No.32 WINTER 2006 THE E UROPEAN A NGLICAN U PON THIS ROCK: C ATHEDRAL APPEAL LAUNCH A MONTH IN THE LIFE: J OYS, MEMORIES AND SORROWS IN C ORFU T HAT’ S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR: T HE CHALLENGE OF BEING “CHURCH- LITE” T RAM DRIVING PRIEST: N EW M INISTRIES IN F INLAND TALKING SHOP: C HARITY OUTLETS FOR MISSION FREE 2 THROUGH CHANGING SCENES THE E UROPEAN A NGLICAN F OR The Bishop of Gibraltar EVERYTHING in Europe The Rt Revd Geoffrey Rowell Bishop’s Lodge, Church Road, Worth, Crawley RH19 7RT Tel:+44 (0) 1293 883051 Fax: +44 (0) 1293 884479 THERE IS A Email: bishop@dioceseineurope. org.uk The Suffragan Bishop The Rt Revd David Hamid SEASON Postal address: Diocesan Office Tel:+44 (0) 207 898 1160 Email: [email protected]. org.uk The Diocesan Office 14 Tufton Street, London, SW1P 3QZ Tel:+44 (0) 207 898 1155 Fax: +44 (0) 207 898 1166 Email: diocesan.office@europe. c-of-e.org.uk Diocesan Secretary Mr Adrian Mumford Assistant Diocesan Secretary Mrs Jeanne French Finance Officer Mr Nick Wraight The Cathedral of the Holy Survivors and relatives honour the memory of the Corfu Channel victims. Trinity, Gibraltar Dean:The Very Revd Alan Woods Diocesan Website www.europe.anglican.org P OST WAR DISASTER IN C ORFU Editor and Diocesan Commununications Officer CHANNEL SIXTY YEARS ON The Revd. Paul Needle Postal address: Diocesan office On Sunday 22nd October a service of nations move on.Albania has also moved Email: [email protected] commemoration in Holy Trinity church on. At the service were veteran survivors marked an event off Corfu in 1946. His of the incident who recalled their Design Majesty’s Ships SAUMAREZ and comrades, as they joined in prayers for Adept Design, Norwich VOLAGE were mined in the Corfu peace in today’s world.The service Printer Channel and 44 men lost their lives. included Sir Francis Drake’s prayer (on Norwich Colour Print With no warning a routine sea journey the day he sailed into Cadiz 1587), Distribution for those British sailors after a relaxing O Lord God, when thou givest to Thy CoDEStorm plc visit to Corfu in the preceding days was Servants to endeavour any great matter, suddenly turned into an inferno.At that grant us also to know that it is not the Cover photo: “I stand at the door and knock” Bishop David with two time, the incident was downplayed for beginning but the continuing of the youngsters in the distinctive doorway political reasons; but time has a way of same until it be thoroughly finished of St Andrew’s Church Tangier. telling the truth, and the Corfu Channel which yieldeth the true Glory through Copies of the fascinating church’s Association have laboured over many Him who for the finishing of Thy work, history,“The Sultan’s Gift” by Lance years to prevent this trauma slipping laid down His life, Our Redeemer Jesus Taylor charting developments from from the pages of history. Politics and Christ. Amen. 1881 to 2006 are still available. TURNING A CATHEDRAL ROUND 3 see page 4 Autumn has seen many special events in the N THE Diocese in Europe alongside the regular I weekly worship in some 270 congregations. VALLEY OF THE In this edition we report news of happen in small and surprising developments and new work ways and lead to larger SHADOW underway.We also reflect on our consequences – as with the historic links with other churches dramatic relocation of Amos Holiday tragedies anywhere can hit and some common themes that link Manga from Sudan to Finland. Such the headlines and focus attention on fund-raising across the continent.As is the power and unpredictability of a distant location, and when disaster our Suffragan Bishop told supporters God’s Spirit. Priests and people can struck at a hotel on Corfu in late and friends of the diocese we are an also find themselves moving rapidly October the Anglican chaplain and example of “Church-lite”, operating from joy to sorrow with the his congregation were able to offer a with a minimal central administration changing scenes of life, as church little help. and learning to develop mission and members in Corfu have found in The Revd. Clifford Owen, from self sufficiency. Developments often recent weeks. Holy Trinity, Kerkyra found himself involved after two British children died in a fume filled room at a hotel near his home in Gouvia. He was able to liaise with the many reporters who came to the island and act as a APTISM WATERS AT link with the bereaved families, B passing on news and short statements to take some of the THE HARBOURSIDE pressure off them. Members of the church joined For two years the Corfu chaplaincy Corfu Chaplain Clifford Owen in prayers for