Friday 16 July 2010

Ball starts rolling

We've spent this afternoon in the rectory with the diocesan surveyor discussing the work that will be done over the summer. The house is a wonderful elegant Edwardian building and the views are amazing.  

Sunday 11 July 2010

New Job

I have had a letter from Bishop John formally offering me the post of Priest in Charge of Teme Valley South and I have been delighted to write to him accepting.

From my current work -I'm the Agricultural Chaplain - I know something of the people and places where I will be working, and I have been enormously impressed by what I have seen. On Monday I had a wonderful day going round the churches of Teme Valley South. I met interesting people and enjoyed stunning scenery. There was an interest in and a vitality about the future of the churches that I found inspiring. On Tuesday I had a formal interview with a number carefully thought out probing questions.  I was delighted by all I heard and saw and I am looking forward to my new role.

Among the questions I was asked (On Monday's tour; not at the formal interview!) was "What do you think of Mrs Beamish?", so for those of you who haven't met her here's a clip
And what do I think of the song?  I think it works remarkably well because it's a caricature both of Mrs Beamish and of Ken the vicar.  Mrs B needs to learn that mumbling extrememly slowly and sneering at neighbours doesn't really fit with being part of the church. But Ken needs to realise that Mrs B isn't going to change in a "happy clappy" environment where she feels unvalued.