THE COMMUNITY OF ST JOHN THE DIVINE · The Community of St John the Divine, an Anglican Religious...

ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019

MAKING CONNECTIONS

COMMUNITY OF ST JOHN THE DIVINE

THE COMMUNITY OF ST JOHN THE DIVINE

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 210254

ST. JOHN’S HOUSE, 113 COLESHILL ROAD,

MARSTON GREEN, BIRMINGHAM B37 7HT

Tel: 0121 7880391

[email protected] https://csjdivine.wordpress.com

2 Making Connections | 2018 - 2019

INSIDE FRONT

The Mission StatementThe Community of St John the Divine, an Anglican

Religious Community, live under the threefold Vows of Religious Life, establishing a centre of worship and prayer under the patronage of St John the Divine, the Apostle of Love, and together with the Associates of the Community

form a network of love, prayer and service.

Within the ethos of healing, wholeness and reconciliation, we exercise a ministry of hospitality for people to come for

times of rest, retreat and renewal and to share in the life and worship of the community. We seek to offer a ministry of

spiritual accompaniment and pastoral care, and to respond to the needs of the poor and marginalized.

The heart of our call is to be a praying community seeking God in our daily lives and serving Him in reaching out as

channels of God’s love to others.

Thank you’sWe wish to offer our thanks:

To both our Bishops – David Urquhart, Bishop of Birmingham, our Bishop Visitor, and Bishop Anne

Hollinghurst, Bishop of Aston.

To our local Chaplains – Rev Canon Helen Hingley and Rev Bill Moore.

To all the clergy who regularly preside at the Eucharist

for us – the Revds Nick Ball, Paul Day, Kathy Evans, Patrick Gerrard, Penny Harrison, Val Hicks, Helen Hingley, Jo Johnson, Theresa Jones, Elaine King, Peter Law-Jones,

Bill Moore, Eddie Owen, Sue Restall, John Richards, Joe Roberts, Diane Thompson and Genny Tunbridge.

To Mandy and Michael O’Connor for their help and care of our computers; to Rob de Winter who keeps our website up

to date and Kris Desij for her work on the archives.

To those who have acted professionally on our behalf –Anthony Collins, Solicitors; Carol Barfoot of Gibbons,

Mannington and Phipps, Accountant; Mr. Tony Leverington, our Honorary Treasurer and Community

Trustee (RIP July 2019);Wythall Heating Engineers; James Banks of David Banks Electrical Contractors Ltd;

and Clive Clements who helps us with maintenance.

To our General Practitioners – Dr I. Khan and Dr M. Iszatt and the staff at Church Lane Surgery, Stechford.

To the staff at Barrett’s Butchers, Marston Green.

To our Printer, Paul Singh, and Pat Raymer and her

daughter Christianne for their invaluable help in producing this copy of Making Connections.

To all those who support us financially and enable our continuing ministry. We are very appreciative

for your generosity

To you all, THANK YOU.

Sisters Christine Hoverd, Margaret Angela King, Ivy Patten and Shirley Hart.


3Making Connections | 2018 - 2019

I am delighted as Episcopal Visitor to the Community of St John the Divine to commend this edition of Making Connections, the Annual Report of the Community for 2018-19.

There are many forms of ministry within the boundaries of the Church of England Birmingham but the faithful work of this small religious order is an especially beautiful and unique plant. The Community began life in London but is now located here in the West Midlands. It does not ‘belong’ to Birmingham but we are blessed by it more than any other region.

The Community’s life of prayer, welcome and spiritual accompaniment is much used and profoundly appreciated by lay people and clergy from across the diocese. This steady offer of rest, retreat and renewal can become especially precious when we go through times of transition. For example, the Community has been very much aware of Church of England Birmingham’s People and Places initiative, which seeks to re-envisage the way we deploy clergy and laity in churches and mission. Throughout this period of change the Sisters have prayed for us,

The Rt Rev David Urquhart

and continue to do so. They have also walked with those in parish ministry who are asking questions about their own role, uncertain of what a new pattern of mission and ministry might ask of them.

The care of this Community is reflected in a thriving life of prayer and hospitality. Through these, it blesses many people who don’t actually visit or see it for themselves. We are grateful then, to share this city region with the Community and we pray for its ongoing ministry.

The Community’s life of prayer, welcome and spiritual accompaniment is much used and profoundly appreciated by lay people and clergy from across the diocese.

Bishop David’s commendation for CSJD Annual ReportMaking Connections 2018-2019



























for your generosity




WELCOME to this year’s Making Connections, our Annual Reportfor 2018-2019.

