Dear Friends,
In what has been a very difficult year, thanks be to God and thanks also to you that the response of the Church in the Diocese of Salisbury to the pandemic has been near miraculous. Indeed, a big thank you to everyone involved.
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† Church buildings were closed for Easter. When they reopened, they were adapted to the Covid-19 regulations and guidelines. Christianity is a great missionary religion because of its capacity to adapt in every time and place.
† Worship has gone online and often continues in hybrid form now small numbers can gather again in church.
† Baptisms, thanksgivings, confirmations, weddings and funerals have taken place, adapting to fewer in attendance as the Church continues to be a welcoming place for all.
† Chaplaincies in hospitals, schools, prisons, the armed forces and a whole variety of other settings stepped up to care for people.
† Church schools and academies served their students and communities in ways that have been outstanding.
† Some parish meetings, socials and study groups went online.
† Churches became key members of the networks in every community caring for those who are most vulnerable in this pandemic.
† Thank you that a magnificent 82% of parish share had been contributed by the end of November in this very difficult year. This is likely to rise to 86-90% by the end of the year.
† Over 600 took part in Beyond The Present deanery meetings with the bishops in October and November as we seek to chart the way ahead.
† Creativity and participation have increased as the Church has moved outside in new ways.
† New parish officers and churchwardens have been appointed, LLMs licensed and clergy licensed and ordained.
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† Diocesan Synod was postponed in June and moved online. It was different but we had higher attendance and greater active participation than when we met in person.
† For 2021 requests for parish share contributions have been held at their present level.
† Synod agreed the principles to address our finances so as to achieve a balanced budget within four years. This will be integrated with a Pastoral Plan that sets aspirations for our mission and ministry in the same period.
† We were already taking action by a major staff reorganisation reducing costs so far by 8%. Clergy did not receive an increase in stipends this year. We are also making savings on the equivalent of four full time stipendiary clergy posts.
† We have agreed a Stewardship Renewal Campaign across the Diocese, probably between Easter and Pentecost.
† We have said goodbye and thank you this year to some long serving staff and clergy and welcomed some new ones too.
† The increased number of vocations to ordained and lay ministry has continued. This year we ordained 14 deacons and 8 priests.
† Our training moved online, enabling us to bring together people from across the Diocese for good conversation, sharing of good practice and learning.
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Everyone has been working hard and has had to adapt. It has been difficult to take time off. Many of us are tired. We are called to care for ourselves as well as for our neighbour. Christmas celebrations in our homes will be limited more than we had hoped. Yet still Christ is born and God is with us.
This comes with our appreciation and good wishes.
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May Christ the Light of the World
renew your hope
and give you joy and peace
at Christmas and in the New Year
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+Nicholas, Bishop of Salisbury +Karen, Bishop of Sherborne +Andrew, Bishop of Ramsbury
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About the icon
The 12th century original of this icon of The Virgin of Tenderness came from Constantinople to the Cathedral of Vladimir, one of the medieval capitals of Russia. It is now in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.
This copy by John Coleman (‘IkonJohn’) was partly written in Sherborne Abbey and was a gift post Novichok to the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Salisbury to mark the installation of Dean Nicholas Papadopulos. This image is one of the most profound expressions of love between God and humans, the infant Christ and Mary his mother cheek to cheek; she pointing to him, he reaching up to her. It is a wonderful focus of prayer and hope in this time of pandemic.
The keeping of Christmas will be strange this year but the love of God for us in Jesus Christ is constant.
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