Sunday 1 May 2011

Announcement

By the time that I publish this post, four or five announcements will have been made, all of the same substance. On this occasion, those announcements will concern me and the next stage of my ministry.

In simple terms, I have been appointed as Vicar of the Parish of Ss. Philip & James in Whitton, Twickenham. It has been an interesting little voyage; first the usual things like adverts, forms and interviews; but then news that the appointment must be made (or at least confirmed) by the Archbishop of Canterbury. His office wrote to me, I wrote back - deal is sealed. Such are the wonders of the Church of England!

This is a wonderful moment for me. Those of us who are called to public ministry are not called to theological college, or indeed to curacy particularly, but to what lays beyond. For some of my friends, that has been a sector or armed-service chaplaincy, for others like me, incumbency. That said, the ministry of curacy is life-forming, whole and complete - it just has the freedom of the 'trainee'. 

This post becomes an interesting one. I have pondered whether this might become the death-knell of the Vernacular Curate. Should an incumbent blog? Should a vicar blog as a the Vernacular Curate? I wonder if the Vernacular Vicar can catch on? The great joy and privilege of a good curacy (and I have had the best that there can ever be), is that we Assistant Curates (our proper titles) have chance to expound on the imponderables of life in some freedom. The life, ministry and expectations of the priest with whom the 'buck stops' is necessarily very different, and I now need to consider long and hard the appropriateness of what I write in the new 'job'. 

Another reason that this post becomes an interesting one is that it may well be the first thing that the good folk of Whitton read. We live in a world of Google-search, and I expect that one or two will do that thing which I always do! If you are from Whitton, welcome to my blog. Have a good read, you'll get a feel for me soon enough! I look forward to getting to know you soon.

Then, of course, there is the prospect of leaving something good, whole and wonderful. Whilst my move to Whitton is a source of absolute joy, the prospect of leaving my beloved Aylesbury currently weighs heavily on my heart. Curacies have to end. The good ones are always too short, the harder ones endlessly long. Mine has lasted but a moment, a snip of time. However, all good books have their separate chapters, and this one is about to move to Chapter II. 

Please pray for my beloved Jo, Jessica and Rebekah. This change is not just mine. 

28 comments:

  1. Congratulations on getting to Chapter Two! But please don't abandon your blog - if bishop's can blog, surely Vicars can be Vernacular!

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  2. Great news! I hope & pray all the changes in your life & ministry are challenging but rewarding.

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  3. For me not at all an unexpected development. Have always enjoyed reading your blogs and our short communications. Hoping you will be allowed to continue. In any case best wishes to you and your family (delightful pictures)

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  4. very mixed emotions here in the Murray house. So very pleased for you, Jo & the girls but as you saw we are also very sad. I would urge you (if time permits) to carry on the blog, very selfish of me as I enjoy it very much. Congratulations, may you be very blessed in the move, our prayers are with you all. Shona

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  5. Not my usual leg-pulling, tongue-in-cheek message, just a heart-felt wish that you will be as happy and fullfilled in this new life as you so richly deserve.
    Without your unfailing kindness, patience and help I would not be a baptised and confirmed would-be Christian.
    This parish is going to miss you enormously. We have been blessed to enjoy your "barmy" input into church life.
    Good wishes and all blessings to you, Jo and the girls. Be Happy!

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  6. Congratulations, Vernacular Vicar! Please don't consider abandoning your blog. Just change its name.
    Blessings,
    Anita

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  7. Of course, at present you are an Assistant Curate, and only now do you became a PROPER Curate as you take on the burden, responsibility and joy of the Cure of Souls of your new parish shared with your Bishop. It is a wonderful task and one which I know you will fulfil brilliantly. With every congratulation, prayer and blessing, Fr. Simon

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  8. Great news! many congratulations & look forward to hearing about your adventures in Twickenham. Incumbents are allowed to blog, I can confirm I have only suffered a small amount of persecution as a result, but I think the thing most likely to kill off the blog is the shock of first incumbency. If it doesn't, then I suggest "the Vulgar Vicar" would be a good alternative. :)

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  9. Congratulations, don't stop your blog.