After the bumper report of last year that covered several years of the Community’s onward journey, of our move from Alum Rock and the establishing of our new house here in Marston Green, this year’s Annual Report by comparison seems brief, but nevertheless comes to bring you all up to date with news from the Community, from our family of Associates, and all those whose lives touch ours in so many ways.

We have received so much positive feedback about the production of the last Annual Report that we want to take this opportunity to thank Paul Singh who printed the report, Julie Davies who worked on the layout of the photographs and Pat Raymer who worked with us on the editing and her daughter, Christianne, who designed the front and back covers. Paul and Julie were also responsible for printing the beautiful Christmas card we were able to send out last year.

So we want to say a very special THANK YOU to each of them for sharing their skills and expertise and for producing work of such a high quality.

Now we are ready to carry on with the next episode of the Community’s story!

When we discussed writing the Annual Report, we decided to include news from May to May each year in a smaller size, so this report covers the period from May 2018 to May 2019.

Introduction


Associates’ Day 2018

It proved to be a warm sunny day, so it meant everyone could take their lunch into the garden and use the time catching up with ‘news’. Our Associates come from many parts of the U.K. so apart from letters that are shared, the main Associates’ Day is the one time in the year they enjoy being together. It was also the day when Elizabeth and Glenn Pritchett celebrated their Wedding Anniversary. At the Eucharist they received a blessing and the day ended with a party tea and a special iced cake for the occasion.

The whole day could not have been better and was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. The month of May moved very quickly into June with a real surfeit of special occasions, the most important of which was the celebration of Sr. Margaret Angela’s Golden Jubilee.

Our report last year finished by sharing with you all something of the joy of our Associates’ Day in May 2018, when 31 of our Associates and the Sisters spent the morning with Canon Dr Paula Gooder sharing discussions about the shaping of the future church here in Birmingham and hearing about her new book Phoebe, which is a compelling and beautiful book to read.

Always in Community we have sought to mark special occasions. In this report we want to share with you the celebrations for Sr. Margaret Angela’s Golden Jubilee, giving thanks for her years of leadership within the Community and her many gifts. We have asked her to write a reflection of the celebrations and then also to share something of the story of her call and life in Community.

Sr. Margaret-Angela



Sr. Margaret Angela writes:

The actual date was 20th November 2017 but when we have any gathering of a big group of people, we need to use the marquee and as November is not quite the month for that, it was decided that there would be two celebrations in June 2018, when we hoped that the weather would be suitable for a garden party. As it happened the weather could not have been better! The first of the parties took place on Saturday 9th June to which local Associates and spouses were invited. We began at 2.30 pm with a Eucharist in the marquee presided over by the Community’s local Chaplains, the Rev. Bill Moore and with the Homily given by the Rev. Canon Helen Hingley. Over 30 of us gathered and it was so good that the readings were given by Sisters Ivy, Shirley and Christine, and the Intercessions by the Rev. Canon Faith Claringbull. The Eucharist was followed by a strawberry tea and then returning to the marquee, I was presented with two wonderfully generous gifts – an i-Pad and a Smartphone – bought with monetary gifts from all the people who were invited to keep the celebration, those able to be present and those who could were otherwise engaged on both days.

The second party was for some members of my very large family, including my brother, nephews, nieces and spouses, great nephew and one small great-great niece, and cousins from Belgium. This time we had a lunch party as the family came for the day from as far away as Knutsford, Salisbury, Weymouth, Leigh-on-Sea and a friend of over 60 years from Kettering. It was lovely to have such a gathering on both occasions and a real joy to

see so many people – Associates, friends and family. Two days not to be forgotten! I am so grateful to my Sisters and to Vena Thompson and Brenda Shipman who helped prepare food on both occasions. The generous gifts have given me so much pleasure, although the Smartphone is a good deal smarter than me!

Such milestones are occasions to look back and reflect on what has been and to look forward to what will be!

In the early 1960s as I discerned a vocation to the religious life, it seemed to be a somewhat strange journey to possibly have a vocation to a nursing Community, having been trained as a Parish Worker. I was working in Poplar so daily witnessed St. John’s Sisters riding their bicycles en route to their patients on the district. After a complex struggle with this possibility, I arrived on the 1st October 1964 at the Nursing Sisters’ Mother House - then in Hastings - armed with my return fare to London! After much prayer and a ‘roller coaster’ of doubts, certainties and tears, it did seem that God was calling me to serve him in this way of life and ministry.

