6 features features 7 How the Queen Move from the plateau SO how do we start County ecumenical offi- working together? Where cer Paul Rolph provides saw covenant do we go from here? some Biblical principles What about the We must acknowl- behind working together edge the good working 31 officially sealed relationships that People will Confused by Church jargon? Consult our regu- 30 already exist locally know we are Jesus’ dis- lar Pompey Chimes feature that aims to take The Rev Judy Henning, between Anglicans and ciples because we love the mystery out of church life. minister of the ecumenical Methodists – and other one another (John 13: Whiteley Church, reports on denominations too. But 35). We need to learn D is for… the signing of the Anglican- we too often read and from and receive spiritu- in partnership with other DIOCESE: Geographical unit of the Church. Methodist covenant experience that the ecu- al riches from each other churches in mission and Ours is all the Anglican worshippers in south-east Methodists? 29 menical movement has and erode stereotyping evangelisation. Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, spread over I TRAVELLED to London to 27 reached a plateau. where it still exists. We should act MAINLAND METHODIST CHURCHES 12. Hart Plain Church (with C of E) Meon Valley Circuit: 142 parishes and 173 churches, under the care of represent the diocese at the One reason may be The heart of the together in all matters Bishop Kenneth. It’s a church family and, like 13. Horndean, Blendworth Church Centre 22. Shirrell Heath, High Street 24 25 official signing of the Portsmouth Circuit: 23. Curdridge, Chapel Lane the lack of clarity about search for Christian except where deep dif- 23 28 26 any family, has its share of awkward cousins, Anglican-Methodist 1: Trinity, Albert Road Gosport and Fareham Circuit: 24. Waltham Chase, Curdridge Lane 22 13 ecumenical principles, unity is Christians wor- ferences of conviction grumpy grandparents – and maternal types who Covenant. 2. Eastney, Highland Road 14. Lee-on-Solent, High Street 25. Swanmore, Chapel Road 20 21 12 which, if they were shipping and praying compel us to act sepa- hold the whole thing together. Whatever you do, 3. Wesley, Fratton Road 15. Bridgemary, Gregson Avenue 26. Hambledon, Green Lane clearer, would help us together (Acts 2: 42). rately (the Lund I even had to take photo gathered to see the Queen 4. Copnor, Copnor Road 16. Stubbington, Burnt House Lane 27. Bishop’s Waltham, Basingwell Street don’t refer to our diocesan offices as ‘the dio- 11 10 find practical ways to Principle). This means ID with me, as Her Majesty looked on. In the abbey, more 5. Wymering, Sixth Avenue 17. Portchester, Castle Street 28. Soberton Heath Sometimes that means cese’ in front of the bishop. He’s very hot on the 18 standing together to pro- the Queen would be present processions led the Queen to 6. Drayton, Havant Road 18. Fareham, Osborn Road South 17 5 6 7 9 make our existing unity understanding different idea that ‘the diocese’ doesn’t exist as an institu- 7. Bedhampton, Hulbert Road 19. Priory Park Community Centre, Petersfield, Liphook, Haslemere Circuit: 19 8 mote social justice, pre- at this auspicious occasion. the chancel where she was 16 15 in Christ more visible. types of spirituality, and tion separate from our parishes. 8. Havant, Petersfield Road Warsash 29. Petersfield, Station Road 4 So here’s a starter aiming for distinctive serve the environment, Having passed through the far more visible than before. 9. Emsworth, The Square 20. Whiteley Church (with C of E) 30. Liphook, London Road 3 DISCIPLES: What we’re all called to be (ie. The president of confer- for ten, which you may united worship rather and assert the dignity of security – equal to that at air- 10. Leigh Park, Botley Drive 21. Wickham, opposite village square 31. Standford Hill 14 1 2 not just converts, church members, lovers of 11. Purbrook, Stakes Road want to disagree with: than trying to accommo- all humans. ports – I entered the ence, the Revd Dr Neil church architecture or drinkers of church coffee). d It is God who date too wide a range of Do you agree? Send Methodist Central Hall for Richardson, preached briefly Clergy are trained with Methodists and c comments to Paul Rolph, DOCTRINE: What we believe. Anglican IT was a historic moment that e calls us to unity (John styles on each occasion. the first time. about how each person is those of other denominations on the county ecumenical officer and doctrine is based on the three pillars of scripture, heralded greater unity among g h 17: 21) to make clearer We need to convenor of the Methodist The various processions precious in the sight of God Salisbury-based STETS course. Readers are f reason and tradition. However, you don’t have to and how our mission should Christians. and more visible the strengthen one another district ecumenical action arrived, culminating in the trained jointly with Methodists on the Isle of x team, at: 71 Andover Road, sign an official statement of belief to belong to w unity of the faith we in the face of increased arrival of the Queen, and the reflect that. He quoted The Church of England and the Wight. And our diocese’s assistant social b y Winchester SO22 6AU or the Church of England, which can be both won- William Temple in saying the Methodist