July/August 2016 Issue 06 News The Diocese of St Albans in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Luton & Barnet Bishop John Taylor RIP 1929-2016 Bishop John Taylor was In 1993 I wrote a guide to Bishop of St Albans from 1980 Church communications and to 1995, preceeding Bishop Bishop John contributed Christopher Herbert. the foreword.” It said: “The His appointment was a return Church’s communication to the county of his childhood, should be accessible, not having attended Watford Boys obscure, and human, not lost Grammar School and having in technicality. In these media- found faith at the youth group minded days, the Church in St Luke’s Church, Watford. needs to follow the example of Ordained in 1956, his early its Lord in taking infinite pains parish experienced was to get the message heard.” followed by a long and Peter reflects: “Bishop John’s distinguished teaching career advice is as relevant today as it at Oak Hill. Following that was more than 20 years ago.” he had 8 very happy years Bishop Alan took Bishop in Chelmsford Diocese as John’s funeral service in a DDO, some of that time packed cathedral. The notes being combined with parish to the service say: “In spite ministry in Woodford Wells. of his apprehensions, John There followed by 5 years was Bishop of St Albans for as Archdeacon of West Ham 15 deeply happy years, and before his consecration. loved ministering to the clergy He was troubled at the thought of leaving parish life and people of the St Albans diocese, with Linda always for Archdiaconal responsibilities, but was obedient to by his side. He was especially proud to be (nearly) the the call of God and his Bishop’s wishes. His calling to first diocesan bishop to ordain women priests in 1992. the episcopate, in a similar vein, echoed the traditional As a member of the House of Lords and as Chair of the response ‘nolo episcopari,’ ~ I do not wish to be a bishop. Communications Committee he spoke up for the church Archdeacon Jonathan Smith remembers Bishop John and Christian values on a number of key issues. In 1988 for many qualities: “The word that keeps coming to he was appointed Lord High Almoner, which involved mind when I remember him is ‘grace’. He was a man of attending the Queen each year on her cathedral visits for extraordinary grace.” His pastoral skills also made a deep Maundy Thursday. The lovely anthem ‘Wash me throughly impression: “He had a genuine interest in the welfare of from my wickedness’, included in today’s service, was people, especially his ministers.” one of John’s favourite Maundy anthems. In 1998 he was Bishop John was universally recognised as a great appointed KCVO.” teacher, having gained a double first at Cambridge, Tributes to Bishop John given by Bishop Robin Smith, including in Hebrew, which led to his love of the Holy land retired Bishop of Hertford and the Revd Canon Tom and Presidency of CMJ, the Church’s Ministry among the Parker, Bishop John’s son-in-law, whose words included Jews. these: “John was wise, kind, accepting, joyous and his “For Bishop John the two great roles of epsicopacy, very presence brought a sense of security and welcome. pastoring and teaching were indissolubly linked. He was ... John epitomised to me the character of the Lord Jesus a great Old Testament scholar. And he was a natural he served so faithfully his whole adult life.” The sermon, communicator,” Jonathan recalls. preached by the Revd Canon Rupert Charkham QHC, That sentiment is echoed by the Revd Peter Crumpler, spoke about the foundation of Bishop John’s life on prayer. who lived and worshipped in the diocese before becoming The tributes also spoke at length of Bishop John’s love of Diocesan Communications Officer under Bishop John: family life and his family’s love for him and his infectious joy “He was a gifted communicator and encouraged the and laughter. It was hard not to feel a great sense of loss at Church to raise its game in the way it ‘spread the word.’ the end of the service, but also deep thanks to God. SeeRound Online July/Aug 2016/06 p1 www.stalbans.anglican.org/news/seeround Bishop’s Letter The Diocese of St Albans in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Luton & Barnet An old vaccine for a new disease A few years ago Oliver James wrote a book called are invited to pray for ‘Affluenza’. In order to research his book, James (who others, which directs is a psychologist) visited Sydney, Singapore, Moscow, our focus away from Copenhagen, New York and Shanghai and interviewed ourselves and helps people about the worldwide epidemic of what he calls us to reflect on those ‘affluenza’. What is it? He defined it as “an obsessive, who may be less envious, keeping-up-with-the-Joneses that has resulted in fortunate than we huge increases in depression and anxiety among millions”. are. A fundamental James argued that, “We have become absolutely obsessed part of prayer is with measuring ourselves and others through the distorted thanksgiving, which lens of affluenza values” and he thinks that it is causing helps us to reflect on many of our contemporary social problems, such as the the positive things in Dr Alan Smith, Bishop of St Albans breakdown in family life and marriage. He says that the life, rather than on the negative. We are also likely to be results of this are evident in the growth in addiction, anxiety involved in some aspect of our church’s charitable work, and depression. which brings us directly in touch with people who have far His book reminds me of an article which quoted research greater challenges to face than we do. In different ways, published in The Journal of Happiness Studies. Apparently all these activities mean that we look outwards to others. British people are not very happy compared with others. In our fast moving age, it is all too easy to overlook the As a nation we are now ranked 20th in the world, well ancient wisdom that the Christian faith has distilled in its below other countries, including much poorer nations scriptures and through centuries of spiritual teaching. As such as Uruguay, Mexico, Ghana and Colombia. This is St Paul put it: extraordinary: despite the fact that there has been an 80% I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know increase in average income over the past thirty years, the what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. levels of happiness have hardly changed at all. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of Oliver James thinks that religion is part of the answer. being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and “Wherever I went,” he wrote, “I found that religion seemed of being in need. I can do all things through him who to be a powerful vaccine. I should not have been surprised, strengthens me (Philippians 4.11-12). because scientific evidence has long been there: much to Let’s keep taking the ancient vaccine of faith to ward off the consternation of social scientists, on average regular the contemporary disease of affluenza. church-goers suffer less depression or unhappiness than unbelievers”. There are several probable reasons for this, all of which Twitter: @BishopStAlbans are rooted in Christian practices. When we worship we Email: [email protected] Bishop addresses EU Referendum result Immediately after the result, Bishop Alan said: “The people start with prayer in our churches and continue with our of this nation have spoken, although the referendum longstanding service to all the people of our communities. has also highlighted the deep divisions that exist in our Most of all, it is vital for us to offer friendship and country. We must now move forward together. However, reassurance to those who might fear that this result will healing the divisions will require an acknowledgement be exploited by factions peddling hatred and division.” that the vote in part reflects the increasingly polarised Some of these remarks were quoted in the ‘Observer’ on circumstances between the poorest and the richest Sunday 26th June. people in our nation. On Saturday 25th June, in his Presidential address It is my hope that all who voted will show grace whether to Diocesan Synod, Bishop Alan spoke about the they side with the victorious or the defeated. We must Referendum, taking ‘Love your neighbour as yourself,’ as seek to rebuild neighbourly trust and acceptance on our his theme. http://www.stalbans.anglican.org/wp-content/ streets, in our workplaces and clubs and schools. We will uploads/Presidential-Address-June-24-2016.pdf SeeRound Online July/Aug 2016/06 p2 www.stalbans.anglican.org/news/seeround News The Diocese of St Albans in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Luton & Barnet The difference between going to church and being church Refresh is not so much a book as a seemingly simple questions, the book is journey between two book-covers. adept at two things. It takes us on a journey It has so excited Canon Tim Lomax, from faith being about us personally, to it Director of Mission, that he’s sent it to being about us collectively, and it breaks all clergy. If he could, I think he’d send it the process of reaching out to others into to everyone in the diocese. obvious and natural steps. Perhaps he hopes that clergy will share It makes living out our faith about building it with as many people as are interested.