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Mission, Constancy and Catholicity: The Example of Three Northern Saints

Posted on the 14th October 2014 in the Category - Sermons



At the Northern Provincial Festival, celebrated in York Minster on Saturday 11 October, the Bishop of Beverley concluded his sermon with this reflection:

 

We gather to celebrate on a great day for us as Christians here in the North, with two great days on either side. Today – in the North and indeed throughout the Church of England – we are celebrating the life and ministry of James the Deacon. Yesterday we celebrated the life and ministry of St Paulinus, and tomorrow – or perhaps transferred to Monday – we shall be celebrating the life and ministry of St Wilfrid. (I shall be doing that at St Wilfrid’s in Harrogate in the morning and St Wilfrid’s, Cantley, in the evening, and I’m looking forward to both of those occasions).

 

The lives of these three great men of God, and their ministries, can serve as good examples to us as we look forward to the future – staying, rejoicing and keeping calm.

 

St Paulinus came to this city in AD 625 and then, on Holy Saturday 627, baptized King Edwin on or around this site. This is where Bishop Paulinus built a little church in order to baptize King Edwin, who had been converted to Christianity through the prayers of Paulinus and others – and through the influence of a good wife. Paulinus was a great missionary bishop who proclaimed the Gospel in these parts but then, after the death of King Edwin, returned to Kent, leaving behind James the Deacon. One of the greatest thrills about serving here, in this cathedral church, was being able to celebrate the rite of initiation in the Crypt on Holy Saturday night, year in, year out – to see new Christians being initiated into Christ’s living Body here on earth.

 

It was also a great privilege to be conscious of the presence here of James the Deacon, whom we celebrate today. After the departure of Bishop Paulinus, he remained: he stayed on here in York. He worked as an evangelist, and he set up here in this little city (as it was then) a song school, and taught plainchant. It was always a great delight for the Precentor and me, when we talked to young probationers, and then to choristers who had been admitted to full membership, to say (it’s a little bit tenuous, but it’s fair enough!) that they were following in the footsteps of James the Deacon, who set up the first song school here in York. He remained behind, and continued the work of proclaiming the Gospel and ensuring that worship was of the highest order.

 

Tomorrow (or on Monday, if you transfer him), we celebrate Wilfrid. He was a more complex character in some ways. He was sometimes very, very difficult: he had a reputation for being troublesome and quarrelsome. But he was a good man. He was an evangelist too, a great apostle. He was very instrumental in the outcome of the Synod of Whitby in AD 664. He was somewhat frustrated by what he judged to be the insularity of the Celtic Christians. He wanted to be, within the Church of England, part of something bigger – Roman Christianity, the Western Church.

 

Paulinus, James the Deacon and Wilfrid, then, are great northern saints whom we celebrate at this time of the year.

 

Paulinus is an inspiration to us to continue to put mission at the top of the agenda in the lives of our churches – after, of course, worship that leads into mission. Mission is what the Anglo-Catholic movement has historically been good at. May God, by his Holy Spirit, renew the zeal and enthusiasm in the life of his Church for mission. And may he give to us – clergy and people alike – all the needful gifts and grace, and the strength and power of the Holy Spirit, to fulfil our calling, so that men and women and young people may be converted to Christ, and that we may engage with what God is doing in our communities, to serve the needs of all those with whom we have contact. Let us please continue to be proactive in mission, following the example of good Paulinus.

 

Following the example of James the Deacon, may we be faithful and constant in our service – remaining where we are, trusting in the providence of God and in his presence with us.

 

And dear Wilfrid: thank God for him, and the vision that he gives to us that we are part of something bigger – we are part of the whole life of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. Let us always resist the temptation to retreat into our own little world and not pay due regard to, and engage with, the wider Church.

 

We have a future within the life of the Church of England. Let’s grasp hold of that future, thankful to God, and inspired by the missionary zeal of Paulinus, by the constancy of James the Deacon, and by the catholic understanding of the life and nature of the whole Church which we see in Wilfrid.

 

May Our Lady pray for us. May Paulinus, James the Deacon, and Wilfrid pray for us.

 

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.



Take the invitation to flourish - Northern Provincial Festival 2014

Posted on the 11th October 2014 in the Category - News



On Saturday 11 October 1,500 Catholic Anglicans gathered at York Minster from all over the North of England and beyond, with three bishops and 80 concelebrating priets, to be renewed in the faith and encouraged to continue God's mission in the world today. 

 

For this year's Northern Provincial Festival, the Bishop of Beverley, the Rt Revd Glyn Webster, took as his theme the witness of three northern saints Paulinus, James the Deacon and Wilfrid.  He encourage the worshipers to be like Paulinus in his missionary zeal, to remain steadfast in the faith as was James the Deacon, and to follow Wilfrid's example of commitment to catholicity.

 

The congregation was led in a joyful celebration by a choir gathered from all corners of the Northern Province, including many of Bishop Glyn's parishes. 

 

Noting that the Canon enabling women to be bishops is likely to be promulged in November, Bishop Glyn expressed gratitude to all those who have served the traditionalist constituency so well throughout the synodical process to secure the provision for us to be able to remain and flourish within the life of the Church of England.  In particular Bishop Glyn paid tribute to The Right Revd Martyn Jarrett, his predecessor as Bishop of Beverly who had sacrificially and faithfully represented our position.

 

Bishop Glyn urged the congregation to rise to the challenge that Bishop Tony Robinson, the Chairman of the Council of Bishops of the Society, had made the previous year to strive to make the legislation work.  Bishop Glyn said, "I urge all of us who are not in favour of this development to take the invitation to flourish".

 

Bishop Glyn was very grateful for the gracious and warm hospitality provided by the Dean and Chapter of York Minster which enabled the event to run so smoothly.

 

Photos of the Celebration.

From the Sermon.



Ever wondered what it was like to be a monk or nun?

Posted on the 3rd September 2014 in the Category - News





All change in the Bishop of Beverley's Office

Posted on the 3rd September 2014 in the Category - Announcements



After 14 years service to the Bishop of Beverley, Lynn Close-Hainsworth has resigned from her post as Personal Assistant.  Bishop Glyn said that, "I'm sad that she has made this decision but fully understands why she has chosen to find new employment nearer to her home."

 

Lynn has sent this message to all associated with the See of Beverley:

 

Dear everyone

 

Bishop Glyn has just presented me with a beautiful bunch of flowers and a cheque on behalf of his clergy. Thank you so much! It is completely unexpected, and I am so grateful. (I shall be putting it towards a new loom for my wool workshop!)

 

I have enjoyed working with you all over the last fourteen years, and will miss the special environment that working in York and for the Bishop of Beverley (in both incarnations) has involved. My new job is in Ilkley – much nearer home – but it will be a shock to the system.

 

Thank you so much.

 

Lynn

Former-PA to the Bishop of Beverley

 

Bishop Glyn is now pleased to announce that following Lynn's departure for pasture new Ellie Doolan has been appointed on a temporary basis as his PA.  During the Autumn Bishop Glyn will be cooperating with the Human Resources Department in London to assess what his administrative support needs are, and in due course will hope to make a permanent appointment.  On starting in her new post Ellie said, "Having lived in York for little over a year with my husband Ben (a clergyman too), I am looking forward to my new role as the new PA to Bishop Glyn."

 




Summer Edition of Together Published

Posted on the 12th August 2014 in the Category - News



The second issue of Together is out now, read it here. All connected with the See of Beverley will especially want to read the interview with Bishop Glyn on p10 and hear about all the good things going on in the See of Beverley.



 

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