Church signed an agreement that i have in Christ to witness secularisation, to avoid [email protected] service began. Two young responsibility adviser, Alison Holbrook, z v j derfully liberating (if you happen to believe committed both churches to work to over- a t to a fragmented world. competition and to work people carried in the copies church exists not for the ben- who works on the Isle of Wight, is actually u something out of the ordinary) and incredibly s k of the covenant to be signed. efit of its members. come any obstacles to their ‘organic unity’. a Methodist lay preacher. bb aa l frustrating (when no one agrees with you). There were hymns and What particular moments They affirmed each other’s sacraments, But the thinking behind the Anglican- r n m DOG COLLAR: The thin, white strip worn the pleasurable way prayers, and then the do I bring back with me from creeds and ordained ministry in a ceremony Methodist covenant goes much deeper than o around the neck of clergy. Can have a magical this event? The privilege of attended by the Queen. Archbishop of Canterbury that. It genuinely looks forward to a “full, p to shop online with... effect in public places – people stop swearing, being present at such an Each deanery within our diocese was spoke briefly about times of visible unity” that makes possible a “united, c Over 1200 Christian music CD’s currently available but studiously avoid eye contact with the wearer. given the chance to study the document – separation and how God uses important occasion for both interchangeable ministry” – in other words, c 50-100 new CD’s added each month DRAMA GROUP: Can convey meaningful them for good, encouraging our churches and the future the Anglican-Methodist covenant – in a situation where you would find it difficult ISLE OF WIGHT j: Brading, New Road t: Merstone, Chapel Lane c Special Offers spiritual truths and make it easy to laugh at our- new gifts, so that each part of our unity; and coming out advance, as was our diocesan synod. Once it a: Totland, The Avenue k: Sandown, York Road u: Apse Heath, Newport Road c Gift vouchers to know whether you were worshipping in a b: Yarmouth, St James Street l: Lake, Sandown Road v: Arreton, Main Road selves. But can involve well-meaning churchgo- learns and grows until he of both venues to be greeted was signed, Anglicans and Methodists were c High quality searching facilities ers self-consciously re-creating Jesus’ parables in Church of England church or a Methodist c: Gurnard, Worsley Road m: Shanklin, Regent Street w: Wootton, Station Road c Track listings for almost half of CD’s available once more brings the separat- by crowds of people held supposed to start working on shared wor- d: Cowes, Birmingham Road n: Sandford, Shanklin Road x: Newport, Quay Street a way that makes it easy to laugh at them. church. It would be a stepping stone towards c Hundreds of audio samples ed together again. back behind police cordons ship, structures and ministry. the ultimate goal of unity among all e: East Cowes, Adelaide Grove o: Wroxall, High Street y: Carisbrooke & Gunville, DUPLO MACHINE: The poor man’s photo- The covenant was signed and barricades who were not That was last November. Now churchgo- f: Wootton, High Street p: Ventnor, High Street Gunville Road So, when shopping online, Christian churches. g: Binstead, Chapel Road q: Niton, Newport Road z: Bowcombe, Bowcombe Road copier (hence still used by many churches by our two Archbishops and there when we entered in the ers in our diocese are being challenged to because of “value for money”). Churns out pew The Ven Peter Hancock, chairman of our h: Ryde, Garfield Road r: Godshill, High Street aa: Shorwell, Sandy Way the president and vice-presi- first place. put the ambitious words in the covenant into diocese’s Board of Mission, which oversees i: Bembridge, Foreland Road s: Rookley, Niton Road bb: Brighstone, New Road sheets and parish magazines which, apparently, dent of the Methodist It was a great and joyous practice on the ground. ecumenical issues, said: “The radical think- a youth club if the Methodists already run one of the smallest in the Church of some people don’t read...and then complain they Conference. This was fol- occasion that, sadly, was It could involve congregations joining ing behind this covenant means that we one – we should support theirs. If we have a England. The Southampton Methodist dis- were never told about things until it was too late! lowed by spontaneous overshadowed by events in together for Eucharistic services or explor- should approach the issue of working with parish magazine, is there any reason why it trict stretches from Yeovil in the west to applause. other parts of the church, and ing the possibility of sharing buildings – in our Methodist neighbours in an entirely dif- should not be a joint effort? Littlehampton in the east, and from Henley- E is for… We left Central Hall and so this very positive piece of line with our diocese’s Kairos thinking. ferent way from before. “If family services are a priority, can we on-Thames in the north to the Isle of Wight. EASTER: When we remember Jesus’s resur- walked the short distance to news concerning the church- Of course, many of our churches already “In each situation, perhaps we should not support each other and run them togeth- It includes