news A peace-making journey from Ireland to Scotland SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL CHURCH David Chillingworth BISHOP CHILLINGWORTH’s main The decision to leave Ireland was, regret from his ministry in Scotland, in part, forced on him, he says. talks to Hattie Williams however, lies closer to home: he “Ireland is still mired in division, of refers to his inability, while he was course, but fortunately, thank God, about his time as Primus Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld & people are not dying. There is some of the Scottish Episcopal Dunblane, to carry clergy with him mechanism, however, which means during a period of change in the that the peacemakers and reconcilers Church and his plans for Church. leave, or are thrown out, and I and “As with many people from many many of the people that I worked retirement walks of life — doctors, teachers, with ended up outside of Ireland.” people who work in banks — they On his surprise election as a [some of his clergy] thought that they bishop, at St Ninian’s Cathedral, were joining up to do one kind of job, Perth, in 2005, his wife, Alison, and found that it had changed in challenged him: “She said to me: ‘So some way, and found that change what about your life vocation to ENDINGS have a habit of being difficult. I was deeply saddened by reconciliation in Ireland, then?’ To beginnings. This observation of the that.” which I said, ‘I have fulfilled that to retiring Primus of the Scottish It resulted in a bout of “clergy the very limits of my abilities. I Episcopal Church, the Most Revd unhappiness, long-term sickness, and regard myself as extraordinarily for- David Chillingworth, after the vote to relationship breakdown” in his dio- tun ate to have ended up here.’” allow same-sex marriage, during his cese. “As a bishop, you want to see He acknowledges his reputation final General Synod last week, spoke clergy having happy and fulfilling for speaking candidly. “I have always as much of his 41 years of ministry as ministries. I wasn’t altogether sure believed that truth lies at the heart of the issue at hand. why there was a problem, and that reconciliation, and I have always As broadcasters flocked to record really disturbed me. I did my very tried to speak the truth, and speak it the decision, he remarked: “In the life best, but wasn’t able to solve it, not gently, but clearly. Sometimes, people of the Church, end-points are also for everybody.” are afraid to do that, because they are often starting-points. The journey The hurt felt after the Columba not quite sure how to do it in a way which we now begin must also be a Declaration was, he says, in a “dif- that doesn’t give offence. I spend a lot journey of reconciliation.” ferent category”, and he lets slip a of time trying to teach clergy ap­­ Truth and reconciliation have hint of bitterness in an otherwise propriate assertiveness.” been the bedrock of his ministry, careful and upbeat interview. Overall, he is proud of his ministry Bishop Chillingworth said on Sat­­ “The way in which it came about in Scotland. “I arrived with great urday, after the Synod ended, as he and was launched was a mistake. I uncertainty, and some apprehension, reflected on his retirement next regarded it as inappropriate for the but that all dissolved away. It has just Sunday. His 29 years as a Church of Church of England to form that kind been wonderful, and we have had Ireland ordinand, parish priest, arch- of agreement in Scotland, without oppor tunities nationally and inter- deacon, and dean, during the thick of proper consultation with us. nationally that I would never imagine the troubles in Northern Ireland, “The Archbishop of Canterbury I would have done.” pro foundly shaped his vocation. apologised warmly and wholesomely The Church has enjoyed a period They formed the pillars of his con- for that; so that’s over. We have of stability, although this is now end- viction throughout his 12 years as a worked really hard to redeem that ing, he admits. There are currently bishop, then a Primate, of the small situation, meaning to pull good out three vacant sees, and a degree of Anglican province of the Scottish of it, and that is there.” political and cultural uncertainty. Episcopal Church. Any tension with the Church of But, he says, “we have used the It is fitting, then, that he should Scotland has been eased, however, by time of stability we have had — three spend his last few days as Primus the Churches’ mutual understanding or four years — really well. I am attempting to heal some of the of same-sex marriage: the General more concerned about making sure wounds inflicted by the same-sex Assembly of the Kirk voted last year that we have enough people to fill the vote. to allow gay clerics to marry their gaps: it is not a ministry for every- “I will be meeting with clerics who partners in the Church. one.” are really anxious and unhappy, “Our relationship with the Church trying to say that there is space, your of Scotland is now a warm one of HIS identification with Scotland is view is entirely legitimate, and that mutual regard,” he says. “We have “very strong”, and, while he says that because of the conscience clause, ended up approaching the same he has “moved around too much, and nobody is going to force you to do issues in the same way at the same experienced too much” to say where anything you don’t want to do. It is time. And we now have a Common he belongs, he is staying in the very sensitive, and quite difficult, but Calling group, which is looking at country in his retirement, where his that is the next stage.” how we can support each other in the three children, and four young huge spaces of the Highlands.” grand children, reside. GAFCON’s decision to announce a Listening to his grandchildren new missionary bishop for Scotland, IDENTITY is central to any faith grow up with Scottish accents is in Edinburgh, immediately after the community, Bishop Chillingworth says, “is to do with the way faith “odd” none the less, he says, and, as vote, was “ill-mannered” but in­­ says, and, while the Scottish communities become identified with one of three children, separated by consequential, Bishop Chilling worth Episcopal Church has always had a political and cultural points of view, five years, with no cousins and said, because the brand of Evangelical “distinctive character” — described which, in Ireland and Scotland, when grand­­parents far away, he is new to conservatism which it represented did by one col-league as “un-flamboyant it goes toxic, becomes sectarianism.” the “rich” experience of extended not marry with that of his Church. ministry” — this is being reshaped by family. “We certainly don’t threaten them; its young members, and a changing BISHOP CHILLINGWORTH was His children are doctors and a and I don’t see why they should come political landscape. born in Dublin, in 1951, but grew up physiotherapist: all vocations, he says, and appear to attempt to pressurise As well as youth, the Church has in Northern Ireland. He studied at although he has high hopes for his us in this way. It is very difficult to also enjoyed a surge in ordinands, Trinity College, Dublin, and Oriel eldest grandchild, Eve, who is five. “I respond to that. I do understand that resulting in a growth in confidence. College, Oxford, and his training for think that Eve may well be an arch- our decision has given them a focus “I coined the phrase ‘radical inde- ministry was at Ripon College, Cud- deacon,” he laughs. and a pretext, and, while they are pend ent mindedness’ because I never desdon. He was ordained in the Spending more time with his deeply concerned about us, I suspect use the word ‘liberal’, which is a very Church of Ireland in 1976, in Belfast, family is high on his priorities. He is that their real concern will be south dangerous word. We are moving in the thick of the Nationalist con- also halfway through writing a book of the border.” beyond that.” flict. — unsurprisingly, it is about his Referring to the response from New leadership will give “fresh “I was fortunate in that I was clergy ancestors and Irish identity. elsewhere in the Anglican Commu- energy” to the Church on social spared some of the really painful, He is only too aware of the chal- nion, he said “I found the last issues, he says, such as climate personal things,” he reflects. “I had lenge of laying down the cloth. Primates’ Meeting very difficult: not change, finance, and equality. “I take some extraordinary experiences, “Clergy don’t retire easily, because because of the smallness of our huge comfort from that. We clearly which I have tucked away somewhere role and identity become confused. I Church, but because of the under- see ourselves — in terms of the same- in my mind, but whenever I do speak have spoken really sternly to myself; lying understanding of how the sex vote — as standard-bearers for of them, I sometimes wish I hadn’t.” and now I am going discover who I Com munion functions. equality on all fronts.” He was, for 19 years, the Rector of am without the office. “We are a communion of relation- Scottish independence has long Seagoe Parish Church, Portadown, in “I think that people in my position ship.