Christ Church Link January 2017 l Number 57 l 50p where sold Welcomes and farewells New Rector of St Swithin’s appointed; Archdeacon retiring St Swithin’s, Walcot, has announced Head teacher of St Andew’s School). that Revd Tim Gleghorn is to be the Either way, we hope to continue to new Rector of Walcot, subject to enjoy the warm and co-operative necessary DBS checks. relation ship we had with St Swithin’s Tim and his family are moving from under the previous Rector, Revd Simon Christ Church Winchester, where as Holland, who stepped down in February Assistant Curate he recently led the 2016 and is now Warden of Lee Abbey church through an 18-month vacancy. in the Diocese of Exeter. The provisional date for Tim’s licensing Speaking of Trustees: the Diocese is Thursday 12 January, though as we announced in December that the Arch- go to press there is no confirmation of deacon of Bath, Venerable Andy Piggott, this on the St Swithin’s calendar. is retiring on 30 June 2017. Andy, who Although Christ Church stands turns 66 this year, is ex officio a Trus­ within the geographical parish of tee of Christ Church and has been ac- Walcot, we are not part of the parish tive in that capacity as his other duties and have no administrative connection allowed, and particularly while we were with St Swithin’s except that the Rector seeking a new Priest in Charge. of Walcot is ex officio a Trustee of Christ Before being ordained, Archdeacon Church. For many years Rectors of Wal- Andy taught Economics in Devon and cot have chosen not to serve in person Birmingham. He served his curacy in but instead nominated a rep resentative Dorridge, Solihull, before becoming a to sit as Trustee (currently Sue East, Team Vicar in Kidderminster. He came to Bath and Wells as Arch deacon of Bath in 2005 after various roles at CPAS (an Anglican Mission Agency), including Acting General Director. Revd Tim Gleghorn, his wife Jo and their children Archdeacon Andy presided at Lore’s installation as Joshua and Hannah. Photo courtesy of St Swithin’s. Priest in Charge of Christ Church in March 2016. Summer pilgrimage to Walsingham Revd Lore Chumbley writes: rebuilt “Holy House,” now part of an Anglican Happy New Year! I’m writing this on New church. There is an excellent restaurant and Year’s Day and in the depths of winter my a licensed cafe for thinking and talking. There thoughts are turning to the heat of summer are ser vices throughout the week including – and to pilgrimage. a service of healing and reconciliation and a The mediaeval shrine at shrine at Walsing­ pilgrim mass. The week we will visit in August ham, Norfolk, has been a focus for pilgrimage includes the Feast of the Assumption, when for nearly a thousand years. Mediaeval kings we join a candlelit procession through the would travel there. Erasmus made a special village, singing as we go and pausing to pray journey to visit. Those who couldn’t afford at each church. time or money to journey to Jerusalem could But it doesn’t have to be too serious. instead travel to the “Holy House” at Wal­ There’s a local train service to Wells­Next­ singham built as a reminder of the house in the­Sea, a traditional Norfolk holiday des­ Nazareth in which Jesus grew up. The shrine tination. A network of footpaths lead to became a place for faith and miracles and historic churches, pretty villages and an ice hope – until at the Reformation it was laid cream farm. Little Walsingham has interesting waste. For centuries it remained a ruin, with antiques, a good farm shop next to the pil­ only occasional travellers making the jour ney grim accommodation and an excellent to pray and remember Jesus’ boy hood with chocolate shop. Mary and Joseph. We have booked half board accommo­ Then, at the beginning of the 20th century dation for Monday 14 August to Friday 18 a remarkable parish priest in the village of August. If more than 15 or so want to come Little Walsingham began to rebuild the shrine then we will arrange a coach. If there are and invite pilgrims to return. Now the village fewer, we may choose to drive – but no one is an ecumeni cal centre of pilgrimage. There is who doesn’t wish to will have to drive. a beautiful modern Catholic church and a tiny The cost will be £216.00 for adults and Greek Orthodox church – in a converted £129.72 for children. Infants under 5 are railway station. free. The price includes breakfast, supper and The Anglican shrine at Walsingham is a accommodation. If we decide to hire a coach place of healing and peace. The pilgrim that would be an additional expense. accommodation is in a cluster of houses If you might be interested in joining the pil­ enclosing a garden full of flowers associated grimage, have look at the detailed programme, with our Lady. Within the garden is the which will be available on the notice board. The Anglican shrine in Walsingham was created Pilgrims gather at the remains of the east window gradually in 1931 from derelict farm buildings of the 13th-century Walsingham Abbey, the rest and cottages. At its heart is the “Holy House”. of which was destroyed in 1538. 