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The magazine of the Diocese of Canterbury issue 17 sPRiNG 2014The newsletter of the Diocese of Canterbury

Supporting homeless people in Maidstone

News and events from the Diocese of Canterbury

Contact the editorial team

Outlook is the quarterly magazine for the Diocese of canterbury. editor: emily shepherd, tel: 01227 459401 email: eshepherd@diocant.org sub-editor: Marilyn HaddockCommunications Advisory Group: John Barton, Richard collins and christopher Robinson.canterbury Diocese, Diocesan House, lady Wootton’s Green, canterbury ct1 1NQ tel: 01227 459401The editor and team welcome submissions for Outlook Magazine and can be contacted via the contact details above.Diocese map: Digital Mapping solutions from Dotted eyes. © crown copyright 2014. all rights reserved. licence number 100019918 (scale: 1:10,000), Mark Binns, mbinns@diocant.org

For advertising enquiries please contact sandra Heyworth tel: 07747 116 875 or sandra.heyworth@hotmail.co.uk

Designed by: Green and tempest, www.greenandtempest.co.uk

Future editions will be published: May 23rd (copy deadline May 6th) august 22nd (copy deadline august 5th) November 21st (copy deadline Nov 4th) FeedbACk We hope you enjoy Outlook magazine and the editor would welcome your comments: eshepherd@diocant.org

The magazine of the Diocese of CanterburyThe newsletter of the Diocese of Canterbury

Bishop opens first community bank at Murston Church - page 4

Thanet Kidz Klub farming project - page 6

20 years of ordained women’s ministry - page 14

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Cafe Style worship - page 19

Contents4 Diocesan News6 Parish News10 School & Young People’s News13 Outlook special feature: 20 years of ordained women’s ministry 19 Cafe Style worship20 Talking Point: Swallowing our churchmanship for true ecumenical ministry22 What’s on in the Diocese24 Meet the People: Flora Launden

It’s strange how words enter our vocabulary and then become mainstream so quickly. Words like fracking, payday-loans, iOS, selfie, reimagine, tablets, ash dieback, soft launch, dis and tweetable to name a few.

Often context helps us to understand these new words so, for example, the word ‘dis’ in the context that I first heard it (in an urban adaption of Macbeth where the three witches were the three ‘bitches’) was clearly a word that means to ‘do-down’ or ‘put-down’ and probably has its origins in ‘disrespect’.

The season of Lent for me links more traditional words of discipline and discipleship together in a way that can strengthen our spiritual health for the rest of the year. But just as the context gives meaning to new words they can also help old words have new vitality. Both disciple and discipline have ‘learning’ central to much of their Biblical usage. Sometime our living out of these words has a slightly more punitive perspective especially in

Lent. Linking our physical health with our spiritual well-being can be a useful way of combining new 5:2 or 4:3 regimes with fasting. But what do we learn? I remember a former Bishop of Jarrow hitting the headlines when, in addition to his daily Bible reading, he decided to read the Koran in Lent.

Recently for me John Dominic Crossan was a Lentern read that wouldn’t normally have been on my bookshelf and Tom Wright (NT Wright) continues to produce some challenging books that help scripture to be a textbook for real life as they were for Jesus in the desert.

New words, new books, new learning ensure that we find new ways of being church and being Christian to ensure that we are fresh and relevant. How are we continuing to learn and grow? Lent courses, book groups and guided reading can all be ways that we continue to be disciples of Jesus Christ and also be new.

With Lentern blessings,

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New ways to be Disciples

sixth formers running a christian union group in a non-faith school have seen the numbers of young people attending rise from under ten to over forty in just one term.

tabitha shepherd, sam evans and kirstie Maddison, all upper sixth students, and lower sixth student Naomi smart, took over the leadership of the christian union in september.

tabitha, who attends st John’s kingsdown and helps with the youth group at Walmer st Mary’s, explained: “Building on the foundations laid last year, we were committed to making cu even more exciting and engaging this academic year. We held a launch event early in september, which we publicised throughout the school. We offered a friendly meeting place over lunch, with food and a chance to talk about issues and explore faith. We were delighted when around 45 girls, aged 11-18, came along.”

“each week we pick a theme and build an activity and discussions around it. Recently we have looked at ‘peace’, ‘oppression’ and Mary as a teenage mum. everyone has fun and it is a great way for pupils of different ages to mix and talk” explained sam, who attends st Mary’s Dover. kirstie, who also worships at st Mary’s Dover, added: “Despite our school not being a faith school, there is clearly a need for young christians and those interested in christianity to meet and talk.”

Head teacher, Matthew Bartlett commented: “as a practising christian myself, i am delighted that we have a thriving christian union. What is so important is that all students, regardless of their religious affiliations, feel able to meet to discuss and express

their shared faith together in an open and non-judgemental way. as a school we are delighted to provide this tolerant and free environment.”

Front cover storyChristian Union flourishes at dover Grammar School for Girls

Archdeacon of Maidstone, the Venerable Stephen Taylor

Stephen

Young leaders of Christian Union.

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Diocesan News

On 20 January, Kent’s first community bank to be held in a church was officially opened by Bishop Trevor at All saints’ Church, Murston in sittingbourne. The Murston Community Bank is part of the local credit union Kent savers, and will now open daily between 10am and 12noon, providing savings accounts and loans at reasonable rates.

Over 60 people attended the opening, including members of the community, supporters and donors to the project, community bank volunteers, children from three local schools, the Mayor of swale, sue gent

and Labour councillor, nick Williams. The initiative follows the launch of the

Diocese’s partnership with Kent savers last October; a move inspired by the Archbishop of Canterbury’s call for the Church to be more proactive against debt and payday lenders.

Commenting on the Diocese’s involvement in the project, Bishop Trevor said: “This is not a sticking plaster to paper over the cracks of people’s indebtedness, but our long term intention to help and support people in the belief that, together, we can make a difference.”

reverend Lesley Jones, Curate at Murston, pictured above on the right, said: “People in the community have told me they are struggling with money, debt, isolation and that they need help. This is our response as a church.”

The community bank will also influence the maths curriculum of Year 5 children at Murston Junior school from this Easter. it is planned that they will open and operate their own branch under the umbrella of Murston Community Bank in september.

Kent’s first Community Bank in a church opens in Sittingbourne

Canterbury Cathedral Girls’ Choir makes historyHistory was made on saturday 25 January 2014 when the canterbury cathedral Girls’ choir sang their first evensong in the cathedral’s Quire.

Over 550 people attended the evening service, which included music by Ralph Vaughan Williams, George Dyson and samuel sebastian Wesley.  as the girls processed out from the Quire stalls, they received a standing ovation.

The sixteen girls, who are aged between twelve and sixteen, attend eight different schools in the region and met for the first time at the beginning of January 2014.

“The girls have had only three rehearsals so far, but they have made wonderful progress and are coming together as a team. They will add a new dimension to worship in the

cathedral and this will be an exciting new chapter in the cathedral’s story,” said David Newsholme, Director of the Girls’ choir and assistant Organist.

The girls’ choir will exist as a separate entity to the boys and will initially sing at services when the boy choristers are on their twice-termly breaks and at special occasions.

The girls have begun rehearsals for their next evensong on saturday 29 March 2014 and this will be followed by the Diocesan service celebrating the 20th anniversary of Women’s Ministry on saturday 10 May.

The introduction of a girls’ choir at the cathedral has prompted worldwide media interest, and the news has appeared in newspapers and on television channels around the world.

calling all photographers! a striking image is being sought for the 2014 canterbury Diocesan senior staff christmas card. The image, which should show some aspect of church life in the Diocese, needs to be available as an electronic file, with a resolution of at least 300dpi. The winning image will be reproduced on a high quality a5 card, which will include the winner’s name.

entries should be sent to emily shepherd eshepherd@diocant.org, please use the phrase ‘christmas card entry 2014’ in the subject box and include your name, details of where the image was taken and your contact details, plus age if you are under 18 years old. The closing date is 6th May 2014.

