Self-Supporting Clergy! “It Goes So Quickly, 5000 Feet in Less and Poulshot Also Had an Unusual and LPA

DIOCESE OF SALISBU RY 2015 No. 5 Self-Supporting Clergy! “It goes so quickly, 5000 feet in less and Poulshot also had an unusual and LPA. than a minute! It takes your breath path to priesthood. “One day the vicar asked if I’d away!” “I felt Jesus and God as part of my life thought about priesthood. I asked Renée Coulson raises money for from an early age. The foster family if he was joking, but he said I’d help charity in unusual ways: sky-diving, I spent my first years with sent me keep people’s feet on the ground. trekking in the Himalayas, walking to the Baptist Church in our Kent “My husband wasn’t always a fan of over hot coals. The recently retired village. the Church, but after a sharp intake priest-in-charge of Seend, Bulkington “Aged 11, I moved in with my birth of breath, he said he’d support me. mother in Central London, where the God has a great sense of humour – Churches were Anglo-Catholic, and I even our then bishop said I ‘wasn’t was baptised and confirmed. Because the brightest candidate’ but still of all that, I’m very broad church. ordained me!” “I met my late husband in the RAF Renée encourages people to explore in Germany, a life where we moved any call they think they might have. a lot, including two tours in Upavon. “You must talk to people who have We liked this area, so we eventually the skills to help discern what it is”, settled in Potterne. I got involved in she says. St Mary’s, as a sidesman, altar server The Right Revd Nicholas Holtam Bishop’s Letter Bishop of Salisbury No one makes community as well as If I stopped believing in God I might This month we are celebrating the churches. We gather around a simple still go to church because there is no 800th anniversary of Magna Carta. meal of bread and wine in which we other place where all sorts of people Some of the principles in that recognise the gift of life is sacred and meet on an equal basis. No wonder document have become part not just that in Jesus Christ, God is among us. our churches are such an important of English law but have had an part of the social capital of our Parish socials are a miracle like Continued on back page feeding the 5,000. Somehow people society. This is precious and it runs bringing five loaves and two fish very deep. produce enough food for everyone. Our parish churches are a presence It’s always so, and there is usually in every village, town and city food left over, if not 12 baskets then neighbourhood in England. Add in at least enough to be shared out and the work of other denominations, taken home or dropped off for the and the Christian contribution to our person who couldn’t come because communities is even stronger. they are housebound. Church House, Crane Street, Salisbury, SP1 2QB [email protected] www.salisbury.anglican.org Continued from front page impact worldwide. The more modern has done so because of the care which tradition of Human Rights has grown our cathedral has taken over the A Fun Family from this tradition of dealing with centuries. people equally under the law. The making of community is Day Out Why does Salisbury Cathedral have precious to Christians and we treasure Excitement is building ahead of one of the four original copies from that which helps us belong together next month’s Diocesan pilgrimage 1215? There is an element of chance under the just rule of law. celebrating 800 years of Magna Carta. that our copy has survived – but it On the afternoon of Sunday 14 June, pilgrims will make the 2½mile journey 900 Rings for 900 Years Magna Carta itself made 800 years This year’s patronal festival at St ago from Old Sarum to the current George’s in Harnham was extra- Cathedral. special. Young people helped the “It promises to be a fun family day out, church celebrate nine centuries in walking through lovely scenery”, said existence. the Ven Alan Jeans, Archdeacon of Sarum, “to finish with a Liber-tea and Year 6 pupils from Harnham for a Medieval Fayre. Junior School rang the church open air service on the Cathedral Lawn. “We value our community” said bell 900 times to celebrate the “Why not bring a picnic and join us the Revd Becky Roberts, Vicar of supercentenary, guided by regular from noon at Old Sarum, or better yet, a Harnham, “In our recent residents’ bellringer Pat Davison. minibus load from your Benefice?” survey, being community was one of The following Saturday, over the top things local people wanted Info on times, transport and parking 300 scouts, joined by the Bishop from their church. is at www.salisbury.anglican.org/ of Ramsbury, paraded from the “One of many centenary events is a parishes/magnacarta. Cathedral to Harnham Cricket Field 900 minute prayer marathon in July.” Caring for Our Churches “I remember the crowds in London its final resting place at Bladon in were silent. As the train passed Oxfordshire. through the countryside, people “I was and remain a great admirer of turned to face it. In Oxford, we Churchill’s, so it was a pleasure and passed a football match and every privilege to take part at such a unique Blandford Deanery. I’m there to advise player turned to us and bowed.” occasion.” churches on fundraising for repairs. I Fifty years ago, Barry De Morgan always say that running a church is a “After the army, I had a career in was serving with the Queen’s Royal lot like running a business! the steel and electronics industries. Irish Hussars, and had the honour When the electronics company I was “Despite secularisation, there is a of commanding the bearer party working for in Poole was bought out, lot of interest in church buildings. that took Winston Churchill’s coffin my then chairman suggested I go People who rarely go to services from Waterloo station by train to into business with him. The company will contribute to their upkeep, and we founded, TDSI, is still trading and beautiful old churches are often the employing people in the town.” place where people come to faith for the first time. Barry worships at Holy Trinity in Stourpaine, and decided to make his “The Trust exists to help with the costs business skills available for churches. of continued maintenance of churches. Our biggest fundraising event, which “I was asked to get involved in the supports churches across the country, Dorset Historic Churches Trust is Ride+Stride on the second Saturday about 25 years ago. I’m the Trust’s of September every year. Why not get representative for Milton and involved in this fun day out?”.

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