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  10. Many congratulations, David, and prayers for you all. I'm with those who say "continue if you can". Your blogging has been part of your ministry, and a very worthwhile one, but of course your work with the people in your new parish has to come first.

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  11. Congratulations to you all, happy journeying. Please keep blogging, it is helpful for so many of us and another aspect of your public ministry

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  12. Thank you all for your wonderful and supportive comments. It is all very exciting. I confess, though, to needing to hold back tears when the churchwarden made the announcement here today. The news was, I am told, received well in Whitton, so that is good.

    Thanks and blessings to you all.

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  13. What a wonderful appointment! Congratulations to you and your precious family. I've no doubt the road ahead will be amazing, with many a new adventure. To you & yours the joy; and to God be the glory!

    Kathleen

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  14. Gosh there is good news all over the blogsphere today! well done and hope the move goes really well :) Twickenham eh? Rugby fan...?
    I agree with all the above, keep on blogging, lots of vicars do. and as you are already blogging it won't be an unwelcome surprise to your new parish...congrats!
    redx

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  15. Wonderful news. Not a million miles from my patch in North Kent/SE London. You never know, you might have a curious visitor one day. Love to attend different services in different traditions. Opens my eyes and heart to what is so great about being an Anglican.

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  16. Congratulations - big changes coming for the whole family. I think you should continue blogging - you don't need to change the name - you'll still have the 'cure of souls' so Vernacular Curate would be OK - unless later you get to be Bishop?

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  17. No surprise - keep up the blogs! Every blessing. Prov 3:6 Micah 6:8. Douglas. (Anonymous not intended but couldn't respond otherwise).

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  18. Congratulations - I am so glad for you that you have found your next step, and shall pray that all the move and stuff (the boring practicalities) go smoothly for you.
    I think you'll be just down the road from an old college friend of our Revd Tim Garrett at Twickenham Green. You should be in good company - he's as mad as you seem :-)
    Keep blogging if you can, but we'll be patient if it's not so often. My understanding is that as a vicar you have the "cure of souls" so I guess you can stay the Vernacular Curate!

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  19. Congratulations, David! I hope the move goes smoothly! I know you are looking forward to seeing what this next chapter in your life will bring - and of course you'll have to reflect on some of it on the next iteration of your blog. Perhaps you should have a naming contest.
    Penny

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  20. Excellent news - Praying for you and the family at this exciting and challenging time (hate packing up study and saying goodbyes).

    Vic The Vicar

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  21. iPriest is absolutely correct. You have been in contradiction of the trades description act since you started. And just because you are now a real curate doesn't mean that you are too important to blog.

    Well done, I'm extremely pleased for you, as well as being extremely jealous.

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  22. How exciting, Vernacular Vicar definately has a nice ring. Whitton is a lovely area - where I lived when I first got married, do you know the minister in neighbouring Sunbury (St Saviours)? He is a dime of a Vicar (he also married us!). Praying for a smooth transition for you and your family x.

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  23. Congratulations - but don't give up Blogging. I hope your family settle quickly and happily into the new parish.

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  24. Only just caught up with this David. I am so pleased for you. You'll make great vicar! Please don't change. Vernacular Vicar has a ring to it as well as alliteration. Prayers for all of you. Moving house is exciting but hard work and for your family challenging as they find new friends etc. Well done that bloke!

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  25. Nooooooo! You can't go, who will I eat cake with??? fee

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  26. Every Blessing to you and the family and continued prayers from me - usually a lurker, rather than much of a commentator!

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  27. Only just caught up with Google Reader. Well Done! You will like Twickenham . I think youll have to change your Blog name, to .............Vicar but I have changed my blog title recently and it shows one is not stuck in a Cyber rut. Aylesbury has lots of bloggers already and you can count yourself a Blog Plant.

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