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Commemorating WW1 centenary

On Friday 24 January, Bishop trevor officially reopened the children’s society charity shop on palace street in canterbury, following its recent refit. pupils from st peter’s Methodist primary school attended to help cut the ribbon.

The shop, now colourful and inviting, is introducing a new line of ‘shabby chic’ - small furniture items made especially for the shop. adults’ and children’s second hand clothes, accessories, books, jewellery and bric-a-brac continue to be sold.

Mrs Margaret Willmott, Diocesan president for the children’s society, commented: “The work of the children’s society is very important to help care for disadvantaged or disabled children. The society has projects running in kent including the secret Jungle in Margate, where disabled children and their families can feel safe and relaxed in a stimulating, play environment and the intergenerational programme which builds bridges between teenagers and older people.”

The shop is always looking for donated items to sell and also volunteers to help serve in the shop. its opening hours are Monday to saturday 9.30am to 5.30pm.

parishes are being encouraged to commemorate the centenary ofWW1 which takes place on 4th august, 2014. along with churchesopening their doors for local communities on 4th august, church communities may also like to consider restoring, interpreting and promoting war memorials and encouraging visits from schools and community groups during this centenary year.

On behalf of the Diocese, the communities and partnerships Framework has produced a booklet ‘commemorating the centenary of the First World War - How you can be involved’, which is available from the Diocesan website or from Jenny Ross: jross@diocant.org or 01227 459401.

The cathedral archives are also keen to help churches prepare for their commemorations. Within the archives there is a wealth of historical material relating to canterbury during WW1 including newspapers, photographs, correspondence, diaries, artefacts and film.

Canterbury confirmed as @no1 Cathedralcanterbury cathedral has joined twitter. The world heritage site embraced social media at the end of last year and hasn’t looked back since.

“it’s a fantastic tool for communication” said lisa emanuel, cathedral press assistant. “We can share behind-the-scenes pictures, the latest news, daily service updates and forthcoming events at the touch of a button. so far we have received a very positive response, especially to our twitter name @No1cathedral! We have followers from all over the world.” 

social media fans can also follow the Diocese: @canterburyDio

Bishop reopens Children’s Society charity shop on Palace Street, Canterbury

Calling all photographers - try the diocese photo competition!

Image by Lisa Emanual used for the 2013 card.

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parish NewsFor decades, the district of Thanet has struggled with high unemployment, crime and isolation. Over a quarter of children are forced to live in impoverished conditions, this number rising to nearly 50% on the newington estate. it is here in newington that Thanet Kidz Klub (TKK) does its work.

With support from local churches such as Harvest new Anglican, st. Mark’s ramsgate and st. Christopher’s newington, TKK operates an after-school club designed to promote upstanding values in local children as well as provide a safe place for them to be until their parents can collect them after work. One evening a week, meals are served and a sense of community is promoted.

Thanet Kidz Klub is embarking on a new project: a two-site community fruit and vegetable garden run in the grounds of st. Mark’s and st. Christopher’s. Programme Manager, Matthew smith explained: “Designed to combat malnutrition and alleviate some of the financial pressure faced by children, the produce will be given away for free. it is also hoped that these gardens will provide safe and welcoming places for families in newington to meet and enjoy a sense of community, something which is terribly lacking in such a dangerous and deprived neighbourhood.”

For more information or to pledge your support for this effort, please contact Matthew smith: thanetkidzkluboffice@gmail.com

a unique tour business has been set up in canterbury to give a view of the city through the eyes of its homeless. supported by the homeless charity porchlight, the My streets initiative is the brainchild of two university of kent students, Rachael turner and Nikki tulhotra, who are part of the enactus society, which aims to use the power of entrepreneurial action to transform lives.

The 90-minute tour takes place every saturday from 10.30am and explores the history of the city from canterbury cathedral, around the city walls, and up to the Beaney. tickets costs £5 and the format follows that of a normal tour, with the added twist of real homelessness stories and the history of homelessness in canterbury.

saturday 1 February saw the first official tour, with a large group gathering in the Buttermarket to brave the icy wind and hear catherine, a homeless person and porchlight volunteer, give her unique perspective on the city.

For catherine, the significance of the My streets initiative is the human interaction: “For many homeless people, just the chance to be heard is important. it’s breaking down barriers, so that a homeless person isn’t someone to be ignored, but can be seen as human too.”

Richard Barnard, jobs, education and training manager at porchlight and also a lay member of the Diocesan synod, is keen that church members experience the tours: “These tours are all about changing attitudes and stereotypes, and for christians, this may spark an interest in what they could be doing about social justice. paying to participate in the tour means not just giving to a homeless charity, but about rewarding someone for their hard-work.”

More details at: www.mystreetscanterbury.co.uk or follow @Mystreets1 on twitter.

Porchlight offer unusual tours of Canterbury

A new look for Bredgar Church

Thanet Kidz Klub farming project

Bredgar church has new facilities, running water, a kitchen and a toilet, all with the aim of making the church more accessible and friendlier.

after eight years of planning and once permissions were granted, some pews were removed from the back of the church and the font was moved to enable the vestry area to be enlarged to incorporate the kitchenette and toilet.

The work was completed over a period of four months and cost in total around £33k, funded by donations (including £3,500 raised by the newly formed Friends of Bredgar church). Finishing touches were added by volunteers.

The Reverend Marian Bond, of Bredgar, commented: “as a result of these improvements, the congregation is now able to gather around the font to view baptisms with ease. The open area is also available for people to enjoy refreshments after church. The toilet is much appreciated by old and young alike; there is even a baby changing table.”

Bishop trevor dedicated the new facilities on 26th January as part of the parish’s monthly excite service, to which both Bredgar school children and the Bredgar singers contributed. after the services, refreshments are served using the new facilities.

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new book relates anecdotes of life in and around Brabourne

St Thomas Becket’s watery setting

The Silver Song Music Box Improving the health and well-being of people through music

For an information pack please phone 01303 298546 or visit www.singforyourlife.org.uk

The Silver Song Music BoxTM

is availaible from ‘Sing For Your Life’, a registered charity that seeks to improve the health and wellbeing of older people through music.

The Silver Song Music BoxTM is used as a tool to engage those living with conditions such as Dementia, Stroke, Parkinson’s and other memory conditions. Singing brings people together and the Silver Song Music Box provides an inclusive activity that delivers excellent cognitive stimulation and reminiscence therapy.

“When patients respond to song and dance I feel as if I am doing some-thing positive which lifts my mood.”

Carer in a HoMe

Brabourne church has launched a history book which records how life in rural Brabourne in kent has changed over the past century.

Based largely on anecdotal evidence from over 170 contributors and containing some archival material and literally hundreds of black and white photographs which give ‘colour’ to the text, ‘archives & anecdotes’ took over seven years to complete.

kathy embleton-smith, former churchwarden at Brabourne, said: “The launch in December went brilliantly.  Brabourne church was packed.   people were queuing down the church path and we have now sold over 400 books which should help towards the maintenance of the church.”

kathy continued: “The book is undoubtedly personal to Brabourne but many of the changes are also identifiable in other villages, so we hope that this book will have wider appeal, especially to those interested in local history, english village life and old photographs.”

archives & anecdotes, Reflections on english Village life from Brabourne in kent is available for £15 + p&p from brabournechurchpublishing@gmail.com.  it is also available from amazon for a higher price.

st. Thomas Becket, Fairfield, is one of Romney Marsh’s most iconic churches. presently surrounded by flooded sheep fields with no traditional boundaries such as graveyard or gardens, it appears ‘plonked’ on the landscape. But in fact, during the middle ages it served the now lost village of Fairfield, a once thriving community of farmers. This picture was taken by John Hendy early in February after the wettest January on record. He commented, “The church looks rather like a stranded Noah’s ark.”

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parish News

Churches in Maidstone have been working together this winter to set up a much needed night shelter for the homeless. Following a great deal of prayer and with the support of other organisations including Maidstone Christian Care, Porchlight and Maidstone Council, the project finally opened its doors on 20 December 2013.

