Lynne Vercoe retired at the end of July and we thanked her for all she has done over the last nine years as our Team Administrator. Lynne has done a sterling job in the office over this time, and she will be greatly missed. She is looking forward to spending more time with her husband and family, and to pursuing her interests. She will be continuing with the Pachamama project and Eco Church at Dilton Marsh etc.Following Lynne’s retirement, please note that the Team Office will be closed to the public. If you need access, please contact one of the key holders, ie Ruth Hann, Beth Thomas or myself. For enquiries about baptisms, weddings or funerals, or anything else, please contact myself and I will deal with it or sign post you in the right direction. A volunteer will be producing the Team notice sheets during August.I’m pleased to say that we have appointed a new Team Administrator, subject to satisfactory references. We expect her to start in early September.In the meantime, we would like to spruce up the office, to make it more attractive for our new employee. We have a working party arranged for Saturday 9 August at 9.30 am. Please come along and see how you can help out, or contact me for more information.Thank you.
We said a big thank you and a fond farewell to our Curate Holly Newton on 27 July. We thanked her for all she has done and been among us over the last four years as our Team Curate. We have much appreciated all she’s done to extend our mission and ministry in our parishes, including the setting up and establishing of the Little Lights Toddler group, Tea, Cake & Company, our Family fun events as well as the formation of the disability and church inclusion group. Not only that, but also for her thoughtful sermons and her sensitive leading of worship of all kinds, as well as her presence at many of our different events. We have appreciated her kind and gentle nature, her witness and commitment to her faith and her vocation as a priest through a challenging time with her health condition. We have seen the presence of God strengthening her through her weakness and setting an example to all of us of her grace and dignity through times of challenge and difficulty. We are sorry to see her go, and want to wish her well in her new course of study in Theology and Disability from September. She goes with our love and prayers and blessing for the future.We look forward to welcoming her back to preach at two of our services in September at All Saints and Holy Trinity (which were booked before the announcement of her departure). Holly and the family have already moved to Staverton, so she won’t have far to come.Read Holly's farewell letter here
On Thursday, 3rd July at 5:30pm, Brian and I were privileged to be able to attend the Salisbury Cathedral Eucharist, presided over by Archdeacon Alan Jeans, with Bishop Stephen acting as Deacon for him, to mark his retirement.It was a wonderful, and emotional, service held in the quire. We actually sat in the choir stalls. It was a very well attended service by members from across the Diocese, followed by refreshments.Alan, and his wife Anita, were both thanked for their dedicated service and they were presented with vouchers from the Diocesan collection amounting to £1,350.00 and growing. Anita also received a beautiful bouquet of flowers.When interviewed for the Diocesan website, Alan was asked for his memorable moments:-“Special moments would include becoming a Cathedral Canon and serving nine years on the Cathedral Chapter; engaging in local Benefice and Deanery Mission weeks with Bishop Stephen Conway; and marking the 800th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta in 2015 and attending a reception at the British Library where all four surviving copies of the Magna Carta were displayed together – and our Cathedral has the best copy by far!In 2002, just before becoming the Archdeacon, I was appointed an Army chaplain, working with Wiltshire Army Cadet Force, keeping me in ministry amongst young people. This army chaplaincy has brought a close working relationship with the British Army, and their chaplains, and we are proud to work in cooperation with the large military presence across the Diocese. My work with young people also continues in the Diocese in visiting the many Church of England Schools, and community schools across the Archdeaconry.One of my lesser-known contributions was to the situation comedy, REV – where I was the consultant Archdeacon for series three. Yes, I was the Archdeacon who put The Reverend Adam Smallbone [Tom Hollander] through his Clergy Discipline Measure, after he was caught kissing the primary school Head Teacher. I was invited to the screening of the first episode in St Leonard’s Shoreditch, aka St Saviour’s in the Marsh, where I met the cast.Week by week though, nothing exceeds serving the servants of God, resourcing the clergy and lay ministers in their local context; and worshipping Sunday by Sunday in different parish churches, preaching and presiding as a priest. It never fails to lift heart and soul to heaven and is a wonderful counterpoint to all those never-ending weekday meetings and PCCs!"Sue and Brian Stanley
Dear friends, As I come to the end of my time here in the White Horse Team, I write to you with mixed emotions. My time in Curacy has been a wonderful blessing. As many of you will be aware it has also come with challenges as myself and my family have navigated my decline in health. However, I am continually amazed at the faithfulness and goodness of God who has been, and continues to be, at work in and through it all - bringing to fruition His wonderful plans and purposes for us all. I am now beginning the next stage in ministry as I seek to follow the deep sense of calling which God has placed in my heart to pursue my research into Theology and Disability and to further my work in the area of disability, diversity and Church inclusion. This is an exciting new chapter. But there is also, of course, sadness in saying goodbye to you all. I, and my family, would like to take this opportunity to say a really huge and heartfelt thank you to you all. Your support, encouragement, prayers and friendship have been a source of great strength and blessing. I am so grateful also for the support of our Team Rector Rebecca, the ministry team, the Lay Pastoral Assistants, PCCs, church wardens, our Team administrator and many others who have been such a source of help and encouragement and who have so graciously put their trust in me as I have sought to serve among you. Thanks also to the wider community and to those from Westbury Area Churches Together for your fellowship and encouragement. It has been a privilege to serve my Curacy here and I will carry you all in my heart as I move into the next chapter of life. I will be continuing to hold you all in prayer and will be keen to hear your news as you also move forward into new adventures with God. In the words of Paul the Apostle in Philemon 1:4 - I thank my God always when I mention you in my prayers because of your love for all the saints and your faith toward the Lord Jesus. With many thanks, prayers and love in Christ. Revd Holly
