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From the Honorary Priest
Dear Friends
In the past few weeks the media has given some attention to the 400th anniversary of the publication of the Authorised Version (or King James Version) of the Bible. In the coming months there will be various events celebrating its publication in 1611. The Authorised Version is of course one of the great treasures of our church and its resonating phrases are much loved by many folk. Although it was not first Bible in English, it has had great impact on the English church and the English language, because while some of the language is now somewhat archaic, it remains the source of a great many expressions that have passed into the language (which these days are often used by folk who may not realise they are quoting scripture!).
One phrase often used by clergy to comfort themselves when faced with the small congregations is Jesus' comment recorded in Matthew's gospel (chapter 18, verse 20) that "where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" - which was comforting for the two of us at one of the services in the Group on Christmas Day! Actually many of our Christmas services were very well attended (in three figures at some carol services, with one attendance equivalent to over 60% of the parish's population - proportionately several hundred times larger than the congregation of 2000 at the Bishop of Lincoln's recent farewell service!). But of course in real numbers, even our good congregations are small, especially compared with those in Stamford - and that in part is why (as reported in Geoff Radley's useful summary note elsewhere in this edition) the proposed Stamford Deanery Plan makes no provision for a full time priest in the Uffington Group when Carolyn eventually moves on (which may not to be until the 2020s).
Many plans often fail at the first contact with reality, and much could change in the next decade or two, but however the Stamford plan unfolds, there can be little doubt that in our small villages in the coming years we need -
. More folk from our villages to play a part in the ministry of the church: Carolyn and I have mentioned this before, and it is good that some folk have now been to an introductory session on "parish lay ministry";
. Giving in church to be well sustained, even in difficult financial times, to cover the costs of clergy and the maintenance of our fine church buildings;
. The message of the Bible, in whatever version it is read, remains as familiar today as the phrases of the Authorised Version which have become part of the language, so that the love and holiness of our God and the salvation brought by our Lord Jesus Christ, is known throughout our communities.
Martin Brebner
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