Until the end of February, an army of volunteers from local churches will help to provide a warm welcome for ten homeless people every night. As well as a bed for the night and a warm place in which to relax, guests are given a hot evening meal and breakfast the next day. Other people have been inspired to help, including a team from a local hair salon who have provided free haircuts!

The reverend Chris Key, vicar of st Luke’s, Maidstone, commented: “it is a joy to partner with other churches and individuals to provide a service for those in need. To chat with these folk, often in broken English or ‘sign language’, is such a privilege, as we seek in this simple way to share Christ’s love and begin to befriend those who often feel uncared for.”

Chris asks for prayers for the expansion of the project in 2014/15; that the needs for permanent accommodation and paid employment will be met for this year’s guests and that god’s love in action in this project will be noticed by the wider secular society.

Maidstone churches run Homeless night Shelter

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Over two weekend afternoons at the end of last year, people from churches in the len Valley Benefice and Boughton Monchelsea spent time studying the Bible using some unusual techniques.

under the expert tuition of carl palmer, participants went on a ‘Walk through the Old testament’, which involved learning gestures to help remember the sequence of events and using Harrietsham church floor as a big map of the geographical area.

Molly poulter, one of the participants, said: “all who attended the course thoroughly enjoyed it. By the end of the sessions, we learnt about the structure of the Old testament and knew where all the places mentioned in the Old testament were.

“Many came away saying they had learnt so much and understood much more about the Old testament and its relation to the New testament, and how God was working throughout.

“The presentation was very professional, and we were all given an excellent booklet to accompany the course. We would highly recommend it.”

On saturday 26 april The Friends of all saints, ulcombe, one of the parishes in the len Valley, will be holding a special Open Day. Billed as a pageant of church life, events will include mystery plays, bell ringing, brass rubbing, music, a treasure hunt, visits up the tower and all sorts of children’s activities. The day will start at 10.30 am.

The Fremlin Walk Chaplaincy – supporting workplace staffFremlin Walk shopping centre in Maidstone will soon re-launch its chaplaincy team thanks to the support of many local churches.

From the spring, the chaplains will offer regular support to people in the workplace by listening to staff and managers alike and helping them with issues or through difficult times.

to ensure the chaplaincy service is well resourced, the new chaplaincy is ecumenical, using leaders from several local churches.

Reverend Jackie cray, priest in charge of st Faith’s Maidstone, said: “The Fremlin centre Management warmly welcomed the idea of re-starting the chaplaincy. The Fremlin Management have borne much of the cost and kent Workplace Mission will bear the cost of DBs checks and are providing advice and guidance to the chaplains.”

chaplains can be contacted during their visits by phone on 07745 066165 or by tweeting them @fwchaplains and can be identified by their Fremlin Walk chaplaincy badges. centre staff can speak to a chaplain in confidence, as someone is in caffè Nero at the House of Fraser between 12noon and 2pm every Wednesday.

Chartham Church musical outreach

st Mary’s chartham have recently increased their musical output to help build connections with local people. as well as concerts and one off performances, two events take place each month: coffee & cake concert and st Mary’s chartham Music club.

The coffee & cake concert happens on the third saturday each month, from 10.15am to 12 noon. Over the last eight months the church has hosted a wide variety of artists, and music styles, covering classical, jazz, folk, gospel and light popular, including highlights from Queen’s ‘We Will Rock You’ by Folkestone school for girls. around 60 people attend each month and more are always welcome.

st Mary’s chartham Music club takes place on the fourth saturday each month, commencing at 4pm with Rock school. around 7pm the event morphs into an open mic session. Maggie Williams-chadwick, churchwarden of st Mary’s, commented: “st Mary’s chartham is becoming a hub for musical performances. What we do helps us reach out into the community, raises some funds and brings new life into our beautiful church building.”

to find out more about the The coffee & cake concert please email: paul.bourdillon@irunsolutions.co.uk

A Walk through the Old Testament

The CANTERBURY AUCTION Galleries Outlook advert outline.indd 2 1 10/11/2011 17:32

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Bishop trevor helped Hawkhurst church of england primary school celebrate its 150th anniversary during a special visit in January.

The Bishop joined the school for much of its day-long celebrations, including a morning service in st

laurence church, officiated by parish priest, Father Rodney Dreyer. Back at school, after lunch, a ceremony was held in the school

hall to which special guests from the local community were invited. pupils in year six carried in candles, the children sang a special song in ‘rounds’ and after addressing the children, the Bishop unveiled a plaque.

Finally, members of the school council took the Bishop and other Vip guests to look around the new Victorian Museum which the children have created within the school. With displays, antiques, models and other historic artefacts, the museum provides an engaging insight into Victorian Britain.

commenting about his visit, Bishop trevor said: “i had a delightful day at Hawkhurst. The children and staff were wonderfully hospitable and clearly very proud of their excellent school.”

Head teacher, liz Hatcher, said: “it was a positive day to remember and was a great village and community celebration.”

it’s time to get cracking and start cooking for this year’s kent is Delicious competition 2014. Open to all primary schools in kent, the aim of the competition is to raise children’s awareness of the quality and importance of local, seasonal produce.

Run by the Diocese of canterbury’s communities and partnerships Framework in conjunction with kent county

agricultural society (kcas), the theme this year is ‘breakfast’. schools are invited to create one breakfast recipe which includes

as many locally grown, sourced or produced ingredients as possible. in an added twist, all budding clergy chefs are also being invited

to enter a new clergy kent is Delicious competition. Their breakfast recipe will need to include ingredients from within their parish or benefice.

entries close on 5th June. Finalists will have the exciting task of cooking their dish in the Why Farming Matters kitchen at the kent county show in July.

For more information: email kentisdelicious@diocant.org or call 01227 459 401.

schools & Young people’s News

Children and Schools’ workers explore faith formation

Get cracking! Kent is delicious 2014

eighteen youth, children and schools workers from Rochester and canterbury Dioceses gathered together at the Oast Houses in Northiam for their annual three day retreat in February.

children’s and Youth Ministry adviser, Murray Wilkinson, explained: “We were very blessed to have Mary Hawes - Going for Growth (youth and children) adviser from church House Westminster – with us for all three days.

“together we explored some faith formation theory and how the transitions our children and young people face might impact their experience and understanding of God. The days were filled with the usual mix of great fellowship, deep discussion and reflection, worship, rest and good food and new this year - a formal dinner: an excuse to celebrate the contribution of these gifted people in our churches and schools across kent.”

Special 150 anniversary celebrations for Hawkhurst School

pupils and staff at the John Wallis academy, which is sponsored by the Diocese of canterbury, have been celebrating the outcome of its recent Ofsted inspection.

The academy has been defined as ‘Good’ by Oftsed, less than four years after it opened as an 11–16 school in 2010, and just four terms after it became an all-through provider for pupils and students aged 3–19. Both the predecessor secondary and primary schools had previously been in special measures.

The Ofsted report praised the ‘inspirational principal’ John Mcparland, his staff team and strong board of Governors. teaching and student progress was praised and the report noted that gaps in attainment are closing because of ‘the school’s determination that no student is left behind.’

John Mcparland said: “i am delighted with the first Ofsted report on our 3-19 academy. The inspection team recognised and acknowledged the great progress that has taken place since the academy first opened in 2010, including the significant improvement in the proportion of students gaining five or more Gcses at a*-c.”

The report also noted that the primary sector, which only started in september 2012, is ‘flourishing due to the high quality

leadership from sarah lacon and the establishment of a stable and committed staff.’

John commented: “This report pays tribute to the teaching and support staff and governors who have been magnificent in turning around two failing schools. i want to say thank you to everyone who has

helped us reach this important stage in our development.”

along with the Diocese of canterbury, Benenden school, canterbury christ church university and kent county county are joint sponsors of the academy.

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John Wallis Academy celebrate Ofsted report

With the theme ‘More than words’ (>words), this year’s easter Monday Youth pilgrimage will feature prayer, activities and worship that will encourage pilgrims to experience their faith by living out the words we read.

as in previous years, around 700 people are expected to walk from their parishes across kent, or meet up with one of the mini pilgrimages starting in and around canterbury. converging at the cathedral at 12 noon on easter Monday, 21st april, pilgrims will have a chance to participate in a range of activities in the Nave as a part of the worship experience that begins with the first steps of their pilgrimage in the morning.

