Dear Friends, This month we, as a nation, mark an extraordinary milestone. For 70 years Queen Elizabeth has served our nation as monarch. She has done so with great grace and with personal reserve, and I shall be celebrating enthusiastically. There will be many things said about her character, and all that she has lived through, during this season of celebration. I should like to say one thing about her: that her reign has been about us. Perhaps it is the nature of our constitutional monarchy, or perhaps it is her Christian faith and her understanding of the nature of service most likely it is both. However it has come about, her lack of political agenda makes her able to represent all of us in a way no elected president ever could do. We do not know her opinions on many matters, or her thoughts on how these nations should be run. We know of her love of horses, but not her views on fiscal policy or on devolution. It is precisely her willingness to serve a people, not an agenda, that has made her the finest and most respected of democratic heads of state, the wide world over. Certainly there is privilege as well as responsibility that goes with royal status, and it may seem unjust that this comes as a birthright, but I cannot think of a better way to represent us all. To elect or select a champion may be to select the very best of us (though I’m not at all sure that this is what our elections unfailingly do!). But, to have one family represent us means that monarchy is not about merit. Her Majesty represents all of us, born into whatever places and families we find ourselves in.We are born to be a nation together, regardless of our talents or opinions. And for seventy years, without fear or favour, The Queen has stood as our champion, through wars and troubles, through prosperity and disputes. Without judgement or agenda she has been there for us, the extraordinary embodiment of our ordinary lives. So let us say it loud and long, today and tomorrow: God save our gracious Queen, Long live our noble Queen, God save the Queen! Yours as ever, Ian
A great deal has happened over the last month locally in support of Ukrainian refugees. As we go to press (mid-May), around 50 Ukrainian visitors have arrived in our area. What was the “Marton Area Ukraine Support Network” is now the “Congleton Area Ukraine Support Network”, and the Congleton area has been growing! Many from our parishes have been active not only in hosting Ukrainian guests, but in helping others to navigate the hosting process, in liaising with other organisations and with local government and MPs, and in many other areas. A pop-up boutique has been providing clothing, a house has been fully furnished, bikes and computers donated. While there would have been advantages of the government taking full responsibility for refugees, the current (volunteer driven) system has allowed the generosity of our local community to be expressed to fully welcome our visitors into the community. There are many more Ukrainians in the visa process, and homes being offered. You can find out more, and get involved, through a new website: causn.com.