In June 2018, the Community kindly organised two parties for me to celebrate my Golden Jubilee of Profession.

‘Such milestones are occasions to look back and reflect on what has been and to look forward to what will be!’


On 6th April 1967 I was Professed in First Vows. Prior to my Profession Retreat the Reverend Mother said to me: “You are at the beginning of an exciting adventure”. I took the comment with a pinch of salt, wondering what the adventure and excitement could possibly comprise, as I committed myself to the Monastic Vows of Poverty, Consecrated Celibacy and Obedience! During the time of First Vows I undertook nursing training at the Royal East Sussex Hospital where, at 31, I was the oldest student in my ‘set’ and was clearly identifiable, dressed in the royal blue habit of the Community. Never in our wildest dreams did we expect that one day the habit would become famous in the television series Call the Midwife! I qualified as an S.R.N. in 1970, and after taking Life Profession, I went to London to begin Midwifery training at Mile End Hospital and on the District in Poplar. I found nursing to be a real vocation for me and in due course returned to the Royal East Sussex Hospital to consolidate my nursing training and then on to a Ward Sister’s post.

In 1976 the Community moved to Birmingham and the house in Alum Rock. It was a return to Birmingham for me as I had trained as a Parish Worker at the College of the Ascension in Selly

Oak. Once in Brum, I managed to secure a Sister’s post at what is now Heartlands Hospital. That was short lived as six months into my time there, I was elected Reverend Mother. During the next 15 years I had wonderful opportunities to make contacts in the diocese and meet people as a member of an International Ecumenical Consultation for Religious which took me to Rome, New York, London and Jerusalem. After 5 years in Office I enjoyed a sabbatical and spent a short time in Italy and then on to Southern Africa to spend a month in Botswana with friends Archbishop Khotso Makhulu, his wife Rosemary and their family. I had worked with them on the staff of All Saints, Poplar.

The Community’s life in Birmingham saw great changes in society and in the church as well as in our ministry. By the 1980s we felt it was right to broaden our ministry to include healing, wholeness and reconciliation as well as maintaining a flourishing ministry of hospitality.

The Community’s work in London continued, with Sisters working in Poplar, Bow, Greenwich and then a move south of the river to Kennington. By 1992 it was time for a change in leadership and Christine was elected as Reverend Mother. The Community was invited to spend three years as part of the Lay/Monastic Community at the Royal Foundation of St. Katharine, Stepney. I joined Sisters Teresa, Monica and Iona to be part of this new venture, meeting all manner of different people from a wide variety of backgrounds/professions who came to the Foundation for conferences. When we had completed our three years’ commitment to R.F.S.K., we all returned to Birmingham.

The change in church life, apart from important Liturgical reforms, was the advent of women’s ordination to the priesthood and subsequently to the Episcopate. We have also seen Religious Communities in the Church of England given recognition by the

On 6th April 1967 I was Professed in First Vows. Prior to my Profession Retreat the Reverend Mother said to me: “You are at the beginning of an exciting adventure”.


Church with Religious representatives elected to the General Synod and more recently becoming part of the Church of England’s Canon Law. The demographics of Birmingham have changed completely since we arrived in 1976.

After 40 years in Alum Rock, and with diminishing numbers, we moved to a smaller house in Marston Green, where we have settled very happily.

So, looking back over the years there were many highs and lows, encouragements and disappointments, new interests and undreamed-of opportunities for which I give thanks to God and I thank my Sisters for their love and support. I recall the words spoken to me before I took First Vows, and yes, it has been a life full of exciting adventure! The four of us look forward together to God’s future and all that will be.

Sr. Margaret Angela

Family

Bill and Helen ready for the eucharist.


The house has now settled into a busy routine of welcome and hospitality. Many people drop in for a cup of tea or coffee and some stay to share worship with us and make that a regular commitment.

Others come for a quiet day or for some space in their busy lives, some even manage to stay overnight or for a few days. We are all very aware how much we have downsized since our move from Alum Rock, so have to be careful not to overbook, but it is true to say the house is very well used and sometimes bulging at the seams! The God Pod in the garden is very popular, particularly for quiet days, groups: and for those who come for spiritual accompaniment.

We have continued to host three small groups. The bi-monthly visits from Hall Green Churches Together, the Christ Church Vision group who come every three months and the Continuing Ministerial Education group (CME) with the Rev. Canon Mark Pryce, who have met twice this year. We also had a new group from the Methodist Church at Solihull. Both Christine and Shirley have hosted small groups from their churches.