This year, pilgrims will also stop at 11.15am for a coordinated reflection and prayers. it is hoped that church members across the Diocese will also take a few moments to join in this prayer, wherever they are at this time. Details of these prayers and information for pilgrims and youth leaders can be found at www.chypsministry.wordpress.com

Schools, young people and youth groups invited to Easter Monday Youth Pilgrimage

Principal, John McParland, and Head of Primary, Sarah Lacon, celebrate with pupils of all ages.

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See life more clearly withour new cataract treatments

Ask your GP or

Optician to refer you

Pain free and eff ective treatment

benenden hospital’s cataract surgery is pain free, extremely eff ective, and takes a very short time under spray applied, local anaesthetic. You’ll walk in, you’ll walk out on the same day – just like the thousands of people who’ve already had cataract treatment with us.

In addition to our standard monofocal lens, we now off er a choice of multifocal and astigmatism correcting lenses that could reduce your dependence on glasses or contact lenses. The correct lens

will depend on your eyes and your lifestyle, so our eye surgeons will review the various options with you and explain what you can expect from each type.

And there’s no need to wait

You can be referred by your GP or Optician as an NHS patient, self-paying patient or benenden health member*. benenden hospital is a not for profi t charity, which is why we are able to off er very competitive prices for self-paying patients. Cataract treatment packages start from £1,935, which includes your initial consultation and follow up.

For more information call 01580 242 521 (quote OM)or visit us online at www.benendenhospital.org.uk

*Members who opt for a special lens only pay the additional cost incurred for the lens and additional treatment as cataract treatment with the standard lensis covered by their membership. The Benenden Hospital Trust is a company limited by guarantee. Reg in England, number 3454120. Reg charity No. 1065995.Reg offi ce, The Benenden Hospital Trust, Goddard’s Green Road, Benenden, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 4AX

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Introduction by the Reverend Sheila Cox, the Bishop’s Adviser for Women’s Ministry

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In dioceses all over the country, plans are being made for special services to be held to mark this 20th anniversary. A national service will also be held at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London at 5pm on Saturday 3 May. The event will begin with a gathering at Westminster Abbey at 1pm, followed by a procession of witness from Westminster to St. Paul’s. All the women who were ordained priest in 1994 from across the country have been invited, along with their ordaining bishops. The service will be broadcast outside the cathedral for those who wish to come but do not have a ticket. It promises to be a moving occasion for all who attend.

Here in Canterbury, our own event, ‘Celebration 20’, will find its focus in a Eucharist of Thanksgiving to be held in the Cathedral at 11am on Saturday 10 May. The Venerable Sheila Watson will be the Celebrant and the Reverend Canon Noelle Hall will preach.

Although, quite appropriately, references will be made through the liturgy to a journey that has focussed specifically on women, it is hoped that this occasion will be shared by men and women, ordained and lay. You are all warmly invited to attend the service and, at the kind invitation of the Dean, to stay for lunch afterwards where you can meet with some of the ‘women of 94’ and share their stories. Further details will be sent to parishes in the coming weeks.

Some have argued that a Bishop’s Adviser for Women’s Ministry is no longer needed. For these people, there was a sense that our destination had been reached and that no longer is

someone needed to facilitate an onward journey. Although there has been a growth in the number of ordained women over the last ten years, a growth also shown in the number of female full-time stipendiary clergy, the fact still remains that more than half of the numbers of self-supporting clergy are women whose average age is 52, with the number of women being ordained under the age of 35 being almost negligible. There is still much work to be done to ascertain what will help women’s ministry to flourish and to understand the circumstances that still prevent their ministry from flourishing.

We have so much we can be thankful for, and this May we will celebrate together. But as we nurture our distinctive ministries and as we work in partnership and mutual collaboration, we must also pray for the journey ahead, so that together we can strive to build the Kingdom of God.

This is an exciting year – a landmark, a milestone – an opportunity to reflect together on the journey of the last 20 years since women were ordained to the priesthood.

celebrating the journey of women’s ordained ministry

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MondayIt is a busy week ahead, so I’m really glad I’ve managed to reinstate a workable Morning Prayer pattern – first thing with a cup of tea before the children are up. This is just one of the things that has altered now I’m a mum. My three year old joins me sometimes if she’s up as she likes the candle. Normally I’d be in our weekly team clergy meeting all morning, but today and tomorrow I’m in our church Infant School as part of the Head Teacher panel. It’s a big responsibility, not least as it’s also where my son’s just started in reception and my daughter in the nursery. I feel better for inviting the Christian staff to gather for a very short prayer at the start of the day – the Lord’s Prayer was so gentle and wrapped around us beautifully.

TuesdayAfter a solid morning of interviews and presentations, I picked up an emergency text from my churchwarden about an intruder in church. It’s brought us up short, and we’ll need to look at our procedures to make sure everyone is safe, especially when in church alone, or closing down in the evening. Still, at least we had unanimous agreement about our Head Teacher candidate, ratified by the governors and accepted. It was nice to be able to put the children to bed tonight, as there was no evening meeting.

WednesdayI had to bring my son with me to Breakfast Club so I could get to an early school meeting with staff. I then had a pastoral meeting before 10am communion – I wonder if the women I see would share as much if I wasn’t female myself, or if the men would be able to cry? Perhaps I’ll ask some of my male colleagues. In any case it’s always a privilege when people share their deepest concerns with you. My time with wardens before lunch was the first since Christmas. We are looking forward to the builders coming back to sort out the collapsing ceiling next week. I’m so grateful to have such a good team here. I managed to sort my office, with help from the wonderful Janet, before another pastoral one-to-one. My husband takes the children to swimming; I’ll watch next week. He also finishes bedtime while I tidy up before evening meeting at the vicarage.

A week in the life of Rachel WebbleyTeam Vicar, Whitstable St Alphege

ThursdayAfter a ‘normal’ school run this morning, I was able to have a coffee with my husband in town – he reads while I start to untangle my 2014 diary! After calling in on the chair of governors, I pick up five toddler Bibles that some of my Little Lights family have ordered; wonderful that the local bookshop gave us a discount. I have a great team that help with this play-centred service for toddlers and carers. Next I have a coffee with Jo, our training ordinand. She asks me good questions, which keeps me reflecting on what happens here, which is win-win. Deciding to pop into school on my way home was a good decision as I’m able to chat with a staff member who’s a bit stressed. After an evening meeting I set up a baptism visit by text and respond to a few emails before bed.

FridayAt last, a bit of rest time, apart from a phone call to the Archdeacon and my colleague, and a couple of short pastoral encounters in the street after the school run. I forgot my daughter’s book bag for nursery; we’re still not in the routine as she’s only just started. Someone comes to fix the dishwasher after lunch, which reminds me I need to sort out the annual alarm check and get my son’s passport renewed when I get the chance. The children know that Friday night is Zumba night – they can tell where I’m going by what I’m wearing and it’s definitely not work for once!

SaturdayThis morning I held a wedding service ‘nuts and bolts’ session with my six couples – some I know already but for many this is their first contact with church. On the way home I bought a birthday present for my son’s friend’s party tomorrow. I prepare for the Candlemass service and leave a message with the architect. Some neighbours visited in the afternoon, and we had a lovely sociable time musing over civic weddings, social trends and parental guilt!

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“I wonder if the women I see would share as much if I wasn’t female myself, or if the men would be able to cry? Perhaps I’ll ask some of my male colleagues”

SundayThe lovely quiet 8am communion feels quite an indulgent way to start a Sunday and I felt full of thanks as we all gath-ered together. I pray with the healing team before the service, and check with the Kidzone team that they’ll be coming back from the school hall behind church for 10.30am in time for communion – always a tricky one to judge. The 30 minutes after the service are the most intense in the week, so I help my brain by using a pen and book to write things down, including phone numbers of new people to help keep in touch. If I don’t have a baptism, home communion or pastoral visit I’m usually back in time for lunch with the family. Today Jo comes with me to a baptism visit with Gabriel who’s six years old. He’s part of our church already and I’d been into his class with the Godly Play ‘baptism’ lesson. Jo drops me off at church just in time for Evensong, which is a lovely simple way to end the working week. Back home it’s good to reconnect with the family - not always easy to change pace. Once the children are asleep, I finish some work, then we settle down to watch Musketeers!