virtually all of Hampshire and rection from the dead. The biggest festival of the Westminster Abbey through a es was barely mentioned in collaborate with local Methodists in lots of year, as it marks the most important moment in start by assuming that we will be working er? And if we are thinking of re-developing Dorset. police cordon, while crowds the media. ways. Many parishes run ecumenical Lent alongside the Methodist church down the the Christian calendar. It is therefore preceded by courses or hold regular united services. our building, should we not first ask the The district chairman, the Rev Tom the preparation time of Lent and Holy Week. road. So we shouldn’t think about setting up question whether there is a need for two Stuckey, meets with Bishop Kenneth and Despite the vague link of ‘new life’, chocolate church buildings in the same area? Might it other Hampshire church leaders regularly as eggs are nothing to do with Easter and everything We’re happy worshipping side-by-side not be more effective for our mission and part of Churches Together in Hampshire and to do with commercialism. life together for both congregations to wor- the Isle of Wight (CTHI). He also preached ECCLESIOLOGY: Academic study of the IT’S a living, breathing es from the two denomina- this. I’m sure other people ship in the same building?" at the ecumenical service held last June in Church and what it means to be Church. Not to reminder that Anglicans tions, walk into a service get asked all the time “Then if we hit problems, the covenant Portsmouth’s RC Cathedral which was be confused with Eccles-ology, the academic and Methodists can wor- now and you would be about why there seem to suggests that both Anglicans and Methodists organised by CTHI. study of Eccles cakes. ship quite happily side-by- hard-pressed to tell be so many different will work to overcome them. Of course, Within our diocese there are six different ECUMENICAL: Projects or services in side. Methodists and Anglicans denominations. Well, hav- there will be areas in which we don’t neces- Methodist circuits – equivalent to our which churches of all denominations work Hart Plain Church is a apart. ing a joint Anglican- sarily agree or where our theology might be deaneries. They are Portsmouth (which cov- together. Each time this happens, it seems to joint Anglican-Methodist The congregation bene- Methodist church in the slightly different. But we should take the ini- ers Portsmouth and Havant); Gosport and come as a shock to us that Methodists, Catholics, church which serves the fits from being part of area is a great witness to tiative to work through those problems Fareham; Petersfield, Liphook and Baptists and community church worshippers Hart Plain and Wecock both our Anglican diocese people that we’re all just whenever we can.” Haslemere; the Meon Valley; East and West actually believe the same kind of things as we areas, just north of and the local Methodist Christians working To help this process, the Pompey Chimes Wight. Among the 59 Methodist churches do. Maybe next time we’ll remember. Waterlooville, circuit, and so has two sep- together. is printing a guide to help you find your within our diocese are two joint churches. ELEVATION: During Communion, the Created in 1967, it is a arate places to go for sup- “The covenant cements local Methodist church. The map above Hartplain Church is a joint Anglican- priest lifts up or elevates the bread and wine in ‘local ecumenical partner- port and resources. many of the things that we should help you to identify which church or Methodist church; and Whiteley Church, turn, after praying for the Holy Spirit to descend ship’ which is led by both The priest-in-charge, are doing anyway. I hope churches you should be looking to work near Fareham is a joint Anglican, Methodist on each of them. The idea is to symbolise both an Anglican priest, the the Rev Tim Jessiman, other parishes will see the alongside. Perhaps you can use it to ask your and United Reformed Church. offering them up to God and exhibiting them for Rev Tim Jessiman, and a said: “Most people in our Hart Plain Church is involved with its local community benefits of unity with own PCC what steps they are taking to work So next time you’re passing one of the To shop you can visit www.cross- alongside your local Methodist church. churches named on our map, pop in and adoration as the Body and Blood of Christ. In Methodist minister, the congregation consider that nations. That’s not to say work through them. Methodists and others, The churches named are all part of the introduce yourself as an Anglican who is some traditions, bells are rung, incense swung Rev Stephen Wright. they are just members of that issues never come up, “For the outside world, and resolve to work rhythms.co.uk/direct Southampton district of the Methodist seeking to create new links between your and Christ is made present in our midst. Although originally Hart Plain Church, rather but when they do there is it’s a huge statement to together whenever they church, which is one of the largest in the own church and theirs. You should be made More A-Z next month formed by uniting church- than either of the denomi- a real commitment to have a united church like can.” or call 08700 118008 country – in contrast to our diocese, which is to feel very welcome!