The ministry of the house and the Sisters

We are always thankful to the local clergy who come to preside at the Eucharist in the house and stay to lunch. It has been particularly good to renew our contact with the Rev. Simon Cartwright who now works in the Derby Diocese. He is exploring setting up a new Lay Dispersed Community. It is a joy to be able to stop in the middle of the day to worship God together. Everyone who comes here needs time to stop - be it briefly - to relax and enjoy fellowship and find space and time for prayer. As Trustees and stewards of all that we have been given, it is a joy to be able to share it with others.

Lots of people have visited us during the year and looking back in the diary, we realise it is impossible to mention everyone. What we can say is that we have valued each one of your visits and your friendship. Thank you for coming.

Bible study group St. Leonard’s church


The Community now comprises four Sisters. The general leadership continues to be shared by Christine and Margaret Angela. The other responsibilities are shared among us according to people’s gifts. Shirley continues to be our excellent Sister Treasurer and Ivy has taken more responsibility for cooking.

We each enjoy individual ministries in the house: Christine acting as Sacristan, Margaret helps with the cooking and also makes beautiful photograph cards for sale. Ivy is known everywhere for her marmalade production and loves working in the garden and caring for the cats, and Shirley welcomes those who come and is always keeping the guest rooms ready for the next person or getting the Community room ready for a group. Christine, Margaret and Shirley welcome people for spiritual accompaniment.

Between us we run the house together and are grateful for Brenda Shipman’s help with the cleaning and Vena Thompson’s help with the cooking three days a week. Ken Jones still comes two mornings a week to mastermind the garden, which is now looking beautiful.

Although we are a small Community our house is primarily a house of prayer where we seek to live the Religious Life. Silent prayer is important in all our lives and each day starts with getting up early and spending over an hour in personal prayer before meeting together for Morning Prayer. Each day has the same definite rhythm of prayer, work and welcome, with a Eucharist before lunch at least three times a week. We meet together again in the evening for Evening Prayer. When we were reviewing our life here recently, we were asked to consider how we could live our lives with integrity, yet at the same time look at ways it could become more simple. One way, in response to this, has been to have a picnic supper whilst watching

‘Kitty’ ‘Lucy’

Although we are a small Community our house is primarily a house of prayer where we seek to live the Religious Life


the BBC News. It is a good time to relax together; even maybe tackle a crossword (!) before saying Compline at 7.30 p.m. which marks the end of the working day. After this there is time for personal recreation, going to meetings or choir practice. Ivy is a member of the Christian Music Ministry (CMM) choir, conducted by Annie Routley. They rehearse on Tuesday evenings, taking their presentations around the diocese during the summer and at Christmas.

We give thanks for Annie’s ministry to us, as she comes to play the keyboard at our special services over Christmas and Easter. We give thanks, too, for a friend of hers – John Hopkins – who has crafted for us a very beautiful wooden Paschal candle stand.

At Christmas and Easter we continue to give thanks for the Rev. John Richards and the Rev. Canon Helen Hingley for leading the services for us.

Sisters choose the church at which they wish to worship on Sundays. We each go to a different church and become part of the family there. Margaret has chosen to remain at the Cathedral, where she has worshipped for many years; Ivy has continued to worship at Christ Church, Burney Lane, wanting to be a supportive presence there during their time of interregnum; Shirley attends St. Barnabas Church, Kingshurst, the church she chose to attend whilst we were still at Alum Rock and Christine has settled happily into the parish church of St. Leonard’s, Marston Base for Pascal candle

Ivy creating sugar flowers

It is a good time to relax together; even maybe tackle a crossword (!) before saying Compline at 7.30 p.m.


Green. It is a privilege for each of us to take our turn in helping in different ways at the services on Sundays and to join in praying for the churches in this diocese at such a time of major change. It has been a privilege, too, to pray for those being ordained to the Priesthood and to the Diaconate.

The Cathedral was full of family and friends supporting the Ordinands and it was a joy that on Saturday, 24th June 2018 some of

the Sisters were able to be present to support Helene Horan and Sam Gibson, two of those being ordained priest and on the following day, Carol Young and Mandy Harris who were being ordained deacon. Our prayers continue for those starting their new ministries as priests in the diocese and for the curates for their ongoing journey.

This report gives an opportunity to thank all those who contribute and prepare the Diocesan Prayer Booklet, a useful source of information as daily we join others in praying for the parishes in our diocese and the important issues they are facing.

