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Moseley Chimes
Dec 08—Jan 09
Where were you born and did you attend church regularly as a child?
I was born in Chester and didn't attend church regularly as a child until I attended boarding school from the age of 10. From then on daily chapel and Church on Sunday was a regular feature of my life. I found it very meaningful and that it gave an extra dimension to my life i.e. being part of God's life.
What bought you to Birmingham and what attracted you to St Anne's?
I had been working in Nigeria with CMS doing social work and work with women's groups promoting Sunday schools across the Niger Delta diocese. On my return to Britain I needed to be near enough for weekend visits to my mother who lived in Shropshire. Consequently social work in Solihull and a flat in Moseley seemed like a good idea. St. Anne's was my parish church and I received a warm welcome. That was 22 years ago.
Is there someone who had a particular influence on your faith? How/why?
Revd. Philip Hacking was a vicar of a dynamic church in Edinburgh. A colleague invited me to a service at his church and this was a turning point in my life, I became totally committed to Christ. He taught me the difference between going to church and belonging to a church.
Your ministry at St Anne's has centred on children's work why do you do it?
It's fun! Children are an important part of the church family and they need tailor made provision for their spiritual development and although I make loads of mistakes I feel I should use what experience God has given me in this field.
You are also very proactive in your faith and get involved with many charitable courses why is this important to you?
In the Bible we are asked to bear one another's burdens and to love our neighbours and charities attempt to alleviate that need. Also my experience of witnessing extreme poverty in Africa compels me to do what I can.
What excites you about the future for the Benefice?
The possibility of being able to reach out to the community with the good news of God's love in new and innovative ways such as the Mystery plays. I would also like to see us doing more house to house visiting and supporting other local institutions.
You recently had an 'elderly gap year' (Elisabeth's words not mine) what did you do and why?
I volunteered on a programme with USPG and the Methodist Church and was sent to 3 different islands in the Caribbean for nearly 12months as a church assistant. I did a variety of things such as schools and pastoral work, volunteering in the women's section of a local prison and leading Bible studies. I would recommend this to others as it was a great way to experience the Christian Church in another part of the world and to see how they live out their faith.
Views on pews?
Chairs would give more flexibility but I'm not that bothered if we can praise God and love our neighbour that's the crux of it for me.
Do you have a favourite Bible passage?
Psalm 116 because it reminds me of all that God has done and that he listens to our prayers but also because it contains a hint of the mystery of God, reminding me that we cannot know everything and that God is also beyond our understanding.
And a favourite hymn?
‘Great is thy faithfulness’ as it contains such an affirmation of God's personal goodness.