Little Lights play-centred service.

A morning wedding service session with wedding couples.

Meeting with churchwardens.

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On September 29th 1985, I knelt before the altar in Canterbury Cathedral with the five male ordinands I had trained with. We were there for our ‘ordination’ service. We all had hands laid upon us by Archbishop Robert Runcie, but the men were vested with a deacon’s stole while I had a deaconess cross put on me. Up to that moment there had been nothing to distinguish or separate us, except church law. We had gone through the same selection process, studied together, and prepared for our future ministry together. In a moment of time though, the men were being made deacons (ordained) and I was made a deaconess (remaining laity).

At my interview during our pre ‘ordination’ retreat I asked Archbishop Runcie: “When you lay hands on me are you ordaining me?” I knew the official answer, but I wanted to hear his reply. He said “Eileen, you know that in Spirit I am, but in law I can’t”. As I always believed my calling was to be a priest, his words encouraged and held me steady in the waiting years that lay ahead.

But I was used to waiting and overcoming obstacles. I’d sensed a calling to priesthood back in the 1970s. The first person to ‘name’ this vocation was a Bishop in the late 1970s, (exiled Bishop Colin Winter). Having talked to me about the difficult future I would face if I followed that calling, he sent me to see the first English woman who became a priest - but who to follow that calling had to go to America! When I eventually spoke to my own Parish Priest, I was obliged to say that I felt my calling was to the deaconess order. He said ‘I don’t know anything about that’ and sent me to see the Chaplain at the University of Kent who was responsible for women’s vocations at the time.

On February 27th 1987, after a drawn out synodical and parliamentary process of voting and legislation, it was at last agreed that women should be ordained and admitted to the first layer of the ordained orders of Deacon. Archbishop Runcie was so committed to this, that he went straight from Parliament to the Queen for her signature of assent, before coming immediately to Canterbury Cathedral to ordain us that Friday evening. It was an occasion of great joy for the 13 deaconesses in the Canterbury Diocese. We were the first in England to celebrate the reality of the new legislation allowing us to be ordained as deacons.

The fulfilment of our vocation to priesthood though, had to wait another seven years.

Those were difficult and challenging years. After serving as a deaconess and then as a deacon in Folkestone, I was invited to apply for one of the posts the Canterbury Diocese created for a Woman Deacon. Although I was installed to the position of a Parish Priest and licensed directly to the Bishop, I could not fully be a priest for the people in the three villages of my Benefice. Every Sunday I had to invite a retired or Self-Stipendiary Minister Priest to every Communion Service, to consecrate the bread and wine and to give the absolution and blessing. We all hoped this would not be a long term arrangement.

In November 1993 the General Synod passed the legislation which finally opened the doorway to priesthood to women.

May 8th 1994 was one of the happiest days of my life. On that day I knelt again, this time with the women who like me were deacons, knowing that we had shared the difficult

Women’s Ordination A story of waiting, hope, expectation and fulfilment by Canon Eileen Routh, one of the first women ordained in Canterbury in 1994.

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journey to priesthood. Now, we knelt together at the altar of Canterbury Cathedral to be ordained priest. As we came out of the Cathedral after being ordained priest, the sight that greeted us was a ‘largish’ group of Roman Catholic women with banners, congratulating us, and thanking us for what we had done in preparing the way for them.

That same evening, the Archdeacon came to one of the Churches in my Benefice to install me as Priest-in-Charge. Five months later I was appointed as Vicar of the three- parish Benefice.

What many could not understand was why the Church had not opened the ‘Order of Bishop’ to women when they admitted us to the ‘Order of Priest’, because it is acknowledged that in one sense the two orders flow into and from each other. As a result of the decision that blocked this happening, we have had years more debates and struggles.

Now at last we believe that these arguments have been laid to rest. The reassurances given to those who remain opposed to this final stage will, we hope, satisfy them.

As women with the gifts and skills for leadership become bishops, I believe we will finally achieve a balance and wholeness to the Church’s ministry that in the twenty-first Century is long overdue and badly needed.

“May 8th, 1994 was one of the happiest days of my life. On that day I knelt again, this time with the women who, like me, were deacons, knowing that we had shared the difficult journey to priesthood.”

Eileen Routh at her Benefice installation, 1994.

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G

eneral Synod’s inability in November 2012 to pass the legislation, which by then had been approved in the vast

majority of the dioceses and which would have enabled the church to ordain women as Bishops, caused profound concern, not only within the Church but in the wider community. It was hard for many of us to explain the reasons behind the Synod’s inability to proceed, but thankfully we have now moved on.

In November of last year, Synod approved by 378 votes to 8 a motion which welcomed a new set of proposals which had been worked on by a new steering committee, of which I had been a member. The new legislation is simply based upon five guiding principles, which General Synod believes should be accompanied by simplicity, reciprocity and mutuality. Simplicity in that the new legislation makes no changes to the structures of the Church of England. Reciprocity means that everyone accepts that we can rejoice in each other’s partnership in the Gospel. Mutuality reflects our church’s wider commitment to sustaining diversity. It means that those of differing conviction on this issue will be committed to making it possible for everyone to flourish.

The package of Measures has just been passed in General Synod and sent out to the dioceses for approval. To retain the sense of momentum which has been created over this past year, it is hoped that the remaining legislative process will be completed when Synod meets again in July. To do so, the majority of the dioceses have to give their consent by 22 May. Canterbury Diocese will look at these Measures on Saturday 8 March.

If all goes well, the Measure and its accompanying package will then move through its necessary parliamentary process and receive Royal assent by the autumn of this year.

So much for process. Personally and as the one called to serve our diocese, I rejoice that we have reached this point. The opening up of the episcopate to women, will, I believe, strengthen our witness and service of the wider community, while at the same time ensuring that there is an ongoing life-giving place in the life of our church for those for whom such a development continues to be difficult. The work of this

past year has I think helped the world to see that it is possible to live with difference, positively and meaningfully.

For us as a Church, the opening up of the episcopate to women will bring different and much needed leadership into our common life. It is a leadership which, we do well to remember, was not altogether alien in the early church.

The Bible provides today’s church with surprising examples of women in apostolic and leadership roles. In John’s gospel (20:17-18), Mary Magdalene is the first witness of the resurrection and is told by

the risen Lord to: “...go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God’” and as the faithful first apostle (apostle in Greek means: one who is sent away, a messenger or an ambassador) she is the first to announce the good news to the other disciples: “I have seen the Lord”. Jesus put great faith in Mary Magdalene, entrusting her with spreading the good news to the other disciples and thanks be to God that she was utterly faithful to her calling!

Opponents to women’s ministry and female headship often turn to Paul’s letters to provide evidence that women should be “silent in church” and “subordinate” (1 Cor 14:34) and should “wear a veil” (1 Cor 11:6) on their heads. Arguments against female headship in the church are swift also to quote 1 Corinthians 11:3 that “Christ is the head of every man, and the husband is the head of his wife” but to read only these sections of Paul takes a very narrow view indeed as earlier in 1 Cor 7:4 he contradicts this with: “the wife does not rule over her own body, but the husband does ...likewise the husband does not rule over his own body, but the wife does”. The authority is balanced.

There are also examples where Paul is quite radical in his view of women’s leadership roles in church and seems to advocate for a discipleship of equals.

He mentions that two women called Euodia and Syntyche (Phil 4:2-3) “struggled beside me in the work of the Gospel”, he commends “our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church at Cenchreae” to the church in Rome (Romans 16:1), and praises the missionary couple Prisca and her husband Aquila “who work with me in Christ Jesus, and who risked their necks for my life” (Romans 16:3). Lastly, in Galatians 3:28, Paul surprises us with his radical statement that “In Christ there is neither male nor female for all of you are one in Christ Jesus”. Paul’s thoughts about female authority and headship are neither wholly dismissive nor wholly supportive; in places he is radical about female leadership in church and in other places he is true to the patriarchal culture in which he lived.