Our prayers, too, are for those priests who regularly used to come to the house but have now moved to new ministries. These include Nigel (and Erin) Traynor serving with Mercy Air in South Africa and Matthew (and Cathy) Rhodes. Matthew has a new ministry in Sheffield.

Our prayers continue for those starting their new ministries as priests in the diocese and for the curates for their ongoing journey

Part of our life is to build positive and creative links with our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters. For some years now Anglican Religious have been invited to join the Annual Day for Members of Religious Communities in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham.

This year Margaret Angela and Shirley were able to accept the invitation. Shirley writes:

“The day began at 9.30 a.m. with registration and coffee. We were all welcomed by Fr. Stephen and then by the Most Reverend Bernard Longley, Archbishop of Birmingham, accompanied by Religious from across the Archdiocese who were celebrating either their Golden or Diamond Jubilees.

Our speaker was Sister Dr. Finbarr Coffey, Congregation of the Holy Cross, Pastoral Director and Lecturer, speaking on ‘The Mission of Jesus and Ministries in the Contemporary Church’, which was very challenging.

Following her talk, the Mass was celebrated at 12 noon at which the principal celebrant was the Most Reverend Bernard Longley, Archbishop of Birmingham, and, as it was the 2nd February,

Our link with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham


we celebrated the Feast of Christ being Presented in the Temple (Candlemas). During the service there was an opportunity for Religious to renew their Vows and it was a very impressive sight to see over 100 Religious Sisters and Brothers with lighted candles standing together to renew their Vows.

After Mass we continued to enjoy fellowship together during a light lunch. It was a very special day and we were once again grateful to Sr. Anna, Br. Lawrence and Fr. Stephen for organising the whole event.”

Before the meeting began Archbishop Bernard had a meeting with the Religious who had celebrated a significant anniversary, to which Margaret Angela was invited.

Besides linking with our R.C. brothers and sisters, there are important links too between the Anglican Communities themselves, which over the years have developed into clear bonds of friendship and prayer. One of these links is the Leaders’ Conference, with others for Novice Guardians and for First Professed and Novices being able to enjoy some joint study days together.

Archbishop Bernard Longley with Margaret Angela

It was a very impressive sight to see over 100 Religious Sisters and Brothers with lighted candles standing together to renew their Vows


Approximately 20 or so Leaders meet for a time of discussion of business matters affecting our life, catching up with each other, sharing news and receiving some theological input. We always enjoy the warm hospitality of the Community of the Resurrection and join them in worship in their beautifully restored church. Last year’s meeting took place from 9th-12th October.

On the Monday evening we shared news of Communities and welcomed newly elected Leaders. On the first full day we had input from the Rev. Dr. Bonnie Thurston, theologian and spiritual director, from the Episcopal Church of the U.S.A. She set the tone by saying that we needed to clear our minds of business matters that were to follow and allow ourselves to be ministered to. She then gave us three excellent papers on St. Mark’s Gospel, highlighting St. Mark’s ascetism and his references to the desert – the wilderness – that begins the Gospel and throughout are references to desert places. Mark is concerned for the poor, expresses dissatisfaction with the then Jewish culture, and with the taboos of the society; there is a counter-cultural teaching and ascetism running through the Gospel. Bonnie also reminded us that Mark was writing after the fall of Jerusalem for the persecuted Christians of that time. We received much food for thought that we were able to reflect on at the time and well after the conference.

There is usually some important business to be discussed and at this meeting it concerned the new Church of England Canon about the Religious Life that is being considered by the General Synod. This Canon would give affirmation to the presence of Religious Communities in the C of E.

The Annual Conference of the Leaders of Anglican Religious Communities occurs each autumn when we meet at the Community of the Resurrection, Mirfield, West Yorkshire.

Report on the meeting of the Conference of Leaders of Anglican Religious Communities (CLARC)

There will be a clear definition of the ‘monastic’ communities living under Life Vows, known as ‘Recognised Communities’ and the many Lay Communities, ‘Acknowledged Communities’ that are a feature of Church life today.

The Advisory Council on Relations between Bishops and Religious Communities will become a Committee of the House of Bishops and the membership will remain the same, i.e. members comprise four Bishops and 10 elected Religious Community representatives.Other matters that had to be considered were Data Protection and how this affects Communities and the very important matter of Safeguarding, both items that will need to be contained in the next edition of the Religious Communities Handbook which is currently being revised. The Constitutions of our Communities will need to include sections concerning the new legislation and Safeguarding.

