New Ministries at St Vincent's Algarve













On 14 July the Archdeacon of Gibraltar, the Venerable David Sutch, licensed the Revd Bob Bates (above left) as chaplain in St Vincent's, in a service in the Church of St Luke, Monte de Palhagueira. Fr Bob and his wife Diane join us from the Diocese of Peterborough. As chaplain he will have primary reponsibility for the congregations in the central and eastern parts of the parish and will work in the team with Fr Haynes Hubbard. (Fr Haynes as senior chaplain has administrative oversight of St Vincent's and primary responsibility pastoral care for the Western end of the parish).

At the same service the Area Dean of Gibraltar, Canon Hugh Broad, admitted Mr Eckart Floether (above right) to the office of Reader in the Church of England and licensed him for his ministry in St Vincent's. (There is already one other Reader, Mrs Fiona Mayes, serving in the parish).

St Vincent's Algarve is a vibrant and growing part of the diocese and the addition of second full-time priest and another reader to the team will help with the work and witness of the communities of faith across the southern coast of Portugal.

We welcome Fr Bob to the diocese in Europe and pray God's blessing on him and on Eckart as they formally commence their ministry among the people of the Algarve.

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