Aside from the Bible, women have already exercised a priestly role in the church for nearly 20 years, which involves in many cases exercising substantial oversight (in Greek this is episcope, where we get the word epsicopal from) as team rectors, archdeacons and deans. Episcope is not a function of the body of Christ purely reserved for Bishops but ordaining women to the episcopate would be a natural extension of the episcope many are already exercising.

Finally, most of the Church discerns it is the right time to ordain women as bishops because they sincerely believe the Holy Spirit is calling us to; that it is God’s will that women and men exercise a discipleship of equals at every level of church life because both are made in the image of God and both make Christ known to the world. We relate to God equally in our common baptism, since we are all children of the same heavenly Father. Jesus became a human being to show God’s love to the world – and the important point here, is his humanity, not his maleness.

At this point in the church’s life we are therefore listening afresh to God who is revealing his will gradually for the world in history – it seems now we are ready to hear and act, and the time is right.

Women Bishops - the time is rightBishop Trevor describes the journey towards consecrating women as bishops

“The opening up of the episcopate to women, will, I believe, strengthen our witness and service of the wider community”

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it is quite rare to find a model of church worship that not only tries but succeeds in

appealing to all ages. The value of worshipping together as a church family across generations is clear. Recent research from both the church Growth Research project and studies farther afield in the us have found children and young people are more likely to grow in their faith if they have a variety of significant interactions with people of every generation. all-age worship is one way in which churches can give the opportunity for those interactions to happen.

st. Mary’s church in eastling tried a model of all-age worship called café style in January 2013 and have had five successful services since. café style was developed by the Diocese’s children and Young people’s Ministry adviser, Murray Wilkinson, in his previous role as Youth and children’s Worker at all saints church Brenchley. When asked of its origins Murray says: “i had tried for nearly seven years, on two continents and in widely different contexts, to

find a format for family services that actually attracted families. We stumbled onto café style in Brenchley having nicked the idea from Reverend phil Greig’s ‘Bar None’ service and accidentally made it accessible for all ages.”

Murray says that the format is ‘not especially dynamic or exciting’, and it is compatible with common Worship. it is based on the idea that we are likely to discover God in the midst of our discussion and is governed by four principles: • No-one is excluded• What happens around the tables is more important than what happens up front• The old and the new are explored together• Discussion is the backbone of the time together

st. Mary’s church in eastling has a history of excellent child-friendly monthly services so when café style was suggested they were well placed and eager to give it a try. Murray explained: “The families in eastling have responded well to this new format with regular attendance at the five services offered so far.”

The service starts with ‘enter’: the welcome, which starts outside the door and continues until everyone who arrives is seated, and supplied with coffee and cake. it also includes a starter activity based on the theme of the service aimed to break the ice and begin the exploring process.

The congregation is then called to ‘exalt’: a time of corporate worship that is a response to God in our lives. ‘explore’ is the middle section and the heart of café style: a scripture reading, followed by a short talk (strictly limited to five minutes) and a time of discussion with a few prompting questions.

The fourth section is designed to give the congregation space to ‘express’ their response to the discussion: it includes praying for others and responding specifically to the theme in some creative way. The end is known simply as ‘exit’: a celebration of things in the life of the church (birthdays, anniversaries etc.) plus a challenge to go out and continue the exploring or expressing!

priest at eastling, canon

Donald lawton commented: “cafe style church is an important way to reach out to a significant part of our community who are not interested in or ready for a more formal worship service. The openness of eastling church to various forms of worship and outreach, including cafe style service, was part of the attraction that led me to accept the position of priest here.”

Murray concludes: “café style achieves an accessible balance of sombre sacredness and joyful liveliness by combining the old and the new and focusing on a communal discovery of God in our midst.”

The appeal of Café Style worship to all ages

Swallowing our churchmanship for true ecumenical ministry

“Jesus christ only has one church. We should be united in worship and mission.”

i think almost every believer agrees. But do we really believe it? Do we really live it? sure, there are some fantastic projects going on around the county. local churches together Groups are actively involved in reaching out to those in need. Food banks are being spearheaded by christians who hear the lord’s call to feed the hungry. street pastors are keeping our streets safe and bringing peace in Jesus’ name. But is that it? When Jesus prayed for the unity of his people, did he pray, “Father, may they be one ... when they feel like it.”? Was it, “May they be one ... as long as they can see a common interest”?

and what about our worship? it’s great to see active and strong worship. But too often, to my mind, it seems to reflect either one type of worship or another. either charismatic worship or liturgical. it reflects whichever ‘wing’ of the church is in the ascendency in a local area. i long for humble worship that recognises that Jesus is active where i’m not comfortable.

i think of it a bit like a family’s tV viewing habits. at christmas, grandma sits down, headphones plugged in, watching horror movies on her ipad. My wife will be on Facebook. i’ll be tucking into some star trek on my phone and my daughter will be addictively playing candy crush. What a strange family, you might think. But we’re not all that unusual (apart from grandma!). When it’s like that, are we really together as a family? We may be in the same room, but we’re not really together. sometimes, i feel ecumenism can be like this. We may intellectually ascent to the notion of christian unity, but what does that really mean if we’re all just going about our own

business? in my estimation, pretty much nothing.

sometimes, we ‘decide’ to watch together. My daughter and i both like James Bond, so we’ll sit down and tell my wife and grandma that that’s what we’re going to do. i grab the remote, turn up the volume and then... we’re watching “Goldfinger”. i especially like Odd Job’s hat, a deadly offensive weapon. Great. about half way through, my wife will go off and make a cuppa. she just won’t come back. Really, she had no choice in what we were watching. she was ‘over-ruled’ and so it’s not surprising that she was disengaged and wandered off. When ecumenical worship or action becomes the dominance of the strongest or loudest, again i ask if we are really expressing what the lord Jesus wants for our life together. Often, this kind of ecumenism seems to work. it looks better than doing nothing, but in reality it is ‘ecumenism with people like us.’ i don’t feel it’s healthy in the long term and actually sows the seeds of destruction and disunity as whole churches and traditions disengage from working and worshipping together.

Occasionally, we feel that it would be really good to spend a night watching telly together. i will sit down and watch a boring cookery programme, then the wife will endure ‘The Three Musketeers’ and our daughter will be subjected to the ‘antiques Roadshow’. We all know we are going to be watching something we don’t really like but we do so, willingly submitting to the will of each other for the sake of family.

to my mind, this is when the lord is pleased. When we submit our will to each other, for the sake of unity, for the sake of christ. When we say, “This is what i believe about how church should be. But i also believe christ is

in you. i may find your worship odd. i may think your mission priorities are wrong. But i engage with you because we are family. i submit to you because we are family.” it’s what the apostle paul said in philippians 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”

Wow! When that’s the attitude that dominates our ecumenical relations, we’ll really be family.

CHris rUDDLE The new County Ecumenical Officer for Kent, employed by all the main denominations. His job is to encourage connections amongst followers of Jesus in worship and mission. He is married to Katy and lives in Folkestone. You can contact him on 07808 728670 or email CTKentHub@yahoo.co.uk

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“ ”Talking Point

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We may intellectually ascent to the notion of Christian unity, but what does that really mean if we’re all just going about our own business?

