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Looking Backwards and Forwards
Earlier this year we celebrated the
11th anniversary of Bishop Donald’s
arrival as our bishop. It was good to
give thanks for his inspiring and
visionary leadership and especially
his commitment to the growth of
every Church.
Ascension Day this month will be
the 10th anniversary of my own
consecration as one of your bishops
in Westminster Abbey and St
Peter’s Day next month will mark 35
years since my ordination in
Southwark Cathedral. Again, it has
been good to look back over the
countless ways in which I have been
enriched by the family of God’s
people in Peterborough diocese. For
example, the folk from Corby and
Rushden who helped bring my faith
alive as a teenager, wonderful
mission training in Northampton as
a curate, refreshing retreats at
Ecton House and Launde Abbey, a
faithful colleague whose father had
been Vicar of Oakham and a
memorable residential workshop at
the Cathedral led by Canon (now
Archbishop of York) Stephen
Cottrell.
It’s good to look back and celebrate.
During lockdown I have learnt to
value a way of praying in which
each evening I review the day by
asking the question; “Where has
God been in my life today?” it’s a
great question, sometimes
challenging, sometimes
encouraging, often surprising. It has
really helped me in daily seeking to
walk with Jesus.
Dag Hammarskjold, the second
Secretary General of the United
Nations, famously once said: For all
that has been, Thank You. For all
that is to come, Yes!”
Looking forward to a post-lockdown
world and church where it’s too
early to say how much will have
changed and how much will remain
the same, I have been looking back
to a book which inspired me 35
years ago. “I heard the Owl call my
name” by Margaret Craven tells the
story of a terminally ill young priest
Mark Brian, with less than 3 years to
live, who is sent to serve the remote
Tsawataineuk village of Kingcome in
the wilds of British Columbia,
Canada, because it is where his
bishop would have wished to go if
he were young again in similar
circumstances.
At first Mark fails to understand and
makes little connection with the
community, but gradually he learns
to listen, to walk alongside and
share people’s lives, serving them in
a Christ-like way, remembering that
Jesus came and walked alongside
all of us. The young priest and the
village are both transformed. It’s a
beautiful description of the kind of
“humbler, simpler, bolder Church” of
which Archbishop Stephen has
recently spoken.