The Curate's  Page

It is with very mixed feelings that we move on. Obviously I am excited by a new challenge in a new location. But there will also be much sadness. When Geoffrey first interviewed me for the position of Curate at Shephall and Aston, he expressed the wistful hope that I would stay on for three years to provide some continuity for the benefice. The fact that by the time we leave it will have been almost six years, says something about our regard for the two parishes.

There are lots of things we have appreciated and will miss. Aston is certainly one of them! The warmth of friendship and support that we have received from the congregation at St. Mary’s has been a great blessing and although strictly speaking we have been “outsiders” from the new town, in many different ways we have been welcomed into the life of the village and made to feel part of the community. In my ministry I have been immensely privileged to meet all kinds of wonderful people who have allowed me into their lives especially at key moments such as childbirth, marriage, illness or bereavement. I am always touched through these encounters and I hope I have been of some help. Involvement with the village school has been a real pleasure. The children are amazing and the staff an inspiration! I will also treasure memories of a string of wonderful nativity plays at the Christmas Crib Service. Geoffrey White was a most congenial and supportive colleague to whom I owe a considerable debt and, over the last few months, I have also enjoyed working alongside Vivienne Hathaway, who brings her own distinctive gifts and freshness to the benefice. Linda Higman, Ken Pearce and Veronica Carolan have provided valuable assistance and the enthusiasm and commitment of lay leaders and members of the congregation have helped make duties more of a delight.

Six years or so is sufficient time to cause a few upsets, so on leaving if I have trod on any toes or in other ways let people down I sincerely request your understanding and forgiveness. From my perspective and as indicated above, I simply have so much for which to be grateful.

I leave amidst some uncertainty surrounding what will happen to my post. For a village like Aston, a traditional Rector with a Rectory in the parish is the ideal but sadly one that is no longer sustainable. A part share in two clergy from the new town has been stop-gap expedient. Whether even that arrangement will still be possible remains to be seen. But at the end of the day the Church is the people, not just the clergy, and its life goes on. “Our Church, Our Challenge, Our Choices” was the title of a presentation on the finances of St. Mary’s given at services on two successive Sundays in January. What I found encouraging about the material prepared by members of the PCC was the sense of forward planning, of thinking responsibly and constructively about the future rather than just reacting passively. I hope that that same spirit will inspire the life of St. Mary’s more generally too.
A particular challenge facing the church at present is the need to replace our two churchwardens. Colin and Sheila have done sterling service but now feel it is time to stand down. I, along with others, am immensely grateful to them for all they have done and the gracious way in which they have done it. I also know that they will give support and advice to their successors. But we do need new wardens. Is there anyone reading this who would like to put themselves forward?

Another challenge will involve finding ways to continue the weekly 10am All-Age Service with a reduced staff. It has been most encouraging to see usually at least a dozen children in our church at this service, along with their parents and others too. As they are not always the same faces each Sunday, we know that this service caters for a larger number of children and their families. My hope is that some of the parents will themselves take on responsibility here. The service need not remain the same: there is scope for finding new ways and using new gifts. The Easter principle of ending and death before resurrection and new life may well apply.

At my last service at Aston on Easter Day at 11am, I shall be dedicating a set of new Junior Praise songbooks, bought with a bequest from the late Betty Hilliard. Betty was for many years a loyal and much loved member of the congregation and she asked that the money she left the church should go towards children’s work. The dedication of the books will be a fitting expression of thanks for the past and hopes for the future at St. Mary’s.
Ann and the boys join me in expressing our thanks for all that we have received at Aston and a loving farewell to all.

Yours sincerely
Robert

Revised: February 23, 2008 .