Ecumenical Joy as Fr Matthew Jones is Licensed in Hamburg

Fr Matthew Jones, far left; Archdeacon Jonathan LLoyd, second from right

On Saturday 16 September, in a joyous celebration with a significant ecumenical presence, Father Matthew Jones was licensed as Chaplain of the Anglican Church of St Thomas a Becket, Hamburg. The Archdeacon of Germany and Northern Europe, the Venerable Jonathan LLoyd presided and preached at the service at which clergy representing the Roman Catholic Church, the German Lutheran Church, the Church of Finland, Church of Sweden and the Hamburg Council of Churches took part.  


A video clip which has some shots of the service, but more importantly, an interview with Fr Matthew Jones,  can be found here. The new chaplain reflects on moving from Australia to Germany, and his expectations about the challenges and joys of ministry in Hamburg. St Thomas's Church is celebrating 400 years next year and Fr Matthew sees this as an important opportunity, not only to reflect on that past history, but to see what gifts and experiences can be carried forward into the future to enable the parish to move forward "to glorify God and celebrate life in the city".

The Archdeacon presents the licence to the new priest