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What’s on in the DioceseFriday 28 February 2014 The Canterbury singers Following evensong, which begins at 5.30pm, canterbury cathedral.saturday 1 March Canterbury Cathedral Choristers with David Flood in concert 7pm, saltwood church. tickets - £8 including refreshments. contact - 0845 642 1303 or events@saltwoodchurch.orgsaturday 1 March Quiz 7.30pm, st alphege, seasalter. £6 including ploughman’s and soft drinks. please book a table of 8 or individual on 01227 271230 or jeannieharwood@btinternet.comsaturday 1 March Church Tour 10am, st. laurence church, High street, st. lawrence, Ramsgate.Tuesday 4 March Piano duets: M ‘n’ M Duo – Maureen galea & Margaret roberts 12 noon, st leonard’s church, Hythe. tickets £6 from Brandon’s Music shop, 55 High street, Hythe (01303 264429) or at door (under 18s free).Friday 7 March Women’s World Day of Prayer 11am, cathedral Quire. 2pm, tenterden Methodist church. 7pm, st Dunston’s, canterbury. This year’s service has been written by the christian women of egypt, and the theme is ‘streams in the Desert’.

saturday 8 March Wine and Wisdom evening 7.30pm, st Mary the Virgin, Wingham. tickets £5.50, tel. 01227 722 979. all proceeds towards improvement projects at st Mary’s.saturday 8 March Diocesan synod 9am, st George’s Foundation church of england school, Broadstairs. With change Management speaker, andrew Blacknell.All Mondays in March and 7 April Charity Lent Lunches 12 noon-2pm, the kentish Barn, cathedral lodge.All Mondays in March and 7 April Bible study ‘Paul for All’ 7.45-9.15pm, cathedral lodge common Room.Tuesdays 11 March – 8 April ‘Lights of the World:’ Canterbury City Centre Lent Lectures 2014 12.30, st peter’s church, canterbury followed by lunch.Wednesdays 12, 19, 26 March, 2 and Thursday 10 April Cathedral Lent group 7.30-9.00pm, kentish Barn, cathedral lodge.Wednesday 12 March stone Mason Talk & Afternoon Tea canterbury cathedral lodge, £14.95 per person. 01227 865350Friday 14 March An Evening with graham Kendrick 7pm, st Faith’s church, station Road, Maidstone, Me14 2pY. tickets: £10 (plus booking fee), available through www.christiantickets.co.uk

saturday 15 March Old Wives Lees Community Choir directed by Mark Harding, Bob Litten-Brown (accompanist) 10.15-12 noon, chartham, st Mary. a mixed programme of light music including ‘sing’ by Gary Barlow and andrew lloyd-Webber written in celebration of the Queen’s diamond jubilee and music by leonard cohen, Dan Heymann and Bob chilcott.saturday 15 March Concert by the EOs piano trio 7.30pm, st. Nicholas church, leeds, Me17 1RJ.saturday 15 March irish (st. Patrick’s) Evening 7.30pm, Marden Memorial Hall. £10 including supper and a glass of wine, available from The Heritage centre, The Village stores, West end stores or contact steve Mcarragher: 01622 831007.sunday 16 March Taizé service 5.00pm – 5.45pm, st. Martin’s canterbury with reflection led by Rev. peter ingrams.saturday 22 March Creative Mission Forum 9.15am, seasalter christian centre, seasalter, Whitstable ct5 4aX.saturday 22 March J.s. Bach’s ‘st. John Passion’ 7.30pm, Nave, canterbury cathedral. performed by The canterbury choral society. tickets from the Marlowe Theatre on 01227 787787 or www.canterburyticketshop.com

saturday 22 March KEYCOg – Toolbox Bishop of Rochester academy, Magpie Hall Road, chatham, Me4 5JB.saturday 22 March Appledore Wedding Fayre 11am to 3pm, st peter and st paul, appledore. includes a Bridal fashion show. parking and entrance is free. Free goody bag for the first 50 brides. celebratory glass of bucks fizz. contact: 01233 758250 or patricia.fogden@btinternet.comWednesday 26 March robert Drury (classical guitar): ‘The segovia Legend’ 12 noon, st leonard’s church, Hythe. tickets £6 from Brandon’s Music shop, 55 High street, Hythe (01303 264429) or at door (under 18s free).Friday 28 March Choral Concert by ‘The King’s Men’ the Choral scholars of King’s College Cambridge 7.30pm, st Margaret’s Bethersden. tickets £12 from 01233 820989 or 01233 820527. all proceeds to The Friends of st Margaret’s.Friday 28 March Bishop’s Day for Licensed Clergy & readers, ALMs & iME 1-7 students The chapel, canterbury christ church university. contact mhambrook@diocant.org

CATHEDrAL LEnT grOUP

Wednesdays March 12, 19, 26, April 2 and Thursday 10 April 7.30-9.00pm, kentish Barn, cathedral lodge. Meditations on praying with st luke. Neville emslie, Diocesan Ministry Development Officer, will lead us in a study of the prayers of Mary, simeon and Jesus, in st luke’s Gospel. using art and poetry, and a close look at the texts we will be invited to see how they might enrich our own praying. texts will be provided, drinks served on arrival. places limited, please sign up with cathi Martin, via cathedral House, 01227 762862 or via email cathi.Martin@canterbury-cathedral.org

BiBLE sTUDY ‘PAUL FOr ALL’ Mondays March 10, 17, 24, 31 & April 7 cathedral lodge common Room, 7.45 - 9.15pm. John arnold, former Dean of Durham will lead these sessions. please bring a Bible. tea/coffee available on arrival. Just turn up.Love Life: Living the gospel of Love short daily videos from the Brothers of ssJe that delve deeply into the gospel of John which shapes their community life. ‘John’s message of love unlocking our hearts and transforming our lives’. These videos will be available online, daily in the cathedral and via a dedicated cathedral phone line.Holy Week Monday – Wednesday Daily – 1pm at the cathedral lodge, Devotional talks – ‘Jerusalem’.Daily – 7.30pm, cathedral. Holy Week meditation with passiontide sequence of Music and Readings. speaker: Rev Will lamb,Vice principal, tutor in Nt studies Westcott House.Tuesday 15 April 12noon, Western crypt. christian eucharist, blessing of vows and renewal of ordination vows.Maundy Thursday 11am, Quire. chrism eucharist, Blessing of Vows and renewal of Ordination Vows.

7.30pm, sung eucharist, the washing of the feet and stripping of the altar.Watch until Midnight – Our lady undercroft.good Friday 9.30am, Quire. The Good Friday liturgy with the proclamation of the cross, the singing of the passion and communion from the Reserved sacrament..12noon, Quire. The Three Hours Devotion with readings and hymns4pm, crypt. sacrament of reconciliation (until 5pm) Holy innocents.5.30pm, Quire. evensong.7.30pm, Requiem – sung by the cathedral choir.Easter Eve (Holy saturday) 10pm, Quire. The easter Vigil, confirmation and first Holy communion of easter.Easter Day 11am, easter sung eucharist – preacher, the archbishop.6.30pm, Quire. sermon and compline.Easter Monday 12noon, Nave. easter Monday Youth pilgrimage.

events, talks and services are being held during lent, passiontide and easter at canterbury cathedral, to which everyone is welcome.Lent and Easter in Canterbury Cathedral 2014

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saturday 29 March gateways into Prayer 10.30 – 4pm, The Quiet View. a Quiet Day with Jenny sandler discovering creative and gentle approaches to our life in God using music, poetry, movement and silent meditation. suggested donation £20. Refreshments provided. Bookings: lizziehopthrow@gmail.comsunday 30 March Mothering sunday Lunch 3-course lunch at canterbury cathedral lodge. £24.95 per adult or £12.95 per child under 14 years. 01227 865350saturday 5 April ‘requiem’ 7.30pm, all saints Birchington. contact: parish Office/tim attride, sue.murphy@talktalk.net tim.attride@talk21.com or tel: 01843 840777.Thursday 10 April University of Aberdeen, King’s College Chapel Choir 7.45pm, st leonard’s church, Hythe. tickets £10 from Brandon’s Music shop, 55 High street, Hythe (01303 264429) or at door (under 18s free).saturday 12 April (morning), Thursday 19 June (afternoon), Tuesday 8 July (afternoon), Wednesday 20 August (afternoon)

