THE E UROP E AN A NGLICAN C OPING IN C OP E NHAG E N A GLOBAL N E WS E V E NT ON YOUR DOORST E P S PR E ADING TH E WORD IN S ICILY S TUD E NTS DISCOV E R A NGLICANISM C HRISTINGL E S AND CRIBS F UN F ROM TH E fe STIV E S E ASON 1 5 0 Y E ARS IN R IGA A MUSICAL C E L E BRATION A SOUND POLICY P ROMOTING PODCASTS FREE N o . 4 5 SPRING 2010 R ig A C E L E B R A tes 2 in S O ng THE E UROP E AN A NGLICA N The Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe The Rt Revd Geoffrey Rowell Bishop’s Lodge, Church Road, Worth, Crawley RH10 7RT Tel: +44 (0) 1293 883051 Fax: +44 (0) 1293 884479 Email: [email protected] The Suffragan Bishop in Europe The Rt Revd 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: diocesan.office@europe. c-of-e.org.uk Diocesan Secretary Mr Adrian Mumford L ATVIAN C E L E BRATION WITH MUSIC AND SONG Assistant Diocesan Secretary As the Anglican Church in Riga Celebrates 150th Anniversary Mrs Jeanne French Finance Officer The Church of St. Saviour in Riga, the building and dedication of a church. In Mr Nick Wraight Latvia, has been serving the community his observation the mission of the church is Diocesan Website for 150 years and to mark this milestone not to build walls for keeping people out, www.europe.anglican.org there was with a joyous anniversary but to break down existing walls between celebration last November. peoples to ensure that everyone can hear Editor and Diocesan Festivities began with the Concert of the Gospel of Christ. He said the Gospel Communications Officer Celebration with some of the country’s must be a message bringing freedom and The Revd. Paul Needle Postal address: Diocesan Office most talented singers and musicians, who joy – otherwise, it is not the true Gospel. Email: [email protected] donated their time to make the event Music for the service was provided by Tel: 0034 662 482 944 memorable. Performers included opera organist Kristine Adamaite and the singer Gunta Davidcuka and the vocal internationally renowned youth choir Friends of the Diocese group Cosmos, which started life singing at Balsis. The congregation is well known for Secretary: The Revd. Philip Warner the church and later attracted international its service to the community, so it was not Email: [email protected] attention by representing Latvia at the surprising that the anniversary events Design Eurovision Song Contest. Also attracted a wide audience, including Adept Design, Norwich participating was the congregation’s own representatives of several foreign embassies GG Gospel Choir, organist and music and religious confessions, along with the Printer Norwich Colour Print director Kristine Adamaite. congregation itself and its numerous friends Anglican Chaplain, the Rev’d Dr Juris and supporters. Distribution Calitis, and churchwardens Ruta CoDEStorm plc Whittaker and Solvita Sejane welcomed 150 YEAR HISTORY Cover photo: the many guests at the anniversary Faith for the future. As Christians reception. In his sermon at the Service of In the early 19th century, traders in Riga watched and prayed for the world Celebration the following day Pastor established a British Poor Fund to provide that today’s youngsters will inherit, Calitis quoted Mark 13:1-8, in which Jesus temporary relief for distressed British Archdeacon Jonathan LLoyd and predicted the destruction of the temple in subjects, to endow a British clergyman, and Phoebe Kamara (acolyte at St Alban’s Church) welcomed The Archbishop Jerusalem. Dr Calitis said it might seem build a church and pastor’s residence. of Canterbury to Copenhagen in unusual to quote a text about church walls A congregation was founded in 1822. A December 2009 during the COP15 falling on an occasion that actually marks shipload of earth was reportedly sent from United Nations Summit on Climate Change. photo by Hasse Ferrold V int A ge ser MO ns 3 fr O M Ber L in A WINT E R TO R E M E MB E R Cynical British journalists often comment that the weather makes headlines if there is an inch of snow in London when it would need at least ten times that amount to get the media attention in Manchester or Newcastle. The long cold spell of wintry weather has provided more than its fair share of news stories and not just in Britain. Churchgoers in Northern France had to Although some travel arrangements the focus of attention during the long and cancel a Sunday service because of the for our bishops or archdeacons may difficult