The Sunday Archive: The Pilot, July 1997 - Part 1
(Note the above photo and text has been taken from a photocopy, not the original which is still in the Library!)
Island Notes
By Barry Giles
We are looking forward to the Reverend John Seaford, and his wife, Helen, coming among us, and we shall all bear them in our constant and continuing prayers.
We are a "Peculiar" in the ecclesiastical sense of that title, but we are also peculiar in the sense that our customs and traditions are often unique; in church and state within the Bailiwick and within the Deanery. It is good for us that a new Dean brings a wider vision and experience of the Church to the Church in Jersey.
(Note the above photo and text has been taken from a photocopy, not the original which is still in the Library!)
Island Notes
By Barry Giles
We are looking forward to the Reverend John Seaford, and his wife, Helen, coming among us, and we shall all bear them in our constant and continuing prayers.
We are a "Peculiar" in the ecclesiastical sense of that title, but we are also peculiar in the sense that our customs and traditions are often unique; in church and state within the Bailiwick and within the Deanery. It is good for us that a new Dean brings a wider vision and experience of the Church to the Church in Jersey.
One could use such metaphors as "a new broom," though these have their limitations. However, it is true that we all build upon the work of those who go before us. No two priests take the same service in the same way, no successive rectors or vicars operate in the same way; each Dean brings to his office and ministry the gifts which he has.
Canon Seaford, you will know, has been a parish priest throughout his ministry. Those gifts and insights into the work of the people and family of God will be required as we move forward in our Deanery to an era of rethinking the way in which all our parishes and districts are to be served and manned, as our pastoral reorganisation plans materialise over the coming years.
But, no Dean works alone. As we support him, now by prayer, so, I trust, we shall work together resolutely for the right disposition of the Church of Jersey within the mission of the Church of God in this place. The psalmist, like much of the prophecy in the Old Testament, was looking for answers to come "from the north." One lesson we must learn is that answers come when we work together, and that the best of God's answers come when we work together with Him.
This month we have an opportunity to do something together. That is, to make pilgrimage. It was Dean Falle who began this annual act of active worship as an Anglican initiative; quite properly it is now an ecumenical one. But this year, perhaps Anglicans in Jersey could make an extra effort to come together to honour and remember St Helier, who brought the Christian Faith to Jersey, and acknowledge our debt to him, but also to deepen our faith and commitment to that same faith and practice in 1993 and to the future.
This month we have an opportunity to do something together. That is, to make pilgrimage. It was Dean Falle who began this annual act of active worship as an Anglican initiative; quite properly it is now an ecumenical one. But this year, perhaps Anglicans in Jersey could make an extra effort to come together to honour and remember St Helier, who brought the Christian Faith to Jersey, and acknowledge our debt to him, but also to deepen our faith and commitment to that same faith and practice in 1993 and to the future.
No pilgrimage should be easy: it was not for Jesus; it should not be for us. So, make an effort — come, be a pilgrim on 11th July, either from the Town Church at 3.15 pm or at the least, from West Park Slipway half an hour later. My hope is that all our parishes and districts will be well represented as an indication of our determination to be a pilgrim people of God.
Yours in Christ BARRY GILES
Yours in Christ BARRY GILES
John Seaford writes...
BY WAY of introduction, I first want to say how much Helen and I are looking forward to coming to Jersey when I take up this senior appointment in September.
Until invited over just after Easter, I had only been to Jersey once for a holiday. My parents and I stayed at the Hotel L'Horizon and, while there, we celebrated my tenth birthday — so that was a long time ago, but I have the photograph of the contestants in the Fancy Dress Parade to prove it! However, when we came over in April we were struck by the warmth of the welcome and generosity of the hospitality for which Jersey is renowned.
Immediately we felt we could make our home here although it means a separation from our families on the mainland.
Since being ordained, I came to Winchester Diocese 22 years ago, starting off as a Curate in one of the residential parishes on the outskirts of Winchester itself. All our moves have been in an almost straight line in a south¬westerly direction which, by coincidence, if extended points almost directly at the Channel Islands. While at Stanmore and Oliver's Battery I became involved in prison life, acting as a relief chaplain.
My first parish as Vicar was North Baddesley, between Southampton and Romsey. This was a development area with lots of young families in new housing, but based on a tiny mediaeval church. We also had a modern daughter church which we needed to enlarge. At this time the liturgical movement was introducing great changes in worship, and we discovered the advantages offered by the freedom of the new services. Also while there, pastoral reorganisation caused the parish to be united with Chilworth, where the people enjoyed traditional worship.
BY WAY of introduction, I first want to say how much Helen and I are looking forward to coming to Jersey when I take up this senior appointment in September.
