In my infancy I was baptised. This event I am told took place at St Andrew’s Church of Scotland in Aldershot, Hampshire where I was born. During the early years of my life contact with the church took different forms, but was generally some expression of a garrison church. On arriving at boarding school I discovered Anglican worship, but because of my baptism also some additional attention from the local Methodist minister. During my ‘A’ level years I became convinced I should join the church.  Both our school chaplain and the Methodist minister were convinced their churches would join by the end of the decade (1965), so I became a Methodist. Some thing about youth club and girls I sometimes say, but maybe God’s had in it too!

During the early part of September I was present at the Churches Together in England Forum. This is a gathering that only meets once every three years and seeks through presentations, conversations and prayerfulness to see where God is leading us. I shared in the conversation time one of my dreams, that every church in England might change their notice board. So the might read ‘A Christian Church’ and then be subtitled with an indication of the tradition of the congregation. People in the group nodded with approval. During the Forum we were led in a Bible Study by two Archbishops (Canterbury and Westminster), two really fine minds for whom clearly their own personal discipleship has made them the spiritual persons they are. It was an iconic moment.

I have another related dream. Next Sunday, if every Christian were to go to the place of worship nearest their front door, we could say for 10.30am, and then with the other people who arrive shape an time of worship and conversation around a b Bible story, might it be an exciting adventure?

September has been a very busy month for many folk. In the midst of my business I have had some special moments. I share three.

In the processes of new beginnings we have a new Superintendent Minister of the Coventry and Nuneaton Circuit, and as we prepared to mark this at St John’s Nuneaton I was told that Bishop Christopher of Coventry would come to the service to mark his support for Andrew. We were glad of the public sign of the churches growing unity, and particularly of the covenant we Methodist share with the Church of England. 

In the midst of this very busy month a friend died, his wife had been my colleague and he had shared in ministry with me, providing music for worship in many different contexts. On the only day I could have made it, we gathered to give thanks for his life. It was a very special time and seemed an entirely proper way to value a human life. The service began with the reading of a poem ‘Heaven’s Canvas’ by Adrian Plass and ended with a church full singing ‘Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side’ to the tune Finlandia. I will not be able to encounter either now without being taken to that service.

I preached at the re-opening of Hornsea Methodist Church in Yorkshire. This is where my mother worshipped in the last years of her life. As my sister in law took me to see the refurbishments in the afternoon, I was move to tears by the amazing transformation of what had been a dark and pew bond worship area into an open, inviting, light, flexible place of worship. It was a privilege to share in the celebration of this new phase in the life of a building, where Christians gather to give glory to God.

Yours in love,

Bill Anderson

Glimpses of Circuit Welcome Services