1 December 2022

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I hope that this will be the first of many (albeit not too often) letters from me to all the Baptised and catechumens – Priests, Deacons, Religious and People – who look to the See of Beverley for pastoral and sacramental care while I am your Bishop.

First of all, I thank you all for the prayers and support shown in recent months, weeks and days leading up to the wonderful celebration in York Minster on St Andrew’s Day during which I was consecrated Bishop in God’s Church. To see so many of you in the Minster was wonderful and encouraging. I am aware that many of you couldn’t travel to York but were with us all in spirit and prayer: thank you too.

Let us at all times thank God for one another and seek to constantly support, encourage and build one another up so that, “whether we wake or sleep, we might live with him” who died and rose again. (1 Thessalonians 5: 9-11)

Many parishes have already made contact with me and plans are underway for some wonderful events this month and beyond. Please don’t hesitate to contact me and arrange a visit. There is only one way we will get to know each other and that is for us to be in the same place, around the same Altar and, later, around the same teapot. Don’t feel that it needs to be a Confirmation, Ordination or Licensing before I’m called upon. I would be delighted to visit toddler groups, bereavement cafes and foodbanks as well as quiet weekday Masses with a handful of faithful, praying disciples.

The clergy who met me after my appointment was announced heard me speak of St Andrew’s first act of evangelism when he brought his brother Simon – who was to become St Peter – to Jesus, saying, “We have found the Messiah!” (John 1: 41) It is my hope that as Christians within the See of Beverley we will exhibit that same enthusiasm for Jesus – that our worship, our social action, our conversation, indeed our whole being will exhibit that evangelistic joy and hope.

Joy, because it is Jesus whose life we live and share. And hope, because the Messiah, the anointed one, is the Saviour for all humanity. Our communities hope for so much. We may not be able to fix the cost of living crisis, provide higher wages or manage the energy conundrum, but what we can offer is Jesus and his life giving love: “I have no silver or gold, but I give you what I have; in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” (Acts 3: 6)

Please be assured of my prayers as the Advent season unfolds and turns towards Christmas and the celebration of the Incarnation.

Together may we rejoice with Mary and Elizabeth. With John the Baptist may we proclaim the Way of the Lord and with the Angels may we announce the Good News.

Yours,

+Stephen Beverley

Photo Credit: Advent Wreath in the Chapel of the Community of the Holy Cross, Costock