From the Associate Vicar's Desk

Welcome to "From the Associate Vicar's Desk" for Friday 16th July

Changes to covid measures in church
Last week I said I hoped I'd be able to tell you in this message what changes we will make in church following 19th July; I'm afraid that as I write we still haven't had the Church of England guidance so we're still waiting to confirm. We do have an internal plan waiting to be checked against the guidance, when it comes, and I'd like to assure you we are planning to do this slowly and gently and with an eye on local infection rates. We will definitely ensure you know what to expect before coming to church on 25th July!

Journey back to church together

This weekend we are reflecting on all that has happened over the last year and a half or so, as we prepare for the next step. And we'll be remembering that, through our sorrows and our joys, God is faithful.

To join our gentle, quiet pilgrimage around the church on Saturday, please book here, call the Parish Office, or just come to church between 10.30 and 2.30 (you may have to wait for a free slot).
To join our all-age service at 10.00am, with time for tears and laughter and a very special surprise to remind us of God's faithfulness, please book here.
If you're still feeling nervous about coming to church, or are isolating, or can't come for any other reason, we can still worship together, please do join us online on Sunday!

Difference and diversity - living and learning well together

Over the summer we will be running a 5-week course about how we live and learn together in the face of difference and diversity. There will be time for prayer, Bible reading, reflecting on our experiences and listening to each other. Three separate groups will be led by our clergy team and you can "mix and match" to fit around other commitments.

Sundays 11.30am in church, from 18th July

Fridays 2.30pm on zoom, from 23rd July

Wednesdays 7.30pm on zoom, from 28th July

Sermon on Sunday,10th August 2025

By matthew.buckmaster • August 10, 2025

Preached by the Revd Laura Verrall-Kelly, Associate Vicar

Interregnum Information

By Laura.Verrall-Kelly • August 7, 2025

Keeping You Updated During the Interregnum As I prepare to go on maternity leave at the end of August, I want to share some important updates regarding our Sunday Services and communication during the Interregnum period. We’ve taken time to consider what is sustainable and meaningful in this season of transition, and while some of the changes have been difficult, they are intended to ensure we can continue to worship together well. Service Changes 8am BCP Eucharist We’ve made the difficult decision to pause this service during the vacancy, following a PCC vote (with 3 votes against). This is due to the limited availability of clergy to cover two Eucharist services on a Sunday. We’re grateful that this decision has allowed us to secure strong cover for the other services. If you’re looking for an early service, the Cathedral offers Morning Prayer at 7.40am and BCP Eucharist at 8am. This change to the 8am will happen from the beginning of October. Mattins & Evensong These will continue with support from a growing team of Lay Leaders. If you're interested in helping lead, please speak to Simon Goodman. Please note: bespoke online orders of service will no longer be produced weekly. Instead, we will use a standard booklet and hymn book in church. Online viewers will receive a standard order of service plus a document with Bible readings and hymns. 10.30am Sung Eucharist Some small changes are being made to simplify things for visiting clergy: Notices will be read by a Church Warden, Duty Warden or Church Representative Communion distribution will return to queue formation A Gradual Hymn will replace the Responsorial Psalm - there is simply not the resource to produce a weekly or termly Psalm hand out in church. We’ll use a standard “Eucharist during the Vacancy” order of service (in booklet form), with hymn books provided in church. As with other services, online resources will mirror this setup. These changes to the 10.30am will happen from the 17th August. Christingle Service Due to the scale of this service and the planning it requires, we’ve made the difficult decision to pause it this year. Without full-time clergy to oversee preparations and lead the service, we don’t believe we can deliver it safely or well. We know this will be disappointing, but this service will be back. Ongoing Communication Thanks to Chris Duncan and Sam Love, we will continue to send out a weekly email during the Interregnum. I’m very grateful to both of them for stepping up to support in this way. We know some of these decisions may not affect everyone, while others may feel them more deeply. We don’t expect universal agreement, and that’s okay — your questions and thoughts are welcome and valued. All we ask is that feedback is offered with kindness and respect for those who have worked hard to make these plans in a short space of time. Thank you for being part of this community and for your ongoing support as we navigate this together.