Holy Trinity Church, Frome

Can it really be three years since I was ordained and came to Trinity? It has gone in a flash. What a time it has been; three very different years. It began with the most unbelievably warm welcome. I knew very quickly that I had arrived into such a warm and hospitable community where love abounded.
The first six months were the most difficult. No sooner had we moved in than the house was pulled apart by builders, our first son left home for university and I was trying to keep up with Rob and doing so many things for the first time; it was a steep learning curve. Nine months after my arrival and having just found my feet, Rob was consecrated bishop in Marsabit but thankfully did not finally depart HTF for a further six months, at which point a year of vacancy began.

Well, there is nothing like being thrown into the deep end to learn! What I valued most during this period of vacancy was the experience of being part of a healthy church where all members of the Church family contributed to keeping the church functioning well and where everybody pulled together and shared the load. It really was a special joy and a privilege to be part of this community at that time. My third year saw the arrival of Graham and Lesley and so I have been fortunate enough to learn from not one, but two great incumbents. I am taking away treasures from these two men which I am sure will influence my ministry for years to come.
During my curacy I have continued with my degree studies; the third year has seen me particularly busy trying to complete the final modules to graduate this summer. My extended essay has been exploring how vision is developed in the local church. While the project has been very time consuming and has meant I have not been able to undertake other more practical things in the parish, I have learned a lot from it and I think the studies will be invaluable for the future.

It would be impossible to list all the highlights of my time here, there are just too many. They all involve people. During my time here so many of you have trusted me to walk some of your journey with you and that privilege rates at the top of my list of highlights. Some of these dear people are not now with us but are remembered as I write this. There has been so much laughter and fun including the joy of two weekends at Lee Abbey; we will all remember Rachael’s baptism in the sea. The team I have worked with here – wow - they have been a real highlight; the retired clergy, Readers, Wardens, PCC, team leaders and our star administrator Brigit. We really do have the best!
My experience of Trinity has been that of many others before me; one of acceptance and great love. In such an environment, growth occurs. I want to thank you all for making this such a special place where I have been able to grow and develop with you, receiving so much encouragement and support. My sadness is that I am not staying longer with you, but at least we are not going far away. I will carry with me so much of what I have received here and hopefully scatter the Trinity seeds far and wide.

Sometimes we can get it very wrong and think the priest is the main player on the stage. ‘Kierkegaard famously said that it is not the preacher who is the ‘performer’ but the hearer. The preacher is simply the prompter in the drama of human life as it is lived and performed before God. Ministry exists to ‘prompt’ that drama and coax human minds and hearts into life by pointing them to the hints, echoes and foresights of the kingdom of God.’ (Sadgrove 2008) My prayer is that I might have been in some small way a ‘prompter’ here, and I look forward to seeing how the ‘drama’ unfolds in Frome as you continue to love and serve the Lord in this community.
Charles and I send our warmest love and gratitude to each one of you