Until invited over just after Easter, I had only been to Jersey once for a holiday. My parents and I stayed at the Hotel L'Horizon and, while there, we celebrated my tenth birthday — so that was a long time ago, but I have the photograph of the contestants in the Fancy Dress Parade to prove it! However, when we came over in April we were struck by the warmth of the welcome and generosity of the hospitality for which Jersey is renowned.
Immediately we felt we could make our home here although it means a separation from our families on the mainland.
Since being ordained, I came to Winchester Diocese 22 years ago, starting off as a Curate in one of the residential parishes on the outskirts of Winchester itself. All our moves have been in an almost straight line in a south¬westerly direction which, by coincidence, if extended points almost directly at the Channel Islands. While at Stanmore and Oliver's Battery I became involved in prison life, acting as a relief chaplain.
My first parish as Vicar was North Baddesley, between Southampton and Romsey. This was a development area with lots of young families in new housing, but based on a tiny mediaeval church. We also had a modern daughter church which we needed to enlarge. At this time the liturgical movement was introducing great changes in worship, and we discovered the advantages offered by the freedom of the new services. Also while there, pastoral reorganisation caused the parish to be united with Chilworth, where the people enjoyed traditional worship.
In 1978 we moved to Highcliffe, which is well known to the Vicar of St Luke's as he used to live here prior to his ordination. This is a popular retirement area, but also a residential base for many people working on the south coast, and a home base for many who worked on the seas or overseas: Highcliffe (population approx. 12,000) is united with the hamlet of Hinton Admiral, an agricultural parish. Again there are two churches; and again it became necessary to enlarge and enhance one of them to accommodate the increasing congregation and to enable a wider range of activities to take place. This was a major undertaking which the parishioners did to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the building of a church when the Victorians were discovering the pleasures of the south coast.
Thirteen years ago I became closely involved in the Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches, acting as its secretary for a number of years. This committee is involved when any of the mainland churches wants to carry out repairs, or make alterations, or provide any permanent fixtures. I have also served as one of the Bishop's Examining Chaplains who interview potential ordinands. So I have been very concerned for Church growth, both where the church is the congregation and where the church is the building, and also in that limited area where it is the ordained ministry, as when someone says "I am going into the church."
More recently I was appointed Rural Dean of Christchurch and finally an Honorary Canon of Winchester Cathedral. But most of all I am a parish priest who enjoys pastoral work, caring for my parishioners, whether or not they are part of the congregation. In this I enjoy the wholehearted support and help of Helen who works hard, but as someone wrote in a letter only today, "so quietly and unostentatiously" at knowing and loving the people. I have also enjoyed working with colleagues, both with Curates in our own church and also with ecumenical brethren in the wider community.
I am really looking forward to taking up this appointment in the Diocese for, although it is a very different form of ministry with a lot of responsibility, it is grounded in the ordinary pastoral and liturgical duties that every priest enjoys. It will be good to be Rector of St Helier and have a church and congregation to care for and worship with. It will also be good to be so closely involved with the whole community, both in the Parish and in the Island. It will be a privilege to attend the States and to have the opportunity to speak.
Of course, after nearly fifteen years, Helen and I will be sad to leave Highcliffe and Hinton Admiral, and the Rural Deanery of Christchurch, where we have made many friends; but we are thrilled at the thought of going to such an exciting and exacting post in a very pleasant place.
John Seaford
Thirteen years ago I became closely involved in the Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches, acting as its secretary for a number of years. This committee is involved when any of the mainland churches wants to carry out repairs, or make alterations, or provide any permanent fixtures. I have also served as one of the Bishop's Examining Chaplains who interview potential ordinands. So I have been very concerned for Church growth, both where the church is the congregation and where the church is the building, and also in that limited area where it is the ordained ministry, as when someone says "I am going into the church."
More recently I was appointed Rural Dean of Christchurch and finally an Honorary Canon of Winchester Cathedral. But most of all I am a parish priest who enjoys pastoral work, caring for my parishioners, whether or not they are part of the congregation. In this I enjoy the wholehearted support and help of Helen who works hard, but as someone wrote in a letter only today, "so quietly and unostentatiously" at knowing and loving the people. I have also enjoyed working with colleagues, both with Curates in our own church and also with ecumenical brethren in the wider community.
I am really looking forward to taking up this appointment in the Diocese for, although it is a very different form of ministry with a lot of responsibility, it is grounded in the ordinary pastoral and liturgical duties that every priest enjoys. It will be good to be Rector of St Helier and have a church and congregation to care for and worship with. It will also be good to be so closely involved with the whole community, both in the Parish and in the Island. It will be a privilege to attend the States and to have the opportunity to speak.
Of course, after nearly fifteen years, Helen and I will be sad to leave Highcliffe and Hinton Admiral, and the Rural Deanery of Christchurch, where we have made many friends; but we are thrilled at the thought of going to such an exciting and exacting post in a very pleasant place.
John Seaford
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