days of the International Climate severe weather. Travel arrangements have been affected in this vast Diocese Change Conference, also reported here. over the New Year period were affected in Europe it was business as normal But God’s promise about the regularity by frozen roads, broken down trains and for Christians in Scandinavia and Latvia of the seasons holds true. The days planes unable to take off from snow (featured elsewhere on this page) have grown longer and the sun is getting covered runways. where harsh winters are the norm stronger bringing Spring hope and Even in Spain and around the rather than the rarity. Perhaps it was preparing us to hear the message of Mediterranean snowfalls reminded the strong memories of Winter which comfort which comes with Easter. We ex-pat Britons of the misery they had prompted our picture recollections of hope you find the reflections of diocesan hoped to escape. And it proved that Christmas in this issue. church life warm your soul as you prepare weather is not just a talking point in And where Christians were not to hear the shout, “The Lord is risen. He England as the locals all had some making the weather a conversation is risen indeed! Alleluia!” memory of the many years since it had point they were looking to the Anglican Paul Needle been so cold or icy. church in Copenhagen which became Editor, The European Anglican L ATVIAN C E L E BRATION WITH MUSIC AND SONG “F OOD F OR F AITH ” R E CALLS 1 2 5 Y E ARS IN B E RLIN Britain so that the church could be Looking back on the past 150 The foundation stone of the first built on British soil. It was dedicated years, the church council recognizes St. George’s Anglican Church in on July 26, 1859, as the Church of St. that they have frequently faced Berlin was laid in 1884 in what Saviour in Riga. difficulties, but, by the grace of God, is now Monbijou Park. Over the During the Soviet occupation, the have always been able to continue years the congregation waxed and church was desecrated and later their work. The council would like waned, but, except for the 2nd turned into a student club. After to thank all of its friends who have World War years, the Anglican Latvia regained its independence in provided support over the years and presence never completely disappeared. 1991, U.S. missionary Arden Haug with them look to the future. From 1950-1994 St. George’s, in a new founded an English-speaking building on Preussenallee, was the garrison congregation. In 1995, Dr Juris Calitis Ingrida Cazere, council member church of the British Army. After the Allied was ordained as an Anglican Priest and www.anglicanriga.lv Forces left Berlin the first civilian service was licensed by The Bishop as Anglican held by Rev John Turner in August 1994 and the Chaplain at St Saviour’s. welcoming openness and strong preaching he Since 2001, the church undercroft introduced live on in the current pastors, has been the site of a soup kitchen, Rev Christopher Jage-Bowler and Rev which feeds between 60 and 300 Dr. Irene Ahrens. homeless people each week. The To mark their 125th anniversary a new book church is also home to a Day Care offers a selection of 12 sermons from the last Centre for the Elderly, where about 10 years – preached by Christopher and Irene 25 elderly people meet twice a week – which aim to embody the challenge to the for a warm meal and Christian intellect and the nourishment of the soul that are fellowship. After the anniversary concert, an integral part of the St. George’s “experience”. The congregation of St Saviour is Anglican Chaplain, Rev Dr Juris The 32-page booklet can be ordered by in serious financial difficulty and Calitis thanked the many artists sending an email with the heading “Food for grateful to the Diocesan Board of and other supporters who made Faith” to [email protected]. At a cost per Finance for their encouragement and the evening a memorable one. copy of 3 Euros plus a donation to cover printing financial support so that this work Photo: Anita Herman and postage costs, all profits go towards the can continue. upkeep of St. George’s and its ministry. CO PENH A G E N – N O T 4 Q U I T E S O W O NDERFU L ? A MONTH H OP E S , PRAY E RS TO R E M E MB E R AND fe LLOWSHIP St Alban’s Anglican Church Copenhagen was open every December put St Alban’s Church in day throughout the United Nations COP15 Conference on Copenhagen into the international spotlight Climate Change.