Eudaemonia Quiet garden – Open days 2014 Garden in the centre of canterbury, within earshot of the cathedral bells. part of the Quiet Garden Movement www.quietgarden.org. tel 01227 451991 or email petertoon@aol.com saturday 12 April indoor Boot Fair 10am-12 noon, st. Mary’s church, park Road, sittingbourne. Raffle and refreshments. £10 per stall, admission free. contact: Joy, 01795 423734 or jykiley@yahoo.co.uksunday 13 April The Merry Opera Company, directed by John ramster, conducted by stephen Hose 6.30pm, all saints’ church, staplehurst. a staged version of Handel’s Messiah. tickets: £17.50 in advance, £20 on the door (incl, glass of wine or soft drink). available from: The Mocking Bird Vintage tearooms, High street, staplehurst or www.merryopera.comgood Friday, 18 April ‘The Crucifixion’ by sir John stainer 7.30pm, st Mary the Virgin, sutton Valence.sunday 20 April Easter sunday 3-course lunch with Easter egg hunt for children canterbury cathedral lodge. £22.95 per adult or £10.95 for under 14s. 01227 865350. Monday 21 April Easter Monday Youth Pilgrimage Meeting at the cathedral at 12 noon.saturday 26 April Mystery & History for all the family 10am-6pm, all saints ulcombe. Mystery plays, bell ringing and visits up the tower.

saturday 26 April Bridgend Male Choir 7.30pm, st leonard’s church, Hythe. tickets £10 from Brandon’s Music shop, 55 High street, Hythe (01303 264429) or at door (under 18s free).saturday 26 April st. george’s Day celebrations 10am-3pm, st. Michael’s church, High street, sittingbourne.sunday 4 May snowdown Colliery Welfare Male Voice Choir & Mabelvoy Chorale 3pm, st leonard’s church, Hythe. tickets £10 from Brandon’s Music shop, 55 High street, Hythe (01303 264429) or at door (under 18s free).Monday 5 May Bluebell Walk 10am-2pm, eastling Village Hall.saturday 10 May Celebrate 20 – twenty years of women’s ordained ministry 11am, canterbury cathedral. all welcome.sunday 11 to saturday 17 May Christian Aid week

Wednesday 14 to sunday 18 May Christ Church, ramsgate hosting ‘real Lives’ with roger Carswell 7.30pm, Royal temple Yacht club. Friday 16 to sunday 18 May A Celebration of Flowers: saints and sinners 9am-4pm daily, st Dunstan’s church, canterbury.Thursday 15 May Episcopal Visitation 7.30pm, canterbury cathedral.Friday 16 May shroud of Turin… True or False? 7pm, Gulbenkian cinema, university of kent, canterbury, ct2 7NB.sunday 18 May Taizé service 5pm-5.45pm, st. Martin’s church, canterbury. With reflection led by Rev. Rob Macintosh.Friday 23 to sunday 25 May Flower festival – recycle, renew and relive st Mary’s church, chartham. concert in church 7.30pm saturday evening and songs of praise service on sunday at 6.30pm.saturday 24 May 11am - 5pm and sunday 25 May 2pm - 5pm Open gardens Weekend at Canterbury Cathedral The private gardens of the cathedral will be open to view as part of the National Garden scheme. The Bastian chapel will be open for viewing to ticket holders and there will be classic cars, birds of prey, beekeepers, plant stalls and refreshments. tickets: combined cathedral & Garden tickets available from the christ church Gate. Garden tickets available from certain garden entrances as well. Normal precinct charges apply.sunday 15 June Taizé service 5pm – 5.45pm, st. Martin’s canterbury with reflection led by Rev. susanne carlsson.

Young people aged between 18 and 29 years old are invited to join the Diocesan trip to Taizé this summer from Saturday 14 June to Monday 23 June. Whilst there, young people will help with practical tasks to keep the community running and participate in Bible studies, discussions and take part in the amazing worship. Transport is easy via the Taizé coach and the total cost is between £160 and £200.For more information contact group leaders or Reverend Alex Bienfait, 01580 291454 or Reverend Elaine Richardson 01227 360256. A Preparation meeting will be held on Friday 30th May. Details at: www.tscwtrust.org

Young people invited on the 2014 Diocesan Trip to Taizé

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emily Shepherd spoke to Flora launden, 97, one of the first women Readers to be admitted in Canterbury diocese in 1970. Flora, a retired Head Teacher, enjoyed around 40 years of ministry, in and around Hythe, where she still lives and worships.

MEET THE PEOPLE

Q. What was it like being one of the first women readers admitted in Canterbury Diocese? until 1970 there were no women Readers. Before then, there had been men Readers for over 100 years, but the law changed in 1969. The Reader’s Warden in canterbury, taken somewhat by surprise, decided that they’d better move in and admit some women Readers. so they decided to have four, including the Warden’s wife, the principal lecturer in Theology at christchurch college, an aged missionary and me.

On 2nd May 1970, we all turned up at the cathedral to be admitted by the Bishop. afterwards the Warden of Readers said “i’m not quite sure whether we’re going to use you dear, because we’ve got enough men anyway.”

Q. You went on and enjoyed around 40 years of active ministry. But how did it feel to be the first woman to preach in your parish church in 1970? i don’t think i was up to much really, although a nice woman said, “When i saw you up there, i was convinced that women had a great ministry in the church.” i felt flattered by that.

i had various degrees of welcome. some people walked out when i turned up, other people were very pleased and i remember at sellindge, the Vicar there was delighted and said “it’s just about time we had some women

working.” From that time on, i was busy ministering in churches in and around Hythe.

Q. When you were a reader in the early days did you have support or professional development? No, i don’t think they bothered with us very much because i think they thought “Oh well, as long as they’ve had enough theological training, they can get on with it.” so that’s what we did.

Q. in 1884, the Bishop of Bangor said that, “readers should be Christian men who can bridge the gap between the different classes of society.” is ‘bridging the gap’ still important? Yes, it was expected that the Readers could speak to the general public in a more intimate manner, partly because it’s a voluntary ministry and partly because we are not ordained. as far as the congregations are concerned, they are very pleased to have Readers because very often their preaching is at a more local level and sometimes they say they can understand it better than the clergy!

Q. Were you ever involved with synodical governance? in the early sixties i was on diocesan synod. at that time they never had any women speaking and it was comprised mostly of men. i thought i’d better get up and speak. so i got up and said something just for the sake of women’s work.

Q. Would you class yourself as a feminist? i don’t know that i would, really. i just believe in equality that’s all. No, i wasn’t a rabid feminist!

Q. You enjoyed a long career as a teacher and Head Teacher, but were you always destined to become a teacher? Whilst i was in the sixth form at croydon High school, my father was suddenly taken ill and they thought he was going to die. as i was the eldest of four, my mother said i would have to leave school; which i did. i got a job at Harrods as an apprentice; they would only accept people from public schools or at least from grammar schools and i was there for 18 months. My father in the meantime recovered and said “This isn’t good enough for you,” so he walked me out and then i went to a college of education at Brighton and trained to be a teacher.

Q. What has helped you most with your faith? i was confirmed at the age of 16 and a regular church person. at college, i’d majored in theology and once i’d retired from teaching i went off to kent university and did the advanced degree course. But it was making my cursillo that really made a difference to my faith. i still meet in my cursillo group every fortnight in various houses. We talk, pray for those who are ill and for those who need help.

Q. What are your highlights from parish life? One highlight was when Rowan Williams was archbishop and visited the parish. i remember having a wonderful conversation with him on prayer. He said “We don’t welcome God in prayer, he welcomes us and comes to meet us” and i thought how profound that was. another highlight was my ninetieth birthday; i was still active in the parish and the parish gave me a wonderful lunch in what was then our church hall.

Q. How do you think the Church of England is doing at the moment in terms of the way it communicates with society, when society is becoming increasingly secular? i don’t know that it’s doing particularly well. Of course there are certain high points. Weddings, funerals and baptisms and of course christmas and easter, so it’s frightfully important on those occasions for the church to really be at its best, not only looking its best but preaching at its best.

Q. What will you do for Lent? Well, there’s always one’s personal discipline. as you get old, lazy and infirm, it is harder. But it is still important. You just have to approach it in a different way. You have to do the best you can within your own limits.

Flora launden

For more information about Reader Ministry in Canterbury Disocese visit: www.canterburydiocese.org/readers