Forgot to respond

to Dr John's comment on Saturday's post...

Wouldn't want anyone to think i don't think comments are important!

I am an Anglican Minister - and think that in lots of ways I'm pretty conventional, though apparently I'm not. Perhaps worth giving a bit of my background here... Some of this may be repetition, as i think some time ago I gave a potted history. Or as i like to say, my life in links...

One of 17 kids (spread over two families) I was brought up in a 'non-religious' home
but was sent off to Sunday School at our local Congregational Church (part of the Reformed movement, most of which are now officially linked with the Presbyterians to create the 'United Reformed Church', though Honiton has stayed independent and called itself an 'Evangelical Congregational Church) I stuck with it even when my parents said I was free not to go (which my older siblings took advantage of as soon as they could) as long as I kept out of their way on a Sunday morning and gave them some peace and quiet.

Came to faith at 11 years old with the 'Covenanters' in that Church, and got more involved in Church life. Moved to Independent Baptist (Charismatic) Church at 15, then went off at 18 to be a Schools Minister with 'Scripture Union in Schools'. Whilst there i joined an Evangelical Church of England Congregation which led, whilst i was off studying Theology and Drama as an undergrad, to being confirmed into the C of E and there have i stuck! In my time as an Anglican I have been part of Chaplaincy to Imperial College, London (both as a lay and ordained minister), Curate of a Suburban Church (Hampton, on the outskirts of London), Assistant Priest in an Anglo-Catholic (High Church) C of E parish (South Kensington), and Team Vicar in Rural Cambridgeshire. I studied Theology for Ministry at Westcott House Cambridge, and did an MA in Pastoral Theology to keep my BA in Theology and Drama company whilst there...

That's me in a nutshell. I am an Anglican, mainly because of the diversity in my own denomination and a pastoral setup that gives us the responsibility for all people in our communities, not just believers (as a point of interest I am not meant to turn away anyone who comes with Children for baptism, or anyone who wishes to be married (for the first time) or anyone who wishes me to do a funeral service, as long as they live within my Parishes).

But, inasmuch as denominations matter, above all else I am a Christian!

Comments

Dr.John said…
Thanks for the information. You are helpin gh to change my image of the Church of England.

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