"We can rise up above our self-limiting beliefs and unhelpful attitudes. " (Canon Tim Neill)
"I read the Economist each week, do some cooking and exercise regularly. I read a range of books but generally not fiction. I love to see democratic freedoms and justice expanding everywhere on the planet. I am a trustee of the Movement for Democratic Change in Zimbabwe. " (Canon Tim Neill)
Bailliwick Express reported last month that:
"Tributes have been paid to a “caring” and “generous” priest [Tim Neill], who moved to Jersey after receiving death threats for challenging tyrant Robert Mugabe, following his passing at the weekend.... He came to Jersey in 2006 with his Jersey-born wife, Carol, and took up the part-time post of rector of St. Mary's Parish Church in 2019.
For more details see:
https://www.bailiwickexpress.com/jsy/news/tributes-paid-rebel-jersey-priest-who-took-mugabe/
https://jerseyeveningpost.com/news/2022/06/13/tributes-are-paid-to-st-marys-merry-rector/
So for this Friday's history piece, I thought I'd get out of the archives a letter sent by Tim to the congregation of St Ouen's Church in 1988 - who supported Tim by prayer and materials while he was in Zimbabwe.
It's a fascinating window into the late 1980s, and part of the background story of a much loved priest. He is remembered in many of the obituaries as a rebel against Mugabe's increasingly savage and dictatorial regime, so it is good, I think, to have a window onto the church building (in the sense of building up the people) that he did in Zimbabwe.
Letter from Zimbabwe
It is always important to remember that we are part of a universal church. We are urged to be informed about and to pray for and support other Christians in different situations from our own. St. Ouen‘s has a particular link with St. Luke's Church in Harare. We invited Tim and Carol Neill to share with us something of their ministry in the Parish of St. Luke, Harare:
Carol (née Treussard) and I were married in St. Ouen’s in August 1981. Carol had qualified with a B.Ed. and I had finished my Theological training in March 1982. After three years at Auondale, my first placement, we came here to St. Luke's and have been here three years this March We have two lovely girls and live in a Rectory which is situated behind the church. I have a part—time non-stipendiary deacon and a full-time lady worker / parish secretary helping me.
St. Luke's parish lies on the eastern side of Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe. The church was consecrated in 1953 (the year I was born) and the first incumbent baptised me. The silver baptismal bowl he would have used on that occasion is still with us! The parish is roughly shaped like a triangle and the church is in one apex.
The area is a previously whites-only area but since independence there has been a significant increase in the number of Africans in the parish so that they form the majority of the population now. The houses are generally three or four bedrooms on an acre of land. The socio-economic grouping is therefore largely the middle class white-collar workers who commute to the city for their employment.
Carol and I count it a joy to serve in this community which is growing and changing at a most pleasing rate. Some four years ago the congregation was an ageing white church with just four couples under forty and no youth programme at all. Today we have numerous young married couples with a good racial mix and a very lively youth group and junior church.
The church's life is focused very much in our twelve house groups. These groups meet once a week and study the material given out with the Sunday's pew paper. The preacher's sermon topic is thus studied in the house groups. Of the regular communicants just over half belong to a house group. We have a policy that people wanting pastoral care from St. Luke's should in normal circumstances belong to one of our small groups. With close on 300 people coming through our doors each Sunday we have had to adopt this policy quite resolutely. And I believe it true to say that it is an exciting thing when ex-Rhodesians and Zimbabweans meet in each others' homes to worship. study and have fellowship together.
This year I have embarked on an ambitious church growth programme. All the house group leaders are presently meeting together once a week for fellowship, mutual encouragement and teaching by me. This teaching course for the leaders is made up of 15 evening sessions spread through the year. Other courses this year look at the themes of ‘How to share your faith'. ‘Worship'. ‘Life in the Spirit' and ‘Leading small groups'. I am confident that these courses will promote greater Christian maturity and confidence so that our present growth trends are maintained.
