaneum has thus far been conclusions in general, but some excavated. The removal of a have been sceptical. blanket of rock, ash and pumice Perhaps the most significant averaging approximately 75 feet point is whether the cruciform thick is a challenging task. cavity, now empty, originally Naturally there was tremendous housed a wooden cross. Sceptics damage caused by the debris have suggested this merely held a raining down and much of the wooden bracket supporting some wood was carbonised if not unknown article now lost or destroyed by the heat. destroyed. However, although the In 1938 one archaeologist, wood of the cabinet is carbonised, The cross, cabinet and footstool Amadeo Maiuri, working on the it remained in situ, but there was (photograph c. 1950) site of what he named the no such material in the Bicentenary House made an cross-shaped cavity. In some If this scenario is correct it interesting discovery. This was a other houses in Pompeii and would provide the earliest example two storey building which originally Herculaneum pictures have been yet known of the use of a Latin seems to have belonged to a given a frame by stucco being cross (which has the upright nobleman, but since the ground plastered up to the edges; and this extending above the crossbar) floor had later been converted into could have been the case for the which many scholars have thought shops perhaps he had fallen on setting of a cross. So the question came later. We might also have hard times. Because lack of care arises as to how and why the confirmation of the power of St and upkeep had led to cross is missing and the stucco Paul’s preaching after his journey deterioration of the structure the largely intact. to Italy under guard.
The next issue of Grapevine will be coming out for 30 August 2020. All articles, letters, comments should be with the Editor by 7 August 2020. Preferably articles should be no longer than 500 words. The Editor of Grapevine, Beattie Lodge, Laurencekirk, Kincardineshire, AB30 1HJ (E-mail:
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