Possibly, due to the release of Conclave at the cinema, many of my friends have been glued to the events in Rome. The Anglican Church has so much to learn from our Catholic Friends – in 17 days there is a new Pope – Robert Francis Prevost – Leo XIV. Our Archbishop resigned 12th November and we only now know the names of the people who will consider the nominations! When the new Pope was announced everyone waited with baited breath to learn of the new name that had been chosen. For more than 500 years, Popes used their own names. Then they would simplify their own names or choose a symbolic one or a name which referred to previous pontiffs. Pope Francis most closely associated with St Francis and we saw this through his care for creation and in all matters ecological. Robert Francis Prevost was born in Chicago but has a Peruvian passport as he has spent most of his life working with the poor and marginalised as a missionary in Peru. He belongs to an Augustinian order and so at St Marys we already feel a bond with him – Norton Priory, which was an Augustinian priory , owned the land at Great Budworth and received our tithes. Names are so important. Last week in church we had a delightful baby, called Atticus. Some of you will have read “To kill a mockingbird” or at least seen the film with Gregory Peck. Some of you will have a family name or you may have been named after a Saint. I don`t know how often you have been asked about your name, but if there is a story about it – I would love to know. Why has Robert Francis Prevost chosen the name Leo? – we do not know as yet. In times of uncertainty, God raises up leaders. When the Church faces storms—whether doctrinal confusion, external threats, or moral decline—God does not leave His people without shepherds. The election of Leo I as Pope in the 5th century was such a moment. He led the church between 440 and 461AD. Leo became Pope during a time of chaos. The Roman Empire was falling apart. Heresies were threatening the Church’s unity. Barbarian tribes were advancing on Rome. Fear was everywhere. But Leo stepped into the role not with fear, but with faith. We too live in uncertain times. The Church and the world are often confused, divided, and afraid. But God is still calling men and women to stand firm in truth and lead with courage. Whether in public or private life, we are each called to rise with conviction. Leo was not only a theologian—he was a pastor. When Attila the Hun threatened to destroy Rome, Leo famously met him and persuaded him to turn back. When the Vandals later sacked the city, Leo protected civilians and negotiated for mercy. Leo stood between the people and danger and he was a man of peace He also believed every believer had a sacred calling—to reflect Christ in their lives. Each of us are called. Called to live with integrity. Called to love sacrificially. Called to reflect the glory of God. Don’t wait for a title to live out your purpose. You may not wear a mitre or write a theological tome, but the same Spirit that empowered Leo empowers you. In your home, in your workplace, in your relationships, you have been chosen to stand firm in Christ To leave you with Pope Leo`s words “Peace be with you all”. These are the 1st words spoken by the risen Christ It is the peace of the risen Christ. A peace that is unarmed and disarming, humble and persevering A peace that comes from God, the God who loves us all unconditionally So, let us move forward, without fear, together, hand in hand with God and with one another other! We are followers of Christ. Christ goes before us. The world needs his light. Humanity needs him as the bridge that can lead us to God and his love. Help us, one and all, to build bridges through dialogue and encounter, joining together as one people, always at peace. “ Amen With love, prayers and blessings Christina
After the very changeable weather of April, we are all I’m sure looking forward to a sunnier, calmer May, though the newly planted crops and our gardens do need rain and of course we do well to “not cast a clout till May is out!” In relation to the weather and farming, it is no coincidence that a number of agricultural festivals occur in this coming month, especially Rogationtide, when traditionally prayers have been asked (which is where the term comes from) for the growing crops, and where the Parish boundaries were reinforced and emphasized in the traditional “beating of the bounds”. We will, I hope, be combining these two very old traditions in our annual Rogation Service on 25th May, which usually includes a very short walk around the Church and Churchyard, and that afternoon the Bishop of Chester will be visiting us for the monthly Forest Church Service, which will be taking place at Guide Post Farm. Earlier in the month I will be leading the annual Boyd Walk, from St Mark’s Church in Antrobus, in memory and celebration of the noted naturalist and author A.W. Boyd who lived in Antrobus and who wrote about Great Budworth and Antrobus Parishes in his classic book “A Country Parish” which was one of the earliest of the works of the New Naturalist series of books to be published in the late 1940/50s. It isn’t a very demanding walk, but is a chance for us to celebrate both our countryside and the talent and enthusiasm of a local writer and gifted observer of all the things around him, both in the natural world and in the culture and customs of the inhabitants of that world. As with some of yourselves, Boyd was alive at the ending of the Second World War, and we will be remembering and giving thanks for victory in Europe, and Japan, on Thursday 8th May, in much the same way as we did last year for the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Many of us I’m sure will have, or will have had, family members who were alive then and who perhaps took part in World War 11 – two of my paternal uncles from Southern Rhodesia (as it was then) were in the North African and Italian campaigns, and one was killed in North Africa, and my mother and her family lived through the War on the eastern edge of London, though my mother was evacuated to Gloucestershire for part of that time. My surviving uncle never really spoke about his time in North Africa and Italy – apart from telling me often how much he had loved Rome, when they eventually got there! It will be a very special day, and at the end of the Service in Church we’ll be gathering outside with lighted Candle and forming a circle in the Churchyard, at around the time that beacons will be lit across the country in memory of peace in Europe. We continue to pray of course for peace in Europe in this 21st Century, as well as in a number of other countries across our world, and in these post-Easter weeks of May, as we progress towards Ascension and Pentecost and the gift of the Holy Spirit, we can I think all take much comfort, and hope, from the events we celebrated a few weeks ago – the resurrection victory of life over death. May God’s blessing be upon us all in this coming month. The Revd Alec Brown Vicar of Great Budworth and Antrobus.
