Bishop James visited Worsley Bridge Junior School in Beckenham on Wednesday 9 May 2012 at 1330. After a tour of the school Bishop James joined pupils for an assembly to talk about this role and one lucky pupil from Year 6, Annie Bennington (11) had the chance to be dressed up in the Bishop’s robes. Annie said, “I was really looking forward to wearing the Bishop’s robes.”Bishop James said, “I... |
The intrepid travellers escaped and headed to foreign shores. Well actually 15 clergy spouses left their vicarages (or rectories) and boarded Le Shuttle and went to Les Tourelles in France. |
The reason we left? To travel with Jesus on a spiritual journey through the Holy Land. The retreat was led by Revd Paul Miller a seasoned traveller to the Holy Land. With map in hand (a challenge for some of us) we visited towns and villages and leant what had happened there thousands of years previously and how we could relate this to our lives today. A time for us to spend with God on our own.
The Spouse Boys were again with us, although depleted in numbers, to lead us in worship and a hymn-along in the evenings.
We were able to enjoy the grounds of the retreat house and had some wonderful meals. Eating cornflakes from a cup with a desert spoon was certainly different. Some of us even ventured further a field to explore the surrounding area.
It was refreshing to leave the problems of parish life behind and share stories and experiences with other spouses. Good company, good food and a chance to relax and be ourselves. A big thank you to Jane Mansell for organising us.
By Roz Smith
