Canon Patrick writes…In July 2026 the General Synod of the Church of England took the unprecedented step of adding a new festival to the church calendar. This is the festival of “Creation in Christ” to be observed on the first Sunday in September each year.This reflects a growing Ecumenical consensus that we all need to be praying more for the care of creation, as problems like climate change and biodiversity loss become ever more obvious. The proposed festival was presented to the General Synod as, an opportunity to come before God to give thanks for the divine act of creation, to behold all things as made through Christ the Word, and to treat the world as gift, covenant, and responsibility.We will be observing the new festival at Baddesley Clinton, Lapworth and Packwood on 6thSeptember this year.General Synod was also presented with a new theological teaching document from the House of Bishops called “Hope for all creation”. This significant document examines the environmental crisis, noting the interconnectedness of all of God’s creation. It reflects on God’s ultimate plan to restore the integrity of all creation and it examines what our human response might be locally, nationally and internationally.I have been alarmed by the drought and the searing heat of summer 2026. I have been especially concerned about the wildfires, which present immediate dangers, and have destroyed many homes. The fires also turn lots of wood back into carbon dioxide, thereby contributing to future climate change. But for myself, I am very grateful to God because, by what feels like a miracle, I now have air conditioning in four key rooms in my house. This was installed as an air-to-air heating system, designed to top up my heating on the coldest days of winter. I hardly used it in winter, but this summer I have used it a lot, running it backwards as air-conditioning. And my solar panels generate the electricity it uses.With my prayers for all the people of Baddesley Clinton, Lapworth and Packwood, and with my best wishes,Canon Patrick
I’m back! Well actually I got back on 26th November, so I have been back for a while now. I would like to tell you a little about my sabbatical.I spent most of the sabbatical in West Cork, in the far south west of Ireland. I was staying in a Church of Ireland “House for Duty”. A priest can stay in the house, but must then take Sunday services. What I didn’t realise is that out of season there is much less requirement to take services so in the end I didn’t take a single service, but I did preach three times. I visited all 11 of the local churches and I got to know the local clergy and people. In many ways the rural Church of Ireland feels very like the rural CofE, but there are some big differences. For example, in the CofE, clergy usually engage with the whole local community. In Ireland that is seen as the prerogative of the Catholic Priest, and the Church of Ireland ministers focus only on their own people, being a minority group, less than 10% of the population.My mother’s family is for Castletownshend, West Cork and intimately tied up with the Church of Ireland. I enjoyed getting to know my 3rd Cousin, Tom Somerville and his family. They still live in the big family house and the top of the hill. They have excellent records of family history and portraits of many of my mother’s ancestors. On one occasion I started talking to someone on a beach and discovered that he was also a Somerville and we were related.As I was not taking church services, I had plenty of time for cycling, visiting people, hosting people, cooking, reading, praying and writing. I worked very hard on the various Pilates style physical exercises that Chiropractors and GPs have recommended for my lower back pain. These were enormously helpful and I have come home with my back in a much better state, and I find I have more energy.I have come back to a renewed Rectory, after a major refurbishment by the diocese, including heat pumps. I have so much to give thanks for.With prayers and best wishes, Canon PatrickPrayer from Psalm 87 and Revelation 21.5Lord God, ‘all my fresh springs are in you.’ We thank you for a new year and a fresh start. We thank you that you make all things new. Help us to find renewal and new life in your son Jesus Christ. Amen.