Dear friends, I cannot believe how fast time is passing. This month Nathaniel turns 20 – I do not feel old enough to have a child out of his teens. There have been reflections on the radio and television with it being 5 years since we entered lock down. In my Curate`s musings in April 2020 I described how I felt that my heart was breaking with the church being closed, my school being closed and being unable to hug and be with family and friends. Again that seems like a lifetime ago, another time. Whilst writing this, the world again seems to be changing and I am unsure if it is in a good way. I have been reading “Old Rage” by Sheila Hancock which is a fascinating read – she is very to the point. She writes, “ I find I am contemplating religion and especially the life of Christ quite often lately . At a time when our moral compass seems to have gone out of kilter, I yearn for Christianity to get its act together. That anarchic, wise, gentle, angry, utterly honest man is such an example of how we could make the world work for everyone. We need someone like Jesus to come and rescue us. Put us straight. Instead we`ve got....” We need to keep hopeful As Christians, we have moved from the devastation of Good Friday and become Easter People – People of Hope I love the Easter Story, the women in the garden first thing, Peter`s encounter with Jesus following his denial and the two men walking with Jesus on the road to Emmaus One of my favourite exchanges is between Jesus and Mary Magdalene on Easter morning. You all know how much I love Mary Magdalene. She was with the last people at the cross and she is first there on Easter morning. Whilst the disciples had fled and hidden away, she had shown up. She does not know where the body has gone from the tomb and sees Jesus but thinks he is the gardener. He then says “Mary” and she immediately knows its Jesus. She reaches to him. What a heart stopping moment after the horror of Good Friday. Jesus calls Mary by name. It echoes the words in Isaiah, “ Fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name and you are mine.” That applies to each of us. We are called by name and we are God`s. We are loved with an everlasting and unconditional love. God, in Jesus loves his church but he loves each of us as individuals. He calls us each by name. Mary then ran to the disciples “ I have seen the Lord.” Mary Magdalene - the apostle to the apostles. The early apostles turned the world upside down – I pray that we will have the desire to do likewise. Perhaps be more like Jesus and break the rules. I pray that heading towards Holy Week and Easter, that you will continue to reflect on how incredibly loved you are and to continue to live in the hope of the resurrection – remembering as Christians we are people of the resurrection in a Good Friday world. Wishing you a blessed Easter. Love Christina
After the bitter cold of February I’m sure we’re all looking forward to a milder March and the arrival of spring, and of course the changing of the clocks for summer time at the end of the month. March brings with it a number of extremely important religious and secular festivals and celebrations, including those of Saints David, Patrick and Joseph, Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the season of Lent, the Annunciation of Our Lord to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and of course Mothering Sunday at the end of the month. There is definitely something for everyone, and in a year where there is still such distress and despair in so many parts of the world, including especially The Ukraine, Gaza and Israel, the national Church is asking us all to pray and reflect on “living hope” in its Lent theme for 2025. We will of course be offering our weekly services of Compline during Lent, and possibly The Stations of the Cross, all of which afford very appropriate times and moments to think and pray about hope and discovering anew, in the words of the national Church’s Lent theme “God’s promises for the future and his presence with us now.” Some of us will also, I hope, be taking part in the ecumenical Lent discussion group run by our Methodist friends in Comberbach, and details of this will be made available nearer the time. Hope is in short supply across parts of our world, and within the Church of England there is also a great need to reconnect with people across the country in the wake of recent events and happenings, and especially of course in relation to safeguarding and the resignation of senior members of the national Church. A number of people have spoken to me about this, and they have all stressed the importance of the local Parish Church and its work within the community – meeting people in their need, being alongside people “through all the changing scenes of life” and offering support, care and, above all else, hope.I have tried to maintain this positive approach and attitude throughout the last few very difficult months for the Church, and have found myself reflecting on the wise and profound words of the Collect for the 3rd Sunday before Lent, with which I will finish this letter:“O God, you know us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright: grant us such strength and protection as may support us in all dangers, and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.”And so, in this season of Lent, may God bless, encourage, strengthen and fill us all with hope.The Revd Alec Brown. Vicar of Great Budworth and Antrobus.
