Summer 2017 2 a Trinity of Shared Events in Italy
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T OGE T HER A D IOCESE A W I D ESCREEN I T ’ S A S AVING IN W ORSHIP A LIVE A NGLE L OCUM ’ S L IFE V ALE tt A ’ S T HREE 3 P AGE N E W D IOCESAN L E tt ER FROM S KYLINE I T ALIAN P IC T URE W EBSI T E L AUSANNE “Q UEEN ’ S H IGHLIGH T S S PECIAL C HURCH ” A PPEAL europe.anglican.org No.74 SUMMER 2017 2 A TRINITY OF SHARED EVENTS IN ITALY THE E UROPEAN MILING OPE AT ICAN A NGLICA N A S P . V E VENSONG AN D A F LOREN T INE F IRS T The Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe The Rt Rev Dr. Robert Innes Bishop in Europe’s Office 47, rue Capitaine Crespel - boite 49, 1050 Brussels Belgium Tel: +32 (0)2 213 7480 Email: [email protected] The Suffragan Bishop in Europe The Rt Rev Dr. David Hamid Postal address: Diocesan Office Tel: +44 (0) 207 898 1160 Email: [email protected] The Diocesan Office 14 Tufton Street, London, SW1P 3QZ Tel: +44 (0) 207 898 1155 Fax: +44 (0) 207 898 1166 Email: [email protected] The choir at All Saints, Rome enjoy a joke by the Pope Diocesan Secretary Mr Adrian Mumford Appointments Secretary Miss Catherine Jackson Finance Secretary Mr Nick Wraight Diocesan Website www.europe.anglican.org Editor and Diocesan Communications Officer The Rev Paul Needle Postal address: Diocesan Office Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 (0)7712 463806 Pope Francis was delighted with the gift of a simnel cake A bevy of bishops for a shared blessing to end the service Friends of the Diocese Secretary: Mrs Jeanne French The crowds had been gathering in Rome’s The Pope’s homily spoke about the tensions Email: Via del Balbuino outside All Saints Church, and divisions of the early church in Corinth, [email protected] from late morning before Pope Francis who were regularly reproached and guided Design and Print arrived for his historic visit at 4pm. The by St Paul. He urged for divisions to be Adept Design, Norwich congregation were joined by viewers all over set aside saying; “Where we are united in Distribution Europe and beyond watching the live online the name of Jesus, he is there, and turning CoDEStorm plc link from the Vatican Television’s service. his merciful gaze towards us, he calls us to After the opening choral responses and devote ourselves fully to the cause of unity introductions the Pope joined bishops and love.” Robert and David at a newly installed icon, The Pontiff clearly enjoyed sharing the commissioned by the Chaplaincy council, peace with members of the congregation Front cover picture: written by Ian Knowles, a British artist before witnessing the signing of a unique A day to remember, in late February, with resident in Bethlehem. The image of Christ agreement of understanding between All the visit by Pope Francis to All Saints church (St Saviour) is based on a work by a 13th Saints and the local Roman Catholic parish, for a service where he clearly enjoyed sharing Century English Benedictine. pledging closer cooperation and sharing in fellowship. The worship included the dedication A short walk from the icon took the Pope several areas of ministry. of an icon, a commitment to local church co-operation and a rare question and answer to the font where, in English and Italian, Then, in a bold venture, Pope Francis session with the congregation. our shared baptism vows were renewed. took and answered questions from members EVENSONG IN FLORENCE 3 AND THE VATICAN A S MILING P OPE . VAT ICAN E VENSONG AN D A F LOREN T INE F IRS T From Florence, in Northern Italy, Father William Lister writes; On 12th March 2017 the choir of St Mark’s Church sang choral evensong in the Battistero di San Giovanni in the Piazza del Duomo. It was the first time a purely Anglican Liturgy has been celebrated in the ancient Baptistery This occasion represents the deeply held desire of us all to express more fully the fundamental unity which our two traditions share in our common Baptism and we are extremely grateful for this unique opportunity to pray together. Blessing the icon – a souvenir of his visit From Vatican City in Rome, Bishop David writes; For the first time ever the service of Anglican Evensong, according to the Book of Common Prayer, was celebrated in St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, sung by the choir of Merton College Oxford. The service honoured St Gregory A bevy of bishops for a shared blessing to end the service the Great on the nearest day to his original feast day. Pope Gregory the of the congregation. Some of his answers Great sent St Augustine to England caused raised eyebrows and international to