DIOCESE OF SALISBU RY

2016 No. 4 Growing Through God “God has grown me so much through involved in the youth programme. I “God had to do a big job to transform the past three years.” went to through habit and for me! I enjoyed studying theology at Poole born and bred, Nigel Williams friends. I didn’t have a real faith. Moorlands Bible College. I returned is a churchwarden at Christ Church, “Outside church, I lived a wild to Christ Church as Mission and Creekmoor. At 26, he’s still one of the lifestyle! At 18 I was given the choice Outreach Worker. When the funding youngest around after three years. of leaving school or being expelled. for that ran out, I volunteered to be churchwarden. “We went to St George’s, Oakdale, as My dreams of being an accountant a family. I moved to Christ Church were in tatters. “It has been challenging and more in my early teens, after my sister got “I prayed, ‘God, if you’re real, sort fun than I thought. It has helped my life out’. Soon after, I met an old me see how the church’s work fits school friend at Soul Survivor. When together. I told him my story, he asked had “It can be frustrating too! I’m in I ever thought of doing a degree in charge of maintenance which means theology. fielding phone calls at odd hours “The next day Janice Audibert, our when something breaks. But I’d still vicar, asked me exactly the same recommend being a churchwarden. thing! I said to myself, ‘Lord, you are It’s a lot of hard work but very my God!’ rewarding!”

The Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam Monthly Letter of Salisbury I hope churches will find ways there is a risk of growing hostility The European Union was created of praying and talking about the and enmity, European society is following two World Wars. It has Referendum to help people engage enlightened and tolerant. How do made a huge contribution to peace and make prayerful, thoughtful, Christian faith and values strengthen and prosperity. Given the challenges decisions. It is one of the most our identity and help us to get the we face, with instability in the important political decisions of best from our diversity? Continued on back page our lifetime. There are Christians Love your neighbour as yourself: on both sides. Here are a few of the We live in an inter-connected world. things Christians might want to Unless we are good neighbours, make sure are considered. our lives on this fragile earth are Christianity in Europe: Christianity threatened. I find myself praying has vitally influenced European self- about what it means to be English, understanding, politics and culture. British, European and Global. Stay or In some ways, Europe is a Christian Leave, what is the vision of how we construct. Our society now is more belong together? secular and pluralist. Although Blessed are the Peacemakers:

Church House, Crane Street, Salisbury, SP1 2QB [email protected] www.salisbury.anglican.org Continued from front page Middle East and the biggest refugee renewable use of resources. Nature movements for decades, how can we knows no national boundaries, so we Following best be peace makers? must work together. What political institutions will best support caring Care for God's creation: There is God’s Call for God’s creation? a consensus about the scale of the Like the rest of the , environmental challenge facing Jesus said ,”Where two or three are the Diocese of Salisbury is giving more us. We cannot continue defining gathered in my name, I am there support to young people exploring success by consumption. We need to them.” Let’s do it. ordination. One example is the Pray move quickly to a sustainable and Serve Grow gap year scheme, a new opportunity for 18-29 year olds. Giving the Gift of the Bible Participants will spend a year living in a small community in Poole, with others Open the Book, run by the Bible exploring Christian ministry. They Society, aims to give every primary will get ministry experience in a local school child a chance to hear the church and receive theological training Bible’s story. with Sarum College and others. Volunteers from churches go into Board is provided free of charge schools and tell stories in 10-15 “I love storytelling, so it’s rewarding and participants will receive a small minutes, in an accessible, fun, style. to see the children responding to and allowance, study time and time off. Pippa Rossiter, who helps organise getting involved in the Bible stories.” Learn more about this scheme and the Open the Book programme in The Open the Book trainer and co- other opportunities to explore where Blandford Forum, says, “It’s brilliant ordinator in this Diocese is Barbara God is calling on the new vocations at bringing the generations together Meardon, who can be contacted website www.salisburycalling.org. and great fun for everyone. It on barbara.meardon@salisbury. helps schools fulfil their statutory anglican.org or 01722 746 953. requirements. A New Role “I can’t believe how much joy I get Australia when I was ten. My first job from leading worship.” was at St George’s Cathedral in Perth. On moving to the UK, I worked at “This is the same course that was taken Michael Page’s whole 42 year working by Licensed Lay Ministers, and it soon life was as a Cathedral Verger. He Cathedral and St John’s College, Cambridge, finishing up as became clear that I had a call to that is now adapting to “moving from a role. backstage to a front-of-house role”. ’s Virger at St Paul’s Cathedral. He was commissioned on Passion “My wife, Honor, and I retired to “A Licensed Lay Minister can lead Sunday at St Bartholomew’s in Royal Royal Wootton Bassett in 2009. It is a worship and preach, but doesn’t preside Wootton Bassett as a Licensed Lay friendly, caring, town with an active at Holy Communion. Minister. sense of community. That is very “My training was excellent. I was taught “I was born in Germany as my father attractive after living in London. how to preach, how to take a funeral was in the Army, and we emigrated to “We found St Bart’s to be a wonderful and how to care for people pastorally. church and got involved quite A real eye opener was a placement with quickly. I resisted getting involved in the chaplaincy team at Bath Hospital. worship at first, so Honor and I could “The incoming Mayor of Royal sit together in Church for the first Wootton Bassett, Mary Champion, has time ever! chosen me as her Chaplain for 2016-17. “Through part-time study, I took As well as being a great honour, as this a Foundation Degree in Ministry role is usually filled by clergy, I hope it run by the Diocese. It was not only will lift the profile of lay ministry.” fascinating but great value.