September 13th 2009

Dear Colleagues, 

This is a bread and butter missive. 

First of all, a really big thank you for the wonderful farewell services, and the cards, letters and greetings that have come in recent weeks, and for the generous cheque that came from the diocese, which I assure you will be put to good use. I am writing this amid packing cases, as we move this week to: 18 Melbourne Road, Chichester, PO19 7NE. Both Sarah and I were so full of thoughts and emotions both at Newport last Sunday and in the Cathedral yesterday that there is no point in trying to respond adequately to your greetings and prayers. Thank you for having us – we shall miss you all! 

Secondly, I have been asked to give you some important dates. The Training Day on November 23rd in the Cathedral should already be in your diaries. It will be led by Jessica Martin, Trinity College Cambridge, and Martyn Percy, Ripon College Cuddesdon, on Anglicanism, its history and its future. It is being arranged by David Isaac, and you will receive more details soon. 

Two Training Days have also been planned for 2010, both in the Cathedral. These will be on 24th May and 26th November. Their themes will obviously depend on the new bishop, and when he will be in harness, but a preliminary idea from the Archdeacons is that the first of these might be on the new Clergy Terms of Service. 

Thirdly, Bishopsgrove during the interregnum. As far as staffing is concerned, please note that the two Secretaries work in the following way: Judy Couzens is in every day, Yvonne Collins on Mondays and Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Karen Schmidt will continue as Chaplain until after the new bishop has come; she works here three days a week, namely Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. 

All Saints’ Chapel, Bishopsgrove will, of course, continue to be used, but obviously not in quite the same way until the arrival of my successor. My colleagues have been giving some thought as to how it might be used more widely, for example for Quiet Days. The eucharist will continue to be celebrated during the week. The fortnightly (or so) Monday Staff Meetings will continue to meet here, and I know that Bishop Ian intends to be at most of these, as also the Training Days, and the meetings of Bishop’s Council and Diocesan Synod. We have started the hand-over already, formally from 1st October. I am sure that everyone is very grateful indeed to him for taking on this extra responsibility. Please remember him in your prayers, and above all pray for the appointment and arrival of the next bishop. 

Fourthly, Confirmations. The Area Deans should already have those on offer that have been arranged for the autumn, as well as those for next year’s Easter and autumn seasons. Bishop Ian has now met with Bishops Godfrey and Peter to see that these services are covered. There is a list of them, together with the Cathedral Saturday evening services, enclosed herewith. 

Finally, I also enclose a paper that I came across from my years Manchester that you may find helpful, amusing, stimulating - ’50 ways of avoiding change’. It doesn’t take much imagination to transfer the context from Higher Education into the Church, or any other walk of life, for that matter! 

And now I really will sign off. 

With much love and heartfelt thanks again! 

+ Kenneth