evangelise the Anglo-Saxons. He news headlines as he spoke about has become an unofficial patron of situations where ecumenical progress is the most recent ecumenical exchanges being forged at local and regional level. between the Anglican and Roman He observed that Anglican/Roman Catholic relations were probably seen as Catholic Churches. His crozier-head moving; “two steps forward, half step was sent to Canterbury as a gesture of back. That’s a very human way which we support during the Primates’ Meeting must continue.” in January 2016 and Pope Francis gave At the end of the service gifts were Archbishop Justin Welby a wooden exchanged. Pope Francis seemed crozier modelled on it during their delighted to be given a simnel cake, meeting in October. baked by a member of All Saints, in At the conclusion of the service readiness for Mothering Sunday. There itself we processed to the tomb of was a sense of joy and hope as the service St Gregory in the Basilica, where ended with our bishops joining the Pope Florence Battistero di Firenze where Cardinal George Pell and I led prayers to offer a solemn blessing. Anglican Evensong was welcomed to honour the saint. 4 SAVE VALETTA’S SKYLINE CATHEDRAL APPEAL LAUNCHES “ Q UEEN ’S M ALT ESE C HURCH C RUMBLING ” That was the stark Sunday Times and is deeply symbolic of two centuries of close Anglo-Maltese headline about the launch of an relations. Its unique and historic appeal for €3m (£2.6m) to restore identity is complementary to and in St Paul’s Anglican Pro-Cathedral harmony with the Archdiocese of in the Maltese capital, Valetta. In Malta walking together in Faith. The Cathedral’s memorials bear important 1949 the then Princess Elizabeth testimony to the sacrifice and valour Malta St Paul’s shipwreck procession lived on the Mediterranean island of countless Allied Servicemen who while Prince Philip was stationed fought to defend Malta during the denominations in Malta. During Lent first and second World Wars” the Roman Catholic Bishop of Gozo there as a Royal Naval officer. The The Cathedral and its Chancellor a Sunday congregation’s collection royal couple regularly worshipped enjoy close ecumenical ties with the from his own Cathedral to boost the in St Paul’s and The Duke of Maltese Catholic Church and other Anglican appeal. Edinburgh remains Patron of the Friends of the Cathedral today. The fabric of the cathedral is now in dire and urgent need of restoration. Recent architectural inspections have identified severe problems threatening the tower, the spire and external and internal stonework. The appeal to “Save Valletta’s Skyline” is the first major restoration work to take place since the Second World War and it is hoped to complete the necessary works by November 2019, the 175th Anniversary of the Consecration of the building. The Cathedral Chancellor Canon Simon Godfrey says; “The Cathedral pays homage to St. Paul, considered to be the spiritual father of the Maltese, St Paul’s Cathedral William Scamp sketch READERS IN COLOGNE, 5 CONDOM AND COPENHAGEN Malta Appeal EA D ERS AT Latest News R c The appeal total topped £339,500 by Easter. THE R EA D Y c Help is being sought from grant making trusts MICHAEL JOINS ONE and foundations and UK companies operating in Malta. OF THE BIGGEST c There is to be a presentation READERS’ TEAM to the Maltese Government The Chaplaincy of the Aquitaine for EU funding. in France includes 15 congregations c St Martin-in-the-Fields plan covering the departments of an evening concert and Dordogne, Gironde, Lot et Garonne reception in their undercroft and the northern Gers. Regular in London as well as a choir services require good administrative visit to Malta and Gozo. planning and a generous supply of full and part-time clergy and a dedicated c The President of Malta, Her group of Readers. On a Saturday in New Reader Michael is welcomed Excellency Marie-Louise March 2017 the Archdeacon of France During his sermon Archdeacon Meurig Coleiro Preca is to host formally licensed Michael Torne to reminded people to consider the a reception at one of her join the team as a Reader. church as a community. He said; “It official residences, San Clergy and church members from is not only Michael and all the other Anton or Verdala Palace, for across the vast Chaplaincy travelled clergy present but the congregation prospective donors. long distances to share in the service as a whole that values and thrives by in Condom where Michael lives. supporting each another.” c The architectural contract has now been signed with a Maltese firm with recognised experience and OLOGNE professionalism in this field.