Eurobishop

On 7 May at 4 pm, the Archdeacon of Italy and Malta, the Venerable Jonathan Boardman will license the Revd John Payne (left) to be the priest-in-charge of All Saints, Milan, with the Church of the Holy Ghost, Genoa and the Church of the Ascension, Cadenabbia. All Saints is a vibrant and welcoming congregation drawing in people of many nationalities who find themselves in one of Europe’s most enterprising and innovative cities, and the second city in Italy, after Rome, in population. Although a bustling, forward-looking centre, Milan has, of course, ancient Christian roots. One of its first bishops was St Ambrose considered to be one of the 4 doctors (teachers) of the Western Church. He had a profound influence on St Augustine who was converted to Christianity in Milan in 386. Fr Payne comes to the diocese in Europe from Thirsk in the diocese of York where he was Chaplain of Queen Mary's School. We welcome him to our diocesan family! The website of All Saints Milan is h...

Barry Mason (above) has been recently admitted to the office of reader and authorised for work in the parish of Costa del Sol West in Spain. We welcome Barry to the group of over 100 Readers which serve the congregations of our diocese. There are a further nine persons in various stages of discernment or training for Reader Ministry across the Archdeaconry of Gibraltar (which of course, covers Gibraltar, Spain - mainland and islands, Portugal with Madeira, Andorra and Morocco). Barry is pictured below with the Area Dean of Gibraltar, Canon Hugh Broad, who admitted him to the office of Reader. The chaplain of Costa del Sol West, the Revd Canon Dr Alan Maude is second from the right, and to the right of him is the Revd Maurice Horsey, Honorary Assistant priest. The website of the parish, which has two centres of worship, San Pedro and Sotogrande, is here .

The Reverend Dr Frank Hegedus has been appointed priest-in-charge of the Anglican Church of St Margaret of Scotland, Budapest, Hungary. He comes to this diocese from the Episcopal Church, USA, where he most recently served as interim minister, Almaden, San Jose, California. Fr Frank began his new ministry on 1 April and will be licensed formally by the Archdeacon of the East, the Venerable Patrick Curran, on 7 May. Welcome to this diocese, Fr Frank! Why is our Church in Budapest dedicated to a Scottish saint? St Margaret of Scotland was born in Hungary, her father having been exiled by King Canute when he conquered England. She later returned to Britain, and married the Scottish King Malcolm III.  St Margaret's Church has a Facebook page here . 

The Easter icon traditionally depicts the descent of Christ into hell after the crucifixion. Our Lord stands on the Cross, portraying his own victory. He takes Adam by the hand and raises him to life; Eve awaits resurrection with her hands outstretched. Christ is surrounded by figures of the prophets, Old Testament kings, John the Baptist, the Apostles. But what I find interesting is the young person to Christ's left, with a shepherd's staff. It is Abel, the first victim of violence, killed by his brother Cain.  So much more than an empty tomb: Easter is about Christ our Victorious God who reaches into the depths of human hell to bring new life, new hope and a reign of peace. You rose from the tomb as God in glory, and raised the world up with you. Mortal nature sang your praise as God, and death disappeared. Adam dances, Master, and Eve, now freed from her chains, rejoices as she cries: It is you, O Christ, who grant Resurrection to all. ( Orthodox Kontakion for t...

Archdeacons, Chancellors and Bishops at the Royal Maundy 40 men and women from the Diocese in Europe were honoured by Her Majesty the Queen as recipients of the Royal Maundy on Maundy Thursday. The ancient ceremony took place in Westminster Abbey. The recipients, nominated by the bishops, are all pensioners who have been selected for the outstanding Christian service they have rendered to the Church and the community for a number of years. It was the 801 st such service in recorded history, and was extra special as the day was also the Sovereign’s 85 th birthday. The title of the service is from the Latin mandatum, commandment, deriving from the words of Our Lord, “I give you a new commandment: Love one another.” This was the first time that the Diocese in Europe was included in the ceremony. Recipients also came from the Diocese of Sodor and Man, and from the community at Westminster Abbey itself. The service was broadcast live on BBC. A clip of the highlights, courtesy of W...

On Tuesday in Holy Week, clergy and readers from the diocese gathered with the bishops in two different churches for Chrism masses. For 5 years now, these services have been celebrated simultaneously in different parts of the diocese to enable more people to attend this important Holy Week tradition. This year, Bishop Geoffrey presided at one service in St Boniface, Antwerp while I presided at Holy Trinity Geneva. The service in Geneva brought together clergy and readers from 5 countries - Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy and Monaco. The chaplain of Holy Trinity, the Revd Roy Taylor (below centre) hosted the service and some of his parishioners provided lunch following for the visiting clergy and laity. Music was provided by members of Holy Trinity choir. The preacher was the Archdeacon of Switzerland, the Venerable Peter Potter (below left), who linked the service to aspects of the Royal Maundy at which 3 laity from Switzerland will be honoured by Her Majesty the Queen on ...