2 Christ Church Link January 2017 Last month in Christ Church... As usual, December saw a lot of activity at Christ Church. Our Advent and Christmas Carol Services, once again ecumenical services held jointly with St Mary’s RC church, were well attended, with over 120 at the latter (right). The younger mem- bers of our congregation presented our traditional Nativity Play on Sunday 18 December (above). On Friday 9 December we hosted the Norland College (Norland nannies) Christmas Service, which was attended by an estimated 400 people. And this month... It’s 20 years this month since Mark Elliott became our Director of Music (he took office on 1 January 1997). Quite a bit has changed over those 20 years but one thing that is the same is Mark’s dedication and the resulting high standard of music. Thank you, Mark (and family!), for all you have done and continue to do at Christ Church! Above: Ali Nourse became a grandmother when her daughter Jenny’s son Dylan George was born at about 7am on 22 November, weighing a hefty 8lbs10oz. Congratulations to all concerned! January 2017 Christ Church Link 3 Book review: Being Mortal Being Mortal by Atul Gawande (Wellcome otherwise as we Collection). ISBN 978­1­84668­582­8. £9.99 might have been to have the Simon Tatton-Brown writes: neces sary con­ In the first half of his bookBeing Mortal Dr versation in Atul Gawande explains a paradox of modern good time. medicine. Why is it that, not just in spite of Dr Gawande but because of the miracle of modern medi­ calls these con ­ cine, many people approaching the end of versations their lives seem to suffer far more and for “hard con ver­ longer than our forebears did when medicine sations”. was in its infancy? We all have relatives and Facing your friends confined unwillingly to care homes, fears is never easy. But we all who have tubes in every orifice, who are know the only way to over come fear is to wired up to machines and ventilators. They’re face it head on. It’s hard work too for the existing. But are they living? It’s something we health care pro fessionals. It takes time, all fear. patience and skill. As is the care that enables Dr Gawande goes on to tell the stories of very sick or frail people to go on living well. people who show it doesn’t have to be like Yet these hardships are as nothing compared this. A common thread running through all to suffering if we allow fear to defeat us. these uplifting accounts is that these are Time was when churches worked much people who have spoken to their relatives, harder than we do now to prepare people and to their doctors and care workers, about for what used to be called “a holy death”. Dr what they want at this stage in their lives. All Gawande’s book is no more sad or distress­ too often we put these conversations off, ing than what we do every Sunday in Christ until we are too ill or too frail to say. This is Church. Don’t we meet in order to celebrate when those around us play safe and subject (yes, celebrate!) the death of Christ? We us to every medical intervention. They are celebrate Christ’s death because it leads us just as frightened of what might happen to Resurrection. Christ Church reordering update Over the early part of December, before the main festival services of Christmas itself, we experi men ted with the position of the altar, moving it back up into the apse as pictured. What’s your opinion? If you didn’t fill in one of the forms asking for your views, please do share your thoughts with Lore, Mark or one of the Churchwardens. And if you have any ideas or suggestions, don’t hesitate to voice them. We have an oppor tunity to experi ment, as far as is possible without actual building work, as we seek to discern how the east end can best serve our mission. Your views and comments are needed! 4 Christ Church Link January 2017 Bishop’s Message for January A new year with endless possibilities How might we use the time we have? Whether we have an additional second or not.