Inter-Diocesan West Africa Link (IDWAL)

Our diocese has many links around the world, but our strongest links are with Ghana, as part of our Inter-Diocesan West Africa Link (IDWAL). IDWAL links together Portsmouth, Chichester and Guildford dioceses in the UK with a variety of countries in West Africa.

Hundreds of worshippers have been inspired by visits to churches, villages, schools and communities in Ghana. And we’ve raised money for projects like the Hayling Bridge in Asesewa and for a new library at St Nicolas’s Seminary in Cape Coast.

Our clergy have swopped places with ordinands from that seminary to learn more about Church life in Ghana. And visits by Ghanaians to our diocese have enriched our spiritual life too.

Click here for copies of the IDWAL newsletter, Pompey West Africa Links.

A full list of the known links between our diocese and Ghana:

Deanery of Bishop's Waltham

Deanery Link with Diocese of Calabar (Nigeria)

Parish who reported this link:
Bishop’s Waltham and Upham
Botley, Curdridge and Durley
Droxford and Meonstoke
Soberton and Newtown
Shedfield snd Swanmore

Other links:
Swanmore also support St. George’s Foundation, Sierra Leone

Deanery representative:
Mary Wake (marywakeabc(at)aol.com)

Deanery of Fareham

Parish links in the Dioceses of Sekondi and Wiaso (Ghana):
Holy Rood Church, Crofton with St. Mark’s Essikadu
Fareham, St John with The Ascension, Takoradi
Locks Heath, St John, with St Matthew, Awaso (Wiaso diocese)
Titchfield, St Peter with St. Peter, Tarkwa (Wiaso diocese?)

School links:
Fareham: St. John with  Good Shepherd School, Takoradi
Locks Heath: St. John, support for  St. George’s Foundation, Sierra Leone

Deanery representative:
Robin Green (robin.green(at)milestonenet.co.uk)

Deanery of Gosport

Parish links in the Diocese of Accra (Ghana): 
Bridgemary, St. Matthew, with St. Joseph, Prampram
Forton with St. Stephen, Tema
Rowner, St. Mary with St. Mary the Virgin, Tema
Alverstoke: St. Mary is linked with the Diocese of Wusasa (Nigeria)

[Alverstoke (CofE) School linked with St. Bartholomew’s School, Wusasa]

Deanery representative:
The Revd. John Draper (stmrowner@aol.com)

Deanery of Havant

Parish links in the Dioceses of Koforidua and Ho (Ghana):
Catherington, All Saints with St. Patrick, Kpandu (Ho)
Clanfield, St. James with St. James, Kpandu (Ho)
Cowplain, St. Wifrid  with St. Augustine, Larteh
Denmead, All  Saints with St. Mary, New Tafo
Havant, St. Faith with St. John, Nsawam
Hayling: St. Andrew with Assasewa and outstations
Hayling, St. Mary with St. Francis, Akwatia
Hayling: St. Peter with Nuaso
Portsdown, Christ Church with St. Peter, Koforidua (Cathedral)Purbrook: St. John, with Odumase
West Leigh: St. Alban [links between St. Alban’s School, West Leigh and Takorase]
Waterlooville: St. George is linked with Axim (Sekondi diocese)

The Revd. Ronnie Williams (Cowplain) has links with Sierra Leone
Catherington have also supported the Mampong Babies Home (Kumasi) through USPG 

Deanery representative:
Angela Herring (angelaherring(at)lcbroadband.co.uk)

Deanery of Petersfield

Parish links in the Diocese of Cape Coast (Ghana):
Blackmoor: St. Matthew with Bisease
Bramshott: St. Mary and Liphook with Diaso and outstations
Buriton: St. Mary with Dominase and outstations
East Meon, All Saints with St. Mary, Ayifuah, Cape Coast, and outstations
Froxfield with Anomabu (also school link)
Greatham with Saltpond
Hawkley with Dunkwa (though not functioning)
Langrish: St John, with The Good Shepherd, Jameso Nkwanta (and outstations)
Liss: St. Mary with Christ Church Cathedral, Cape Coast
Petersfield: St. Peter with Agona Swedru
Sheet, St. Mary Magdalen with St. James, Elmina
Steep: All Saints with Assin Fosu
Warnford and West Meon with St. John, Winneba

Deanery representative:
Geoffrey Barwick (geoffrey.barwick(at)ntl.world.com) 

Deanery of Portsmouth

Milton, St. James with Diocese of Makurdi (Nigeria)
Southsea: St. Luke with Diocese of Makurdi (Nigeria)

Eastney: St. Margaret has supported the Mampong Babies Home via USPG

Deanery representative:
none: Rural Dean is The Revd. Michael Lewis, Church of the Holy Spirit, Southsea (023-9287 3535) 

Portsmouth St Thomas (Cathedral) 

Sunyani Cathedral and support for stipends and ordinands

Cathedral Representative: Marion Syms (marion.syms(at)btinternet.com) 

Deanery of East Wight

Parish links in the Dioceses of Sunyani and Tamale (Ghana):
Bembridge, Holy Trinity with St. Joseph, Busunya
Binstead and Havenstreet with St. Peter, Anyima-Kitampo
Lake, Good Shepherd with St. Barnabas, Encavanza
Ryde: St. John with Kwabeng-Osino
St. Helens and Seaview with Bolgatanga
Sandown, Christ Church and St. John with St. Barnabas, Nkoranza
Shanklin: St. Blasius with Kenyasi
Ventnor, St. Catherine with St. Paul, Wenchi

School links:
Binstead with St. Peter, Anyima –Kitampo
Bonchurch, St. Boniface School with Tempane School, Bawku
Ryde, Oakfield pre-school with Osino Day Care centre
Ventnor, St. Catherine’s School with St. Paul’s School, Wenchi

St. John’s, Ryde, also supports Father James Bunju, Ghanaian priest studying for education degree

Deanery of West Wight

Parish links with Dioceses of Sunyani and Tamale (Ghana):
Calbourne, Shalfleet and Newtown with St. John, Yelwoko 
(The Revd. David Bevington       dbevington(at)lineone.net)
Cowes, St Faith with St John, Binaba
Newport, St. Thomas and St. John, with the Revd. Joseph Agyeman (now at Goaso)
(The Revd. Canon Stephen Palmer       vicar@newportparish.org.uk)

School links:
Shalfleet Primary with St. John’s Primary, Yelwoko
Yarmouth report school link with Zuuri, Ghana

Isle of Wight representatives:
David Tamcken (david(at)tamcken.com) 
The Revd. Hugh Wright (hugh.wright1(at)virgin.net) 

Mothers Union representative:
Margaret Symonds (margaret(at)mothersunion.org.uk) 

IDWAL Officers:

Hon. Secretary:
Carol Bailey (billandcarol(at)lineone.net) 

Hon. Treasurer:
Alan Hoad (alan.hoad@ntlworld.com)

Publicity Officer:
Hazel Young (hazel@hazelyoung.wanadoo.co.uk)

Chairman:
Canon Terry Louden (terrylouden(at)btinternet.com)