On Sundays we have services at 7.30 am, 9.30 am, 3.00 pm. and 6.30 pm. The morning services are all Holy Communion except for the Family Service on the first Sunday of the month. The 3.00 pm. service is in the Shona language and the evening service is ASB Evening Prayer. The largest service is the 9.30 a.m. service which is usually a bit chaotic towards the end when a vast wave of children bursts in from junior church to find their mums and dads. We have a healing ministry for people in need of prayer for healing or other problems during communion at both the morning services and other times as well.
The music for the church is organ at 730. organ plus flute, guitars and piano at 9.30. drums, rattles, a guitar and/or piano accordion at 3.00, and usually piano at the evening service. Those of you acquainted with African styles of worship will know that dancing is very much part of their culture, so the 3. 00 service is not quite a traditional “Anglican" service.
The link with St. Ouen’s has helped us with our music and worship, our Christian training programme and our baptism and marriage preparation courses. We are very grateful for your on-going support because it has made excellent material available which would not otherwise have come our way.
Carol and I count it a great privilege to serve in this community at this time in Zimbabwe’s history. There is so much to give thanks for. especially for the fact that we have a tremendous amount of goodwill amongst the races.
Carol and I count it a joy to serve in this community which is growing and changing at a most pleasing rate. Some four years ago the congregation was an ageing white church with just four couples under forty and no youth programme at all. Today we have numerous young married couples with a good racial mix and a very lively youth group and junior church.
The church's life is focused very much in our twelve house groups. These groups meet once a week and study the material given out with the Sunday's pew paper. The preacher's sermon topic is thus studied in the house groups. Of the regular communicants just over half belong to a house group. We have a policy that people wanting pastoral care from St. Luke's should in normal circumstances belong to one of our small groups. With close on 300 people coming through our doors each Sunday we have had to adopt this policy quite resolutely. And I believe it true to say that it is an exciting thing when ex-Rhodesians and Zimbabweans meet in each others' homes to worship. study and have fellowship together.
This year I have embarked on an ambitious church growth programme. All the house group leaders are presently meeting together once a week for fellowship, mutual encouragement and teaching by me. This teaching course for the leaders is made up of 15 evening sessions spread through the year. Other courses this year look at the themes of ‘How to share your faith'. ‘Worship'. ‘Life in the Spirit' and ‘Leading small groups'. I am confident that these courses will promote greater Christian maturity and confidence so that our present growth trends are maintained.
On Sundays we have services at 7.30 am, 9.30 am, 3.00 pm. and 6.30 pm. The morning services are all Holy Communion except for the Family Service on the first Sunday of the month. The 3.00 pm. service is in the Shona language and the evening service is ASB Evening Prayer. The largest service is the 9.30 a.m. service which is usually a bit chaotic towards the end when a vast wave of children bursts in from junior church to find their mums and dads. We have a healing ministry for people in need of prayer for healing or other problems during communion at both the morning services and other times as well.
The music for the church is organ at 730. organ plus flute, guitars and piano at 9.30. drums, rattles, a guitar and/or piano accordion at 3.00, and usually piano at the evening service. Those of you acquainted with African styles of worship will know that dancing is very much part of their culture, so the 3. 00 service is not quite a traditional “Anglican" service.
The link with St. Ouen’s has helped us with our music and worship, our Christian training programme and our baptism and marriage preparation courses. We are very grateful for your on-going support because it has made excellent material available which would not otherwise have come our way.
Carol and I count it a great privilege to serve in this community at this time in Zimbabwe’s history. There is so much to give thanks for. especially for the fact that we have a tremendous amount of goodwill amongst the races.
We have both been very much encouraged by the figures presented by the Wardens, which show very real growth in the last three or four years. I believe this is due to the effectiveness of our house groups. shared lay leadership, an emphasis on the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit and prayer.
So thank you, St. Ouen’s. because we know you have been and are praying for us! God bless you.
TIM AND CAROL NEILL
February, 1988
TIM AND CAROL NEILL
February, 1988
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