St. Catherine's Anglican Church in Stuttgart has for the past year been working with their Old Catholic host congregation on a  Pipe Organ Project  to bring an antique [1903] organ from  England  to install in "the English Church". This is a replacement for the original instrument destroyed by allied bombing in the last war. The Revd Ken Dimmick, priest-in-charge of St Catherine's, has just announced the happy news that the fund-raising for the organ has been virtually completed! Additionally, all the  building construction  necessary to set this organ on a proper and attractive organ loft under the rose window is also complete. The organ in the final stages of renovation at the workshop of master organ builder Michael Mauch. It is expected that the installation will begin in early May.  Fr Ken has issued an invitation to the Organ Dedicatiion  and Blessing on Pentecost Sunday, 12 June 2011, at 17:00 in St Catherine's Church. Bishop Joach...

Keith Brown and Fr Terence Sampson (Royal British Legion Chaplain and Hon. Assistant Priest at SS Peter and Paul)  Keith Brown, reader in training in the parish of Saints Peter and Paul, Torrevieja, was a key organiser of a programme to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Royal British Legion. Two concerts were held in the new Sala de Diputaci ón in Alicante on Saturday 2 April, to packed audiences. I would estimate that close to 4000 persons were in attendance in total. Ruth Lorenzo and Chelsea Pensioner Massed voice choirs from the region were joined by a brass band and the Torrevieja Pipes and Drums. Ruth Lorenzo, a finalist in the 2008 X-Factor television competition and a native of nearby Murcia, was one of the guest singers. Also performing was the group All Angels, a successful classical "cross-over" group of young women sopranos. Cathy Carson, a popular singer originally from Yorkshire now a member of SS Peter and Paul, (and the wife of Keith Brown),  perform...

At the March meeting of the Council of Anglican/Episcopal Churches in Germany (CAECG) I commissioned the Revd Canon Christopher Jage-Bowler, chaplain of St George's, Berlin, as Area Dean of Germany for a further 3 year term. In the photo above, Fr Christopher is kneeling, while the Archdeacon of Germany and Northern Europe, Jonathan LLoyd looks on. Area Deans in the Diocese in Europe sometimes are assigned to a deanery within the archdeaconry (as in the case of Germany) and sometimes serve the whole archdeaconry (as in the case of France). They have these general responsibilities: To offer pastoral care of the clergy within the deanery or archdeaconry, and of their families   To be a leader in the shared mission and ministry of the churches of the deanery or archdeaconry To organise (and chair if necessary) meetings of Clergy Chapter of the deanery or archdeaconry and organise (and chair if necessary) along with the lay chair, the deanery or archdeaconry Synod On request, t...

The Church of England has edited a prayer for Prince William and Catherine Middleton and all couples preparing for their wedding. It can be used in private prayer, in groups or within public worship. (The royal wedding will be at Westminster Abbey on Friday 29 April). God of all grace, friend and companion, look in favour on William and Catherine and all who are made one in marriage. In your love deepen their love and strengthen their wills to keep the promises they will make, that they may continue in life-long faithfulness to each other; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (adapted from Common Worship)

© Church of Norway Information Office The Church of Norway has made a bold move as it establishes the office of permanent Presiding Bishop. The Church has appointed Bishop Helga Haugland Byfuglien to this new office. Bishop Helga thus becomes the first woman "Primate" of a Church within the Porvoo Communion of Churches. As the Church of Norway is the state Church Bishop Helga was chosen by the Minister for Church affairs after the unanimous recommendation from the Bishops' Conference and the National Church Council. The office of Presiding Bishop as a permanent distinct office is a new development. For the past 500 years, the Presiding Bishop was chosen from among the existing diocesan bishops. The new permanent Presiding Bishop becomes an additional 12th bishop and will be based in the National Offices in Oslo but with a seat in the ancient cathedral of Nidaros (Trondheim). Bishop Helga Haugland Byfuglien is presently the bishop of Borg and acts as the Presiding ...

On Saturday 26 March in Utrecht I presided at an unusual confirmation service with candidates from Holy Trinity Utrecht, St James's Voorschoten, the Anglican East Netherlands parish and several Catholic Apostolics.   The Catholic Apostolic Church is a religious movement with its origins in Britain in the 1830s. They hold to a belief in the near approach of the Second Coming of Christ. Originally their church organisation included apostles, bishops, priests and deacons. (Their bishops were known as angels!). The present day communities have no surviving clergy. In the Netherlands Anglican clergy provide sacramental ministry for them. Catholic Apostolics continue a intensive and comprehensive catechetical programme for thier youth, leading to confirmation. The service was held in St Aloysius Roman Catholic Church in Utrecht as our own building was too small for the large congregation.

The Church of the Resurrection in Istanbul, a Turkish-speaking parish in the city, is now close to celebrating one year of life as a formal congregation in the diocese. On Sunday 20 March I presided and preached at their Sunday Eucharist. Several members of the congregation stayed after the service for a dialogue session (pictured above) at which we explored together many aspects and questions related to Christian life in Turkey and the unique contribution that the Anglican tradition can offer. The priest-in-charge, the Revd Engin Yildirim, reports that after a year congregational life is deepening with several activities and groups organised: a drama group, music group, programme for discipleship training, "mercy ministry" (outreach) and childrens' ministry. 18 people are now enrolled in the programme to deepen a sense of lay vocation and discipleship. Among the activities included in "mercy ministry" is collaboration with the Roman Catholic organisation Cari...

Copyright © 2002 The Church Pension Fund