One Door Closes

A busy churchyard scene today with most people, most of the time, more distanced than they appear to be here and those that aren't either unshakeably convinced that their vaccinations make them invulnerable or as nonchalant about the chances of death as ever. We were saying goodbye to Marion the curate by coming out into the churchyard to sing for the first time since the pandemic started, encouraged by many other churches doing the same. We will, I suspect, get some guidance from the Church as to what we might do or not do from July 19th, but while I don't expect much to change, finishing the service with a single hymn, outside when weather permits, is one relaxation that seems reasonable. At least the grass has been cut, one of the factors that I was concerned about.

When I have told people about Marion leaving the next question is invariably 'will you get another curate' and I draw in my breath to explain why we won't. It was only an accident that Marion was with us at all, as she could neither serve in her 'sending parish' of Hornington nor move due to her husband's work, so of the various available surrounding parishes we got the benefit of her ministry. I have endlessly reminded her that while she may owe God much she owes the Church of England nothing, as it doesn't even pay her; a stipendiary curate would have to occupy the curate's house, currently rented out, and attract an increased Parish Share, so to have one we would need to find an extra £20K or so per year - not much of a prospect when money is as tight as it is. 

But I am also able to tell people that the Lord seems as dismayed as I am by the prospect of the good folk of Swanvale Halt being subjected to a constant diet of me henceforward, and has nudged a clutch of helpful people in our direction - two retired priests moving into the area, a lay reader shifting her allegiance during the pandemic to us, a family from the Colonies with some very useful experience, a teacher who has done some preaching in his school - so while some of the things Marion did will have reached a natural conclusion, there is the chance of good new things. Once we are allowed some of the good old things again!