Earlier this week, Bishop Steven spent two days visiting Amersham and Wendover deaneries. The trip is an opportunity to meet clergy, laity and volunteers as well as see some of the good work churches are carrying out in their communities.
In Wendover, Bishop Steven joined regulars at the Rhubarb Community Café where they enjoy homemade cake, coffee and chat every week.
Bishop Steven shared a Eucharist with clergy from the deanery followed by lunch and an opportunity to answer questions on a range of topics including the Makin Review, the recent resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury and Prayers for Love and Faith.
There was also a chance to try out the South African instrument, the marimba at St Peter and St Paul’s Church at Great Missenden.
Revd Malcolm Chalmers, Vicar at St Peter and St Paul’s, said: “We have had the marimba group here for about a year after the instruments were donated to the church. We have a regular group of children who enjoy this. It’s the kind of instrument anyone can play without having to worry too much about it.”
This was followed by a meal at the church hosted by deanery lay leaders and a chance for PCC members to quiz Bishop Steven.
In Amersham, Bishop Steven again spent the first part of his visit with clergy, sharing the Eucharist, before having some time to talk about the issues which are affecting them. After lunch he visited one of the 10 Church of England secondary schools in the diocese, Chiltern Hills Academy in Chesham. There he answered questions from sixth form students and joined an A-level geography class. He learned about the school’s new zero tolerance mobile phone policy and the impact it’s had on students.
Bishop Steven then switched 18-year-olds with eight-year-olds when he joined Kingdom Kids, an after school club based at St George’s Church in Little Chalfont. The children were delighted to share their worship songs with him as well as a popular game called Splat or Not! Bishop Steven ended his visit with a splat in the face…
He said: “It was wonderful to see the work going on at Kingdom Kids and beyond, underpinned by their children and families’ worker the Revd Vic Jones. The church is working hard to serve the children and families living in the local area with all kinds of activities, including a new Sunday afternoon service.”
The visits concluded with a second meeting with lay leaders including a Q&A in Beaconsfield.
Ends
Notes to Editor
For media enquiries and high-res photos, please contact Rebekah Sharrock on 07880 716761.
About the Diocese of Oxford
The Diocese of Oxford is the Church of England in the Thames Valley region of Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. There are over 800 churches in 609 parishes, the largest number of churches of any diocese in the Church of England. The diocese is also home to 284 schools and academies educating some 60,000 pupils.