the families and has been developing ministry about baptised Michelle Trippier and her commemorations for seven year old 70 miles to the south, on the Ionian children Coral (2 years old) and Christine and six year old Robert Island of Lefkada. Estimates of the Robert (1 year old) on the balcony who were overcome by fumes from number of British living there vary of her home overlooking the harbour what is believed to be a faulty gas from 800 to 2,000! There is a small at Sivota. Sharing the party of 60 at boiler at the hotel.The service had but growing congregation of around the baptism and Communion service been announced as a Special Songs 20, meeting in the community room were about 15 Greek neighbours of Praise with the Volante Strings at Lefkas Marina.This Autumn the and friends. Orchestra from Worcester.A meaningful, if more subdued, service was filmed by television crews including one from the BBC. Subsequently Clifford and his wife Avis were able to visit Neil Shepherd, the children’s father and his partner Ruth Beatson in hospital before they were allowed to fly home. Holy Trinity congregation was also represented at the funeral of the children, in West Yorkshire, by Peter Where better and Janine Jones from Barnsley who than a modern spend 6 months of the year in Corfu. marina for Clifford said;“It is important to the ancient know that the church is there when ceremony of people need special help in tragedies, baptism? and it has been a humbling experience to pray with some of those involved and offer the love and peace of God where it is most needed.” 4 SPOTLIGHT ON CATHEDRAL FUND LAUNCH T REASURING OUR CATHEDRAL HERITAGE Torrential rain on the late November evening when the Rock of Ages appeal was launched in Gibraltar proved the point as water dripped through the roof into the building for the assembled dignitaries to see for themselves the need for renovation work The formal start to the campaign In it, Bishop Geoffrey recalled his can make access difficult. It is also was encouraged by news that more fond memories of the Cathedral hoped to endow a small fabric than £134,000 has already been where he had been enthroned five fund to ensure sufficient funds in given towards the target of years previously. His text on that the future to keep the building £850,000. Gifts have come from occasion had included the words: properly maintained. individuals supporting the project, And they all drank from the rock which Fund raising for the Cathedral and from many churches across the followed them – and that rock was of the Holy Trinity has been a diocese where special collections Christ. He linked that text with the regular feature of life, since the were held on “Cathedral Sunday” Rock of Ages appeal theme and building was first completed in during October. More fundraising is wished it a successful conclusion to 1832. It escaped serious damage planned with corporate bodies and “enable much needed repairs to be during the Second World War activities are being planned by a done and the facilities of the although just as a renovation range of interest groups in the cathedral to be enhanced, so that it scheme was being completed coming months. can play its full part in the life of major damage was caused by the At the launch, which featured on Gibraltar as well as of the Diocese. tragic explosion of an munitions Gibraltar radio and television, the The work planned from the ship the HMS Bedenham in the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. appeal will involve replacing the bay just below the building. Rowan Williams, had sent a personal roof of the building and a complete The roof was badly damaged and message of support and personal electrical rewiring scheme.There windows were blown out, commendations for the appeal came are to be structural improvements Subsequent fundraising has from the Governor of Gibraltar, the which turn the external focus of been trying to make right that Chief Minister and the Dean who the building 180 degrees, making a damage and the Rock of Ages also introduced a letter from the new entrance in Cathedral Square campaign includes the installation Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe. away from the busy traffic which of a completely new roof. HOW CAN YOU HELP? Appeal offices have been established in Gibraltar and London UK Telephone 0207 836 1346 [email protected] Gibraltar Telephone (00350) 78377 [email protected] AN ENCOURAGING BEGINNING 5 6 ROYAL VISIT TO RIGA N EWS IN BRIEF congregation’s outreach programs, I N S HORT R OYAL VISITORS IN including the Seniors Day Care L ATVIA AND Centre and Soup Kitchen.