The considerable administrative work of the Conference is generously undertaken by Father Colin, Leader of the Community of the Servants of the Will of God, Crawley Down.

It is a few days well spent and much of the value of these meetings is in the informal conversations that take place over meals and at other times and to have time together in formal and informal settings. The Catholic Conference of Religious also send a representative to our meeting whenever possible.

Last October had the added bonus of sunny and warm weather!

Margaret Angela


After coffee we met to hear this year’s speaker, the Right Rev. Anne Hollinghurst, the suffragan Bishop of Aston here in the diocese of Birmingham.

There are considerable changes afoot for the Church of England with regard to the shape of the ministry of all God’s people. In the diocese of Birmingham parishes are being encouraged to study a consultation document entitled, ‘People and Places’, which outlines the possible shape of the ministry of the parish clergy, retired clergy, self-supporting ministers, lay readers and all God’s people. This will bring change to the work of the clergy and laity; change that is being brought about by social, political and

Associates CSJDAssociates Meeting Saturday,5th May 2019On Saturday 5th May this year, 30 Associates of the Community came together for their Annual Meeting. The weather was reasonably dry and as usual the marquee provided a very good ‘Tent of Meeting’!

economic factors that govern the life of our country and the world.

After coffee in the house we all assembled in the marquee to hear what Bishop Anne had to tell us about the changes that are affecting the Church of England in general and the diocese of Birmingham in particular.

Bishop Anne is also a member of the Faith and Order Commission of the Church of England whose brief is to discern and discuss the theological basis for the changes that are likely to take place - work that is ongoing which slightly restricted our speaker in what she was able to share with us. On completion of the Commission’s

At the meeting



work a report will be available for all to read. After her talk, Bishop Anne invited questions and there were several from the clergy present, who came from as far apart as Cornwall, Wales and Manchester, as well as those working in Birmingham and a Reader in training from the Leeds diocese. All of them were already facing change in their work patterns.

Lunchtime provided the opportunity for Associates to catch up with each other and Bishop Anne also had the

opportunity to circulate and talk with most of those present.

Our thanks to Mrs Vena Thompson, who was assisted by Sisters Ivy and Shirley, and Mrs Brenda Shipman in the preparation and cooking of the lunch and then did the washing up! When this was completed we all met together again in the marquee for a Eucharist presided over by the Rev. Canon Helen Hingley, Associate and one of the Community’s local Chaplains, and at which those Associates present were able to renew their commitment.

Our Associates’ days are always a happy time of fellowship and for many perhaps the one time in the year when it is possible to meet and really get to know other Associates, putting faces and news to those we each pray for regularly. It also gives us the chance to share news about those unable to come to the meeting.

News of individual AssociatesFr. Henry BurgessWe were sorry to hear of the death of Fr. Henry on the 26th January 2019, who had been an Associate for many years. He had been a very well known parish priest in Birmingham for all of his ministry, latterly in Emmanuel Church, Wylde Green, where he served for over 27 years. He generously came regularly to the Community to preside at the Eucharist and to conduct parish quiet days which were always very well attended by those devoted to his traditional teaching. As he became older, it was hard for him to ‘let go’ of a full time priestly ministry. Slowly

Our Associates’ days are always a happy time of fellowship and for many perhaps the one time in the year when it is possible to meet and really get to know other Associates

Bishop Anne and Christine


he became more infirm, moving from his home, firstly to New Oscott Village then into care.

Bishop Christopher Boyle was the main person, among many, who offered their help and support over what was for him a very difficult time. His funeral on the 23rd February was a truly wonderful memorial of his life and ministry, with so many people filling Emmanuel Church to give thanks for the many ways he had touched their lives.

Father Henry in formal pose (above) and in relaxed pose (right)

Other Associateswho have diedTwo of our other Associates have also died; Judith Anderson who lived in Hull and Joan Bowles from Cheltenham. News of their deaths came as quite a shock, as we only received the briefest of messages about Judith and just an altered envelope with R.I.P. which we had sent to Joan. Both of these Associates had regularly kept in touch with the Community over the years and in the past, when they were able, had attended Associates’ meetings, Judith as recently as 2018.

Older Associates CSJDWe want to pay tribute in this report to our older Associates who have been faithful in their love, commitment and prayer over many years. Among these we give thanks for Ivy Cooper-Barlow, Liz Stirling and Joan Pritchard. Joan has now reached the wonderful age of 102, living at home

Father Henry’s funeral on the 23rd February was a truly wonderful memorial of his life and ministry


in Vauxhall, supported by her three daughters with some extra help. We all have so many happy memories of her visits each Holy Week and Easter when she came with her husband, Hardinge, at Alum Rock. We give thanks for knowing them.

Joan Pritchard on her 100th birthday

We are always glad to see our Associates. They come as and when they can, either for a day visit or to stay for a short while and several are generous in giving a helping hand.

We are especially thankful to our two local Chaplains, Helen Hingley and Bill Moore, for all their support. Bill has had to set aside time recently to be with his wife, Grace, who has been unwell and we have been praying for her to make a good recovery to health again.

Mandy and Michael O’Connor come, as they are able, to help us with our computers. Their help and advice has

been invaluable and it is always good to know they are at the end of a ‘phone line should we run into difficulties.

Myra Kingscott is faithful in visiting us once a fortnight and keeps the library in very good order. Books are a joy to her and having the library regularly checked is a great gift to us. Another Associate who comes most Saturdays is Donna Williams, who helps in the kitchen and stays for lunch.

We were very concerned and saddened to hear from Jonathan McGillivray at Christmas 2018 that his sister and brother-in-law had both died in a car accident in the November and that their son, Matthew, is not only having to cope with bereavement but is seriously ill himself. They would value on-going prayer support.

We are especially thankful to our two local Chaplains, Helen Hingley and Bill Moore, for all their support.

Myra Kingscott is faithful in visiting us once a fortnight and keeps the library in very good order.


Denise Raby is in the midst of training as a Lay Reader in the Diocese of Leeds so was not able to be with us at Christmas but did stay for a few days in December, again after Easter and for the Associates’ meeting in May. The Reader course in Leeds lasts for three years; a lot of very hard studying is going into working towards the completion of the course in July 2019 when there will be a lot of celebration.

Some of our Associates have been coping with ill-health. Bishop Gordon Mursell has been in hospital for surgery. Debby Hennessy has been seriously ill since she was here for a short retreat in January 2019 and Ann Willis has also been seriously ill, needing a period of hospitalisation, but she is now recovering and well enough to come for some quiet days. Molly Lucas came for a short visit after she had undergone a knee replacement and thankfully has recovered very well.

We miss the visits of Janet and Geoffrey Herbert, as neither of them are able to drive now. Janet has recently given up her driving licence because of problems with her eyesight. We enjoyed seeing them at the Associates’ Day. Despite Anne Mace having been through a long period of ill-health, she was well enough to be with us at Christmas, Easter and the Associates’ Day.

Thankfully, too, Elaine King has recovered from her nasty fall that damaged her knees and is now back at her work in the City as well as an Associate Priest at St. Philip’s Cathedral.

It is always a joy to welcome Associates for quiet days and regular times of retreat and those who come week by week and share evening prayer with us.

Sisters are still called upon to give talks on ‘Call the Midwife’, which gives us the opportunity of not only talking about the popular series but something of our own history, life and ministry.

It is always a joy to welcome Associates for quiet days and regular times of retreat and those who come week by week and share evening prayer with us.


In August 2018 Shirley, Ivy and Margaret Angela were invited to visit the Long Cross Studios in order to be shown the scenes used in the programme.

We were collected by car and taken for the three hour drive south to the Studio where we were greeted warmly by Rosie Mann, one of the Production Team. Over ‘brunch’ we met other members of the team including Terry Coates, the Midwifery Advisor to the programme. Rosie took us to ‘Nonatus House’, a real building surrounded by an edifice of frontages of houses and the bridge. It was a warm day and we enjoyed seeing the other parts of the studio, where we recognised areas such as the clinic, Fred and Vi’s house and Vi’s shop, the Turner’s house and the Doctor’s surgery and waiting room. In the warm sunshine we enjoyed the Nonatus House garden, which is real and well kept, and where fruit was growing - raspberries in season, and tomatoes as well as flowers.

After an extensive tour of the site, we then returned to the refectory at Nonatus House where filming of a scene was about to take place. We met some of the actors, including Judy Parfit who plays Sister Monica Joan and some of the midwives. It was a short scene that was filmed several times and it was most interesting to witness the care that is taken with make-up, clothes and hair during the pauses between each ‘take’. Before the final ‘take’, Rosie kindly took us to see all the background research work that is required in the production – the backroom boys and girls working on the correct authentic styles, fabrics and general information for the period that the series covers, and the continuity room where filming is refined ready for transmission.

Needless to say, we watched the January-March 2019 series with renewed great interest!

It has also been a joy to maintain links with St. John’s House at Alum Rock.

‘Call the Midwife’

The Community has enjoyed a good relationship with the staff of Interserve International Fellowship since that organisation purchased the house at 652 Alum Rock Road from us in 2016.

In November 2018 Christine, Margaret Angela, Ivy and Shirley were invited to visit the house in Alum Rock to see the alterations that have been made so far and to hear about the outreach in the area. James Lynch, who was the interim director at that time, welcomed us and the other members of the lay community there

Visit to St John’s House, Alum Rock

showed us around. The interior alterations have been carried out extremely well and provide good living space for both the lay community as well as people returning home from abroad for leave. It was very good to see some of our Muslim as well as Christian friends at the tea party and to catch up with their news. It was thrilling


for us to know about the local work of Interserve in their on-going Christian witness in that area where we made many Muslim friends.

Earlier this year we enjoyed a visit from four members of the lay community, who spent an afternoon with us on a reciprocal visit. It was good to meet Alan, who with his wife Elizabeth, have made a commitment to live and work at the house for at least two years. They have served for several

years in Pakistan which means that they can meaningfully engage with the local Muslim population, especially the women, some of whom do not speak English. It is also very good to know that the work at the Place of Welcome which we began some years ago continues. The work of developing the house and the site continues and we shall look forward to seeing their future developments and enjoying our on-going good relationship.

Visiting Alum Rock and those working with Inerserve International Fellowship


From time to time the Archbishop of Canterbury presents awards to people who have been recommended to him for a variety of different reasons. Each of the awards bears the name of a previous Archbishop.

Recipients of such an Award are able to invite two guests to accompany them to the Ceremony and on the 4th April it was a great pleasure and privilege for me to join Mrs Angela Overton when her daughter, Sister Rachel Overton, received the ‘Dunstan Award for Prayer and the Religious Life’. Sister Rachel is a Solitary Religious who is attached to our Community and she received the Award for her greatly valued and significant work as Spirituality Advisor to the Bishop of Peterborough and for planning and running a 2-year course in Spiritual Direction for the Peterborough and Leicester dioceses.

Another recipient of the Dunstan Award was Dr. Peta Dunstan of Cambridge University for her extraordinary work with Anglican Religious Communities. She is a great friend of our Communities and we are pleased to number her as a good friend of C.S.J.D. It was difficult for Peta Dunstan to invite just one member of a Community as she knows all of us, so it was particularly pleasing to me to unofficially represent Anglican Religious!

On arrival in the Great Hall at Lambeth it was a surprise to read through the list of the 27 recipients and to discover that there were three people from Birmingham I knew; Roger Jones, Director of Christian Music Ministries, who was awarded the Cranmer Prize for his unique contribution to Christian Music, the Rev. Jessica Foster awarded the Hubert Prize for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation and her sustained and remarkable work in community and interfaith relations

Visit to Lambeth

and Canon Jill MacDonald, recipient of the Alphege Award for Evangelism and Witness and her exceptional contribution to community building and leadership in Birmingham.

The awards were not presented only to members of the Church of England but included a Muslim and a Roman Catholic priest and people from other parts of the Anglican Communion. Despite the April chill in the Great Hall there was a warm and friendly atmosphere. The presentation was followed by a welcome cup of tea after which the Archbishop invited those present who were able to stay to join him in the Chapel for Evensong. It was a memorable afternoon!

This now brings you up to date with all our news to the beginning of summer 2019, except for some additional news we wish to share with you. Firstly, we heard of the death of our Honorary Treasurer, Mr Tony Leverington, in July 2019. More about his years of advice, help and wisdom to the Community will come in our next report.

The next report will also contain the story of the refurbishment of our kitchen.


Sister Rachel

Dr Peta Dunstan


Lastly it is our joy to share with you that we have a new member of Community, Carol Newton, who was admitted as a Postulant on Wednesday, 25th September. Please pray for her as she settles into Community.

As you can see, the next report is already beginning – the story goes on.

Carol Newton, Sisters Ivy Patten, Christine Hoverd, Margaret Angela King and Shirley Hart.


Notes




























for your generosity




Notes



























for your generosity




ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019

MAKING CONNECTIONS

COMMUNITY OF ST JOHN THE DIVINE


REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 210254

ST. JOHN’S HOUSE, 113 COLESHILL ROAD,

MARSTON GREEN, BIRMINGHAM B37 7HT

Tel: 0121 7880391

[email protected